Telia’s board identified TDC chief Allison Kirkby (pictured) as its preferred replacement for Johan Dennelind, who stood down [1] as CEO of the Swedish operator last month, Svenska Dagbladet reported.
The Swedish daily noted if Telia successfully woos Kirkby it could create something of a dream team if the company follows through on a demand by the nation’s government to replace chair Marie Ehrling with Lars-Johan Jarnheimer.
Sweden’s government is Telia’s major shareholder, with a 38.4 per cent stake. It called for the change [2] this week shortly after the operator reported a 16 per cent annual decline in profit [3] during Q3, with businessman Jarnheimer identified as the preferred replacement by the company’s nomination committee.
Svenska Dagbladet highlighted Jarnheimer’s near ten-year term as CEO of Tele2 (ending in 2008) as a factor in the board’s move for Kirkby: she left the same role in 2018 [4] to take up her current position at the helm of Danish operator TDC, meaning the pair hold a similar background which could ultimately be beneficial to Telia’s future strategy.
While it noted Telia had declined to comment, the newspaper added a final decision on the move is imminent.
[1] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/telia-cfo-takes-temporary-charge-as-dennelind-departs-early/[2] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/sweden-pushes-to-replace-telia-chair/
[3] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/telia-hails-progress-in-full-year-goals-despite-profit-drop/
[4] https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/tele2-ceo-to-move-to-tdc/
