Jeff Dodds has agreed to leave Tele2 Netherlands to return to the UK and become managing director of mobile at fixed-line challenger TalkTalk in April. Dodds joined the Dutch business two years ago and managed its evolution from an MVNO to a network operator – a transition TalkTalk’s MVNO may look to emulate.
Jeff Dodds has agreed to leave Tele2 Netherlands to return to the UK and become managing director of mobile at fixed-line challenger TalkTalk (LON:TALK) in April.
A former Virgin Media executive, Dodds joined the Dutch subsidiary of Tele2 (STO:TEL2) two years ago and managed its evolution from an MVNO to a network operator – a transition TalkTalk’s MVNO may look to emulate.
According to Tele2 CEO Allison Kirkby, Dodds’ family returned to the UK last summer and subsequently she worked with him “on an effective transition plan in order for him to return home”. He will be succeeded by Malin Holmberg.
Dodds commented: “I’ve had two great years at Tele2, where I’ve worked alongside some fantastic colleagues, and had the pleasure of leading some of the most talented people in the Dutch telecoms market. I’ll always be proud of launching our 4G mobile network last November.
“I am now looking forward to a new adventure with TalkTalk Plc back in the UK, from where I’ll enjoy watching Tele2’s continued success.”
His appointment at TalkTalk comes as the UK mobile sector approaches a crossroads. The European Commission is set to rule on the merger of Three and O2 by 22 April, which would reduce the number of network operators from four to three. Should the deal be approved, the expectation is that the companies could be required to offer a significant remedies package.
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has previously expressed a preference for structural remedies, which could mean Three-O2 will be required to divest infrastructure and spectrum to help facilitate the creation of a new fourth player.
This week, French telecoms disruptor Xavier Niel’s was reported to have signalled a “preliminary” interest in entering the UK mobile market to regulator Ofcom.
The report suggested Niel’s interest was contingent on acquiring divested infrastructure, and fingered Sky and TalkTalk as two other companies that could look to take advantage of the situation and scale up their MVNOs.
In its last financial results, published in November, TalkTalk cited remedies accruing from the Three-O2 regulatory review as an opportunity for the company to improve its mobile offering. And last summer, TalkTalk reportedly lobbied the British government to become the UK’s new fourth mobile operator if Three’s merger with O2 wins regulatory approval.
At present TalkTalk’s MVNO is set to transition on to O2’s network from Vodafone in Q1 2017.
