• Cell C has found a replacement for Douglas Craigie Stevenson as its CEO, after he resigned in March 2023.
• The telco has selected former Vodacom marketing executive Jorge Mendes.
• It recently also appointed a former MTN chief executive to its board of directors as part of ongoing efforts to right its business.

After just over a month without a solid leader, telecom Cell C has appointed a new CEO to replace interim officer Brett Copans.

The telecom announced on Thursday that it has selected Vodacom veteran Jorge Mendes as chief executive, who will assume his responsibilities as of 1st July 2023. Prior to his appointment at the top spot in Cell C, he served as Vodacom’s chief officer in charge of the consumer business unit.

Beyond this, he served at various African branches of Vodacom, including Tanzania and Mozambique as a marketing executive.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jorge Mendes to the Cell C team,” said Joe Mthimunye, Cell C Board Chairman in a press release sent to Hypertext.

“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 says that he is excited to be joining Cell C at “such a critical time in its history.” The ailing telecom has struggled to thrive in the competitive South African market. In 2019, the telecom announced a R8.3 billion loss, which also revealed enormous amounts of debt.

It then underwent a recapitalisation in order to deal with the debt and begin righting the ship. In 2022, it sold 49.53 percent of its business to Blue Label Telecoms. Former CEO Douglas Craigie Stevenson was leading Cell C during this time, before he resigned citing personal reasons.

“I believe that Cell C has tremendous potential and look forward to working with the talented and dedicated team to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service to our customers,” 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.”

On Wednesday Cell C made another two key appointments, adding a former MTN CEO to its board of directors.

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