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Dexter Goei to head up cable group’s new U.S. operation as part of top management restructure.
Altice has shuffled its management, promoting chief operating officer Michel Combes to the CEO role, while his predecessor Dexter Goei shifts his focus to the U.S.
The announcement comes just days after Altice cleared the final regulatory hurdle to its US$17.1 billion acquisition of U.S. cable operator Cablevision, securing the approval of New York state authorities. It expects to close the deal by the end of this month.
Cablevision is Altice’s second U.S. acquisition; it completed the $9.1 billion purchase of Suddenlink in December.
Goei will oversee the firm’s new U.S. activities. He has stepped down as CEO of Altice in order to take on the role of chairman and CEO of Altice USA. His new post will see him "focus his leadership on the successful integration of Cablevision and Suddenlink within Altice and the further development of Altice USA as the dynamic growth platform in the group," the company announced.
He also replaces Patrick Drahi as president of Altice group, and will continue to lead its global M&A-related activities, Altice said, a comment that suggests its spending spree of recent years has not yet come to an end.
Drahi himself will continue to set out the strategic, operational and technological agenda of Altice, as its founder and controlling shareholder, and leader of a newly-created group advisory council, the company said.
"I am extremely excited about our U.S. business which is accounting for approximately 40% of our group and offers huge development opportunities," Drahi said, talking up the role Goei will play at the helm of the unit.
"Since joining us last year, Michel [Combes] has been instrumental in structuring and harmonising our operations and strengthening our management teams across the board," he added. "I am very pleased to work with him in his new role as the Altice group embarks on its next phase of development."
Combes arrived at Altice in September, having stepped down from his position as chief executive of Alcatel-Lucent while the firm was in the process of being sold to Nokia. His employment history includes a four-year stint as CEO of Vodafone Europe.
