Former Vodacom Exec Jorge Mendes is The new Cell C CEO

Telecommunications company Cell C has appointed former Vodacom executive as their new CEO, replacing Douglas Craige Stevenson. Mendes will start his duties as CEO on 1^st July 2023.

Mandes is the latest addition to the company after Cell C said it had appointed former MTN South Africa CEO Godfrey Motsa and former Vodacom chief officer for corporate affairs Maya Makanjee to its board.

In a statement Cell C said, “Mendes brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role and is widely regarded as a strategic leader with a proven track record of driving growth and profitability in the telecommunications industry,” Cell C said on Thursday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jorge Mendes to the Cell C team,” said Joe Mthimunye, Cell C chairman in a statement. “Jorge has a deep understanding of the telco industry, and his track record of success speaks for itself. We are confident that his leadership and vision will help to take Cell C to new heights of growth and profitability in the years to come.”

Mendes shared his excitement to be joining the telecoms company. “I am excited to be joining Cell C at such a critical time in its history,” said Mendes. My focus will be on delivering a true customer-centric approach that exceeds the expectations of South Africans. We know that consumers want honesty, transparency, and worry-free solutions that are affordable, offering them flexibility and control. Our vision is to become the brand of choice for the discerning South African seeking the best experience.

The company has been struggling with its debt, in 2022 it reported a 1% fall in subscribers to about 12.8 million. Cell C gave up its expensive tower network and partnered with MTN for its customers to use the company’s network.