Morten Bentzen has become CEO of Swedish telco TeliaSonera’s Danish subsidiary after the company abandoned its planned joint venture in the country following regulatory resistance.
Morten Bentzen has become CEO of Swedish telco TeliaSonera’s (OMX:TLSN) Danish subsidiary after the company abandoned its planned joint venture in the country following regulatory resistance.
A management team led by Hilde Tonne was installed in August for the combination of Telia Denmark and Telenor’s (OSE:TEL) Danish unit, but this was mothballed after the merger was scrapped.
Bentzen, previously Telia Denmark’s head of enterprise, succeeds Sören Abildgaard as head of the operator. Telia Denmark is the country’s third largest mobile operator with around 17% of mobile subscribers.
Consolidation in Denmark’s mobile market is off the table after the European Commission effectively blocked the Telia-Telenor merger, which would have reduced the market from four players to three. Any future attempt at M&A in the country would have to involve fourth player Three.
TeliaSonera rejigs management
Abildgaard has returned to TeliaSonera’s Stockholm headquarters to become the acting head of its new combined group commercial and technology unit, which will come together at the start of 2016 as part of a strategic shift. He will also take on the role of chief commercial officer and become part of the group executive management team.
Erik Hallberg, formerly the leader of TeliaSonera’s ‘Eurasian’ unit, has been named head of the group’s new global businesses unit, which will become part of the combined group commercial and technology unit.
In mid-September, TeliaSonera announced plans to sell the operators within its ‘Eurasian’ business unit, saying it would focus on developing its operations in Europe.
“Going forward TeliaSonera will focus on core areas such as connectivity and convergence – while supplementing with new initiatives in areas that complement, and strengthen, the core business,” the company said at the time.
Commenting on the executive changes, TeliaSonera CEO Johan Dennelind said: “Sören brings great operational experience and I am convinced that he will do a great job as acting head of the combined unit and as chief commercial officer.”
“Erik’s background and experience is ideal for taking our global business further as it’s an important part of our ambition to change the industry. And I wish Morten all the best leading our Danish operations going forward.”