Telkom appoints Reuben September CEO

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Gatecrasher

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http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/2038.html

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From Reuters:

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - South African fixed-line operator Telkom <TKGJ.J> has appointed Reuben September as chief executive with immediate effect, the company said on Thursday.
September has been acting CEO since April and has worked at the company in technical, commercial and leadership positions for 30 years, Telkom said.
The previous chief executive Papi Molotsane quit in April, after 18 months in the job. At the time, Telkom did not say why Molotsane -- who faced criticism from shareholders over his leadership -- had left.
Molotsane had taken the helm at Telkom with no experience in telecoms and a mandate to safeguard profits despite tough competition in Africa's biggest economy, both from mobile firms and a new fixed-line operator.
September, 50, who holds a degree in electronic and electrical engineering, was Telkom's chief operating officer prior to being appointed as acting CEO, and was an "expert in the strategic and operational evolution of the telecommunications industry," Telkom said.
Shares in Telkom were up 0.82 percent at 165.35 rand against a fall of 0.41 percent by the Top-40 index <.JTOPI> at 0819 GMT.
Telkom holds a 50 percent stake in Vodacom, South Africa's largest mobile operator, and on Monday posted a 15 percent fall in first-half headline earnings per share as operating expenses and finance charges rose.
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Don't know much about Reuben, but at least he has been in the Company for a long time and should know what is potting.
Let's give this guy a chance to prove himself.
This may be the turning point for Telkom's dismal Public Image?
 
What he should do to save Telkom and get a lot of mileage in terms of customer respect is to drop all their prices through the bank with 50%...

That will go a long way into getting things right.
 
Congratulations Mr September... For getting appointed Prime Evil. They didn't like your "acting" it seems.
 
antowan said:
What he should do to save Telkom and get a lot of mileage in terms of customer respect is to drop all their prices through the bank with 50%...

That will go a long way into getting things right.
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Carry on dreaming antowan :D Our pal Reuben's had 8 months at the helm already and has been with Telkom for loads of time. I don't see much changing. At this stage I believe it is impossible for Telkom to change until either the entire top management structure is changed or the company dies/is sold off/is chopped up into little itty bitty pieces.
 
ShaunSA said:
At this stage I believe it is impossible for Telkom to change until either the entire top management structure is changed or the company dies/is sold off/is chopped up into little itty bitty pieces.
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Agreed. Best option would be to chop the beast up.

Their current structure is typical of an inefficient parastatal, so when it comes to free enterprise they'll never be able to compete on service.

If they go that way, then they may as well rebrand. There is something very uncool about the brand "Telkom Media", i think it's the "Telkom" part :)
 
Touch Tomorrow

feo said:
I doubt that.
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Me too.
If he has been with Telkom this long he must have completed the standard course "Screwing the Public 101". :D

Seriously though, Reuben has the Technical Background which may be good for embracing that "tomorrow" that Telkom's Motto states in the way of new technology.
Here we are scratching around with restricted below entry level ADSL, I certainly hope Reuben makes a point of upping these levels to something decent.
 
UglyKidJoe said:
Best option would be to chop the beast up.
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[fx: horror film] hundreds of little Telkoms all slithering into the shadows, much rejoicing from the assembled torch wielding mob; then months later the army of stronger, fully grown, more evil Telkoms return and take over the world... :eek:
 
So what was the rumour that our man Mbeki was blocking this appointment - or was that made up as well?
 
BTTB said:
Seriously though, Reuben has the Technical Background which may be good for embracing that "tomorrow" that Telkom's Motto states in the way of new technology.
Here we are scratching around with restricted below entry level ADSL, I certainly hope Reuben makes a point of upping these levels to something decent.
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His "10Mbps by 2011" promise/threat to investors kind of throws a wet blanket on your hopes.
 
XCentricdave said:
[fx: horror film] hundreds of little Telkoms all slithering into the shadows, much rejoicing from the assembled torch wielding mob; then months later the army of stronger, fully grown, more evil Telkoms return and take over the world... :eek:
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:D ...all bearing a striking resemblance to Ivy. Now there's horror for ya!
 
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the Board congratulates September on his appointment and wishes him every success in the creation of value for all Telkom stakeholders.
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Damn... that probably means shareholders, right? Because the only part of the "stake" we, the consumers, get to hold, is the one through our wallets...
 
BTTB said:
Don't know much about Reuben, but at least he has been in the Company for a long time and should know what is potting.
Let's give this guy a chance to prove himself.
This may be the turning point for Telkom's dismal Public Image?
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Over-optimistic. September may know the company well, and he may be good for shareholders, but I'm pretty sure this is not good for us.

What about the allegations that Reuben September has a web of inappropriate and self-serving relationships with suppliers? What about this mystery dossier on this subject that's apparantly circulating?

Obviously Telkom couldn't find anyone better in the past 8 months or whatever, so the last resort is to appoint September. It was getting a bit ridiculous that they had been so long without a CEO. At the agm this year I asked (or asked someone else to ask, can't remember) Telkom why they had taken so long to find a CEO. The response was, in essence, that they wanted to find the best man for the job. Reuben's been there all along (and since 1977, iirc), evidently his appointment is a last resort.
 
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Debbie2 said:
The response was, in essence, that they wanted to find the best man for the job. Reuben's been there all along (and since 1977, iirc), evidently his appointment is a last resort.
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But that could be good. Just look at their previous "best" appointments:rolleyes: So maybe they will get someone that they don't really want...and someone in turn that won't really do what they want :D
 
Zenbaas said:
But that could be good. Just look at their previous "best" appointments:rolleyes: So maybe they will get someone that they don't really want...and someone in turn that won't really do what they want :D
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I've met Mr September on two occasions... he's a *smart man (*excluding the allegation that he took 7 years to do a 4 year degree)... he just seems to be the type to have 'things up his sleeve'. I don't think he'll do as well as Papi on the PR side, he doesn't have that sort of charm.
 
PR is useless unfortunately. Im only really interested in action. But i hear what you are saying and its sad. But that said he probably already has a few "pennies" up his sleeves :D
 
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