TELECEL Zimbabwe’s chief executive officer Francis Mawindi has stepped down.
Report by Bernard Mpofu
Mawindi took over from expatriate Aimable Mpore last July. According to an internal mail shown to NewsDay, Mawindi resigned with immediate effect last week.
Telecel Zimbabwe, now the country’s second largest mobile phone company by subscriber base, also announced the appointment of a new general manager in what could signal a major corporate shake-up.
The telecommunications firm is 60% owned by Telecel International, while the Empowerment Corporation — a local consortium of individuals and groups — owns 40%.
“The Telecel Zimbabwe board of directors hereby advises the Telecel employees that Mr Francis Mawindi has decided to pursue other opportunities outside the group and is stepping down from his position as chief executive officer of Telecel Zimbabwe with immediate effect,” said group chairman James Makamba in an internal announcement dated March 27 seen by NewsDay.
“The board is happy to announce that Mr John David Swaim will in the interim resume the role of managing director of Telecel Zimbabwe Pvt Limited. Mrs Angeline Vere has been appointed general manager of the company with effect from the 26th of March 2013.”
Efforts to get comment from the company’s public relations consultants were in vain at the time of going to print last night. Mawindi’s appointment was widely seen as the board’s commitment to appoint a local at the helm of the company barely five years after ex-CEO Rex Chibeza threw in the towel in 2007.
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Mawindi previously worked for France telecom giant Orange as head of business operations for global services in the Americas based in New York.
At France Telecom Orange, he led development efforts, coordination and management of the business and strategic planning process for the Americas region.
He also worked for Verizon, a United States telecommunications company, where he supported regional business development for operations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
Mpore resigned after he clashed with the immigration department over his work permit.
