By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Telecommunications group Cell C has appointed Jorge Mendes as its new CEO, effective July 1, 2023.
Mendes’ appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company with increasing competition in the market, according to Cell C chairperson Joe Mthimunye.
“He has a proven track record of driving growth and profitability in challenging market conditions, and his appointment is seen as a positive step towards restoring Cell C’s position as a key player in the industry.”
With a deep understanding of the telecommunications industry and a track record of success, Cell C is confident that his leadership and vision will help take the company to new heights of growth and profitability in the years to come, said Mthimunye, commenting on the extensive experience and expertise Mendes will bring to the role.
Mendes has over 25 years of experience in the sector, having held senior leadership positions at major mobile network providers in South Africa and internationally, most recently serving as Vodacom chief consumer officer, where he successfully led a period of significant growth and expansion.
He will replace Douglas Craigie Stevenson, who stepped down from the role in March this year.
Mendes appointment comes days after Cell C announced the inclusion of Maya Makanjee and Godfrey Motsa to its board, saying the company’s focus is on accelerating growth and fuelling investor confidence.
Both executives have extensive experience in the telecoms space, having worked for Cell C’s peers in the past.
Cell C recently navigated a complex transaction to de-leverage the balance sheet as part of the telco’s turnaround strategy.