The planned Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania merger, which started with the appointment of a joint CEO for the two companies, continues with several new managers for both companies, and the creation of several jobs which should smooth the merger process, "to respond to the needs of better coordination of the companies, in order to improve both businesses’ performance, reads a statement of the two operators. All the six new managers, which will start their new jobs in the beginning of August 2013, report to Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania CEO Nikolai Beckers.

Thus, Gunnar Pahnke (in picture), 44, was appointed Chief Strategy, Transformation and Wholesale Services Officer Romania, for fixed and mobile operations at Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania. He will be responsible for the overall strategy in the two companies and will act as the operational lead of the transformation processes. Moreover, Pahnke will manage the activities for carrier services / wholesale.

Gunnar Pahnke has over 20 years of experience in industry expertise, both in telecom (fixed / mobile), and in internet and media / TV. His career with Deutsche Telekom started in 1995, and he has held several management positions in the areas of marketing, sales, strategy and M&A.

Pahnke holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Poitiers, France, as well as two Masters Degrees, one in Marketing and Internationalization from the University of Poitiers, France and one in Business Administration from Ecole Nationale Superieure des P&T, Paris, France.

Bogdan Voicu, 44, was is appointed Chief Supply Chain Officer Romania for fix and mobile operations at Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania. From this position, Voicu will coordinate the overall supply chain processes of the two companies.

Bogdan Voicu joined Romtelecom at the end of 2011, following a selection process. Before joining the telecom company, Voicu gained an extensive experience in similar management positions in the mobile telecommunications market.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting and Information Systems Management from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.

Another naming refers to Emmanuel Sordet, 45, who was appointed Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Romania for fix and mobile operations at Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania. He will coordinate the legal and regulatory activities, aiming to establish and maintain open communication channels with various external stakeholders and governmental bodies, reads the statement.

Emmanuel Sordet holds two professional Masters’ Degrees, one in “European and International Management” and the other in “Audiovisual Communication Law” obtained from the Sorbonne University (Paris I). He also holds a Masters’ Degree of research in “Public and private Law” from the Sorbonne University (Paris II).

Ruxandra Voda, 36, was named Corporate Communications General Manager Romania - fixed and mobile operations, Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania. She is currently the Corporate Communications Senior Manager of Cosmote Romania. From the new position, Voda will manage the design and deployment of the companies’ communication strategy, in support of the business objectives.

Ruxandra Voda has over 15 years of experience in corporate communications and integrated marketing communication. She joined Cosmote Romania in 2009.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication Sciences of University of Bucharest and a Master Degree in Audio-Video Communication from Bucharest National School for Political and Administrative Studies.

Olaf Lausen, 37, was appointed as Chief of Staff Romania (fixed and mobile operations, Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania). From this position, he will support the Chief Executive Officer, according to his strategic guideline and direction in order to increase the effectiveness of the CEO.

Lausen has been with Romtelecom since 2008 as General Manager New Business Development, managing commercial and business development projects. He has 13 years of experience in telecommunications in Germany and CEE region, including similar roles.

He graduated as Diplom-Kaufmann (MBA equivalent) at the University of Technology in Dresden, Germany.

Also, Mathias Hanel, 46, was appointed Chief Commercial Officer Romania (fixed and mobile operations, Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania). He replaces Panos Makris, the current Chief Commercial Officer Romania, who, starting August 1, 2013, will leave the group.

In this role, Mathias Hanel will be responsible to coordinate all commercial efforts and initiatives of the two organizations.

His expertise covers the telecommunications industry, with successful assignments both in fixed and mobile operations. Since 1995, he has been a part of the Deutsche Telekom Group, with engagements at T-Mobile International in Bonn and London and at PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia in Jakarta. His last position was Chief Operating Officer Consumer for Makedonski Telekom and T-Mobile Macedonia.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com