Press Releases

Budapest, September 25, 2007 16:45

At its meeting held today, Magyar Telekom’s Board of Directors decided to re-shape the Company’s management and organizational structure in order to enhance service quality and improve cost efficiency, as well as exploit new, innovative service and business opportunities.

Today’s decision reflects the significant structural changes that are underway in the telecommunications industry, driven by long-term industry trends. The ongoing technological development and innovation, changes in customer demand, as well as the changing market dynamics and convergence experienced throughout the industry, have resulted in a shift of focus away from technology and towards the demands of individual customer segments. As a consequence, Magyar Telekom’s operational structure in telecommunications services must be aligned with this development, to allow the company to continue to cope successfully with intensifying market competition.

Accordingly, Magyar Telekom’s executive management has devised a new management structure, based on a Group operational model structured around customer segments. The new structure, which will support the Group’s achievement of its strategic goals, will be introduced on January 1, 2008, as approved by the Board of Directors. Both the organizational framework and scope of activity of individual business units, and the responsibility spheres of senior management will be affected. The main changes are as follows:

• The Consumer Services Business Unit will comprise comprehensive marketing, sales and customer relations activities of both mobile and wireline consumer products and brands (T-Mobile, T-Com, T-Online).
• The Business Services Business Unit will provide mobile and wireline telecommunications, infocommunications and system integration services (including marketing, sales and customer relations activities) under the T-Systems brand to key business partners (large corporate customers) as well as small and medium businesses.
• An Alternative Businesses and Corporate Development Business Unit will be established comprising content, media and other non-access services; it will also be responsible for new business development and the coordination of innovative activities. Accordingly, media and content service activities, which will be separated from T-Online Hungary from October 2007 will also be incorporated into this business unit.
• The mobile and wireline network management and development activities will be transferred to the current IT Management area, which will take responsibility for Technology and IT Management.

The number of senior executive positions will remain unchanged. The Management Committee, responsible for the operational management of the Group, will continue to have 7 members (Chairman-CEO and 6 Chief Officers). János Winkler (currently Chief Officer of Mobile Services line of business) will be appointed Chief Operating Officer of Consumer Services Business Unit, and the Business Services Business Unit will be headed by Chief Operating Officer István Papp. György Simó (currently head of the Wireline Services line of business and CEO T-Online Hungary) has been assigned by the Board of Directors to head the Alternative Businesses and Corporate Development Business Unit. The expanded Technology and IT Management area will remain under the direction of István Maradi as Chief Technology Officer, while Thilo Kusch and Éva Somorjai will continue to hold their respective positions as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer.

The Board of Directors has instructed Magyar Telekom’s Management Committee to elaborate the details of the related changes that will take place in the Company’s operations and activities, and start negotiations on these with the relevant employee representative bodies. Magyar Telekom will provide information about the expected financial impacts of the changes and the details of the agreements after the closing of these negotiations.