All articles by Joseph Purnell – Page 47
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M&A
Mastercard buys former DT investment Dynamic Yield
AI-based customer experience personalisation platform picked up by Mastercard from McDonalds. Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners first invested in 2017.
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People
Ex-BT chair teed up to lead UK audit regulator
Business Secretary Kwarteng puts Jan du Plessis forward for appointment to chair the FRC amid governance struggles on the audit watchdog’s “underweight” board. FRC in transition, and requires a chair able to partner with government.
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People
Former Telefónica exec takes Sky Mexico helm
Luis Malvido, ex-CEO at Telefónica businesses in Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, and Venezuela, takes the lead at Mexican rival.
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Network & Infrastructure
Movistar gets industrial with Chile 5G launch
Telefónica Chile’s 5G network goes live alongside peers Entel and WOM. Plans for “nationwide” availability in early-2022.
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M&A
VM O2 CEO happy as spectator to BT takeover saga
Lutz Schüler, CEO at Virgin Media O2, said he “thanks God” his business is not distracted by shareholder goings on. Comes after Patrick Drahi expanded his shareholding in VM O2 rival BT. Schüler’s attention fixed on customer experience improvements and fibre rollout.
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People
Telefónica reshapes board of directors
Group cuts board seats from 17 to 15, with representation from shareholders BBVA and CaixaBank halved. Ignacio Moreno and Jordi Gual to instead shift to roles at Telefónica España and Brazil’s Vivo.
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Premium
Vodafone people moves: Vodacom board readies for renewal
Vodacom Group governance is set for change ahead of 2022 AGM. Networks leadership change at Vodafone Germany on the cards with Suceveanu named interim chief. Society and communications thinktank Vodafone Institute loses its head to Google. Australia’s TPG Telecom makes wide ranging changes to management team, with unified Technology ...
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT joins industry bodies in health-tech drive
Operator added to Health Tech Alliance and The Kings Fund as part of effort to expand in the industry through collaboration. Health a sector of interest to CEO Jansen amid BT Enterprise resurgence.
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People
Berroeta shuffles leadership team again
Technology roles brought together under ex-MTN CTIO Chiarelli. Cooney to lead unified Consumer domain. Leadership now bedded in after 18 months of integration.
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M&A
Defences up as Drahi increases BT stake
Patrick Drahi’s Altice UK stops short of a takeover bid, but increases holding to 18%. UK government issues warning that it “will not hesitate” to protect national interests amid concerns of foreign investment in critical infrastructure incumbent. Takeover not Drahi’s ‘intention’, but caveats are in place.
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Suppliers & SCM
Openreach urges Vauxhall to build British ‘green’ fleet
Clive Selley, Openreach CEO, “in talks” with Vauxhall owner Stellantis to increase production of electric vehicles at its UK plant. Vauxhall supplies Openreach’s 28,000-strong commercial van fleet, which will be ‘green’ by 2030. 1,000 EVs currently on the road in Openreach livery.
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Premium
Telefónica people moves: wholesale lead named at VM O2
VM O2 appoints Diego Tedesco to lead its Fixed Wholesale business in challenge to incumbent Openreach. SME-focused team also filled in at newly-merged UK operator, with appointments in marketing, products, and sales. Telefónica Tech draws in new faces from across the Group footprint.
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M&A
Magyar Telekom divests healthcare subsidiary
Hungarian NatCo’s T-Systems Hungary business has divested its Pan-Inform subsidiary. Unit will be operated by the state following the deal’s conclusion in early-2022.
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Premium
Safaricom pushes back against monopoly complaints
CEO Peter Ndegwa tells rivals to focus on investments, not accusations. Hearing shows government support for Safaricom, which sees market dominance but not a monopoly.
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Network & Infrastructure
TPG cites 5G momentum in Aussie auction snub
Australian operator TPG Telecom did not pick up any blocks in the 900MHz auction, with CEO Berroeta claiming its portfolio is strong enough already. TPG’s 5G network live on 700MHz, with 26GHz trials underway. Rivals Optus and Telstra share the spoils in TPG’s absence.
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People
Movistar Money JV rejigs leadership
Lending JV Telefónica Consumer Finance reshuffles board, with changes aligned to adjustments by Group and co-parent CaixaBank. Telefónica’s María Jesús Almazor swapped for Oscar Candiles as a JV representative.
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People
Deutsche Post’s Frank Appel linked with DT chair
Deutsche Telekom’s long-running search for its next chairman looks set to come to a close before the end of the year, with Deutsche Post CEO Frank Appel rumoured to be leading the pack. DT CEO Tim Höttges reportedly to be given mandate extension.
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Premium
T-Mobile launches Paramount+ add-on
Un-Carrier signs broad distribution agreement with ViacomCBS to grant access to Paramount+ streaming platform for all contract customers. Complimentary first-year subscription added to T-Mobile’s existing Apple TV+ and Netflix offers.
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Venturing & Investments
DT venturing execs formalise digital infra vehicle
DTCP CEO Vento quietly launches Digital Transformation Capital Partners, an independent venturing unit with a European infrastructure bent. Shared management sees Vento and Klima at the helm, but new names also in leadership. Registrations in Germany, and Luxembourg, with Dutch assets in the portfolio.
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Premium
T-Systems wields ServiceNow tools for transformation
ServiceNow project management solutions leveraged to integrate T-Sys workflow.