Telenor on Monday named a new chief executive for its India business as part of a wider management shuffle by new group CEO Sigve Brekke.
The Norwegian incumbent appointed Sharad Mehrotra as CEO of Telenor India, a position left vacant after former India head Morten Sørby became head of the telco’s Asia business this summer. Telenor is in the process of rebranding the Indian operation, having announced its decision to drop the Uninor name last month.
Mehrotra leaves his role as chief marketing officer of Telenor Myanmar to return to India, where he previously served on the firm’s management team.
Telenor named Pål Wien Espen as head of partner relations Asia, and charged Morten Karlsen with managing Telenor’s holding in Vimpelcom – the operator announced its intention to sell its 33% stake in the Russian operator last week – and with driving strategic projects.
Espen will be based in Asia, as will new chief marketing officer Vivek Sood and chief digital officer Jon Gravråk, Telenor said.
It also named Ruza Sabanovic as chief technology officer and Wenche Agerup as chief corporate affairs officer, and said CFO Richard Aa and chief people officer Jon Erik Haug will continue in their respective roles.
Kjell Morten Johnsen, Telenor’s head of Europe; Katja Nordgaard, head of corporate affairs; strategy and digital head Henrik Clausen; and Mr Martin Furuseth acting head of group industrial development, will step down from the telco’s executive management committee, Telenor revealed.
The new executive management team reflects Telenor’s international footprint with nine of its members being non-Norwegians, the operator noted. It explained that all 13 of its operating markets will be represented on the team (full details below) to ensure fsaster executi on of group strategy and a closer connection to customers.
In addition to improving customer experience, Telenor hopes the changes will help it to ensure its networks and IT systems are ready to meet future demand, and that its dedicated digital unit will enable it to explore opportunities in adjacent businesses.
"By more directly involving the business unit CEOs in delivering on the global strategy and priorities, we increase our ability to execute and create value," said Brekke.
Brekke took over from Jon Fredrik Baksaas as Telenor CEO in August.
"Telenor stands to capture solid opportunities, as the world evolves to view connectivity as a basic necessity," he added. "We must continue our work in enabling that connectivity for all, but we also need to explore new ways to sustain growth, capture customers’ attention and create value for them in their digital life."
Telenor group executive management team
Sigve Brekke, President and CEO
Richard Aa, EVP and Chief Financial Officer
Wenche Agerup, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (effective 1 December2015)
Pål Wien Espen, EVP and Head of Partner Relations Asia (effective 1 December 2015)
Jon Gravråk, EVP and Chief Digital Officer (effective 1 December 2015, Mr Ragnar Korsæth acting)
Jon Erik Haug, EVP and Chief People Officer
Ruza Sabanovic, EVP and Chief Technology Officer
Vivek Sood, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer (effective 1 November 2015)
Morten Karlsen Sørby, EVP
Jesper Hansen, EVP and CEO of Telenor Denmark (acting)
Berit Svendsen, EVP and CEO of Telenor Norway
Patrik Hofbauer, EVP and CEO of Telenor Sweden
Stein-Erik Vellan, EVP and CEO of Telenor Bulgaria
Christopher Laska, EVP and CEO of Telenor Hungary
Ove Fredheim, EVP and CEO of Telenor Monteneg ro and Serbia
Albern Murty, EVP and CEO of Digi (Malaysia)
Lars-Åke Norling, EVP and CEO of dtac (Thailand)
Rajeev Sethi, EVP and CEO of Grameenphone (Bangladesh)
Sharad Mehrotra, EVP and CEO of Telenor India (effective 1 November 2015)
Petter Furberg, EVP and CEO of Telenor Myanmar
Michael Foley, EVP and CEO of Telenor Pakistan
