TeliaSonera fires four after Eurasia investigation

Nordic telco TeliaSonera has announced that it is firing four executives after launching a “business ethics” probe into the group’s transactions in Eurasia.

Though the investigation is still ongoing, the company said “it is evident to TeliaSonera’s Board and CEO that the processes for conducting some transactions have not been in line with sound business practices.”

In a statement, Marie Ehrling, TeliaSonera’s chairman of the board, said: “The Board’s conclusion is that some senior employees no longer have the trust of the Board. Therefore they have been notified that their employment with TeliaSonera will be terminated and they will leave their position effective immediately.”

Though the company did not name the outgoing executives, TeliaSonera announced separately that executive vice president and chief financial officer Per-Arne Blomquist will leave his position effective immediately. Christian Luiga, head of CEO office, will take on the role of acting CFO.

At the same time, TeliaSonera also separately promoted Patrik Olsson to CEO of its Cygate division, replacing current chief Bengt Lundgren.

TeliaSonera’s head of business services, Sverker Hannervall, said that the switch comes as the company aims for “closer integration between Cygate and TeliaSonera, where Cygate will become a corner stone in TeliaSonera’s offer to the corporate customers in Sweden and Finland.”

Olsson was previously head of sales for midmarket, TeliaSonera Business Services, and has worked at Telia and TeliaSonera in managerial positions for more than 20 years.

Cygate is a supplier of managed IP-network solutions and system integration in the Nordic region. Cygate custom-tailors platforms that enable companies to handle all their communications in one solution.