France Telkom Orange announced in November 2015 it was exiting the Kenyan market by selling its 70% stake in Telkom Kenya. Helios Investment Partners were announced as the new owners who will take over the operations edging out Viettel Group of Vietnam. Today, the new team to spearhead the turnaround was unveiled as well as the new structure of the firm. In June, the telco unveiled a new management structure headed by Aldo Mareuse, a 52-year old Frenchman who will serve as CEO of the firm. John Barorot, who previously worked in the telco at the beginning of his career took over as Chief Technical and Technology officer.
The firm also unveiled an organisational structure which comprised of four units. These include the Mobile Division, Enterprise Division, Wholesale Division and Real Estate Division. The Mobile business division is headed by Amer Atwi while the Carrier services division is headed by George Mokogi. Former Access Kenya Deputy CEO Kris Senanu as the MD of its Enterprise Division. The firm which is yet to fill the real estate segment head has also now announced the appointment of a former Safaricom head of Finance, Planning and Analysis, as its Chief Finance Officer. Prior to his appointment, Sundararaman Pattabiraman was the Director of the Board and Chief Financial Officer at Essar Telecom Kenya Limited and also a Chief Controller at Bharti Airtel Limited. He also held senior positions at Hutchison Essar (Now Vodafone India) and Gillette and TVS Electronics.
A career accountant, Mr. Pattabiraman brings on board over 22 years’ experience, in Africa and Asia, 16 of which have been in the telcom sector. Pattabiraman holds a B.Com degree from the University of India, Madras and Chartered Accountancy qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He is also a Cost Accountant from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and a Company Secretary from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He has also taken a Senior Management Program from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.
