Telenor names new CEO

Sigve Brekke

Norwegian telco Telenor has named Sigve Brekke as the company’s new Group President and CEO. He will succeed current CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas by August 17. 

Brekke is the Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor Group’s Asia operations and a former Norwegian deputy defence minister. He joined Telenor in 1999 and has held several executive positions in the company. According to Telenor, he was instrumental in establishing Telenor Group as a leading international mobile operator.

Baksaas is stepping down after 13 years. He will continue as advisor to the Board of Directors until the end of 2016 and will then serve as chairman of mobile industry association the GSMA.

“It is a great honour to be asked to lead Telenor. Our company’s Norwegian and international success is a result of Telenor Group’s ability to provide digital communication services that are valuable to our customers. Telenor’s strategy, including our financial priorities, form a solid platform for value creation for our shareholders and continued growth in Norway, Europe and Asia. We are poised to capture value from the opportunities arising from strong demand for internet services and I look forward to executing our strategy together with our 33,000 employees,” said Brekke.