Press Releases

Budapest, September 1, 2009 14:00

Based on the decision of Magyar Telekom's Board of Directors, a new strategy and corporate development unit has been set up as of September 1, 2009. Specific tasks of both the former Alternative Businesses and Corporate Development Business Unit and the Group Strategy Directorate will be taken over by the new chief officer's area; at the same time, the two former organizations will cease to exist. The new, integrated management unit is headed by Róbert Pataki as Chief Strategic and Corporate Development Officer.

As a result of restructuring, a new unit came into being at Magyar Telekom on September 1, 2009 covering the major part of activities of both the former Alternative Businesses and Corporate Development Business Unit and the Group Strategy Directorate. The new unit is headed by Chief Strategic and Corporate Development Officer Róbert Pataki; as a member of the senior executive body Management Committee, he will report directly to the Chairman-CEO.

In order to enhance operational efficiency and leverage intra-group synergies, strategy and corporate development will be linked more closely than ever within the new unit. Group-level business development activities will be based on corporate strategy, and within the framework defined by the strategy the new unit will identify potential markets, map and evaluate them from a business point of view, launch corporate development projects on them and test the market viability of products under real market conditions. As a key feature of the new organizational concept, products that have been developed and reached an appropriate level of maturity will be transferred to the business units that constitute the basis of mass sales, know the consumer habits best, have great professional expertise in sales and operate in the normal course of business.

In addition to the tasks of the two integrated predecessor units, the new management unit will also cover the Magyar Telekom Group's media and content services companies (Origo Zrt., M Factory Zrt., TeleData Kft., Telekom Média Holding Zrt.) and Kibu Innováció Nonprofit Kft. as well as the Group's international subsidiaries.

In connection with restructuring, Róbert Pataki, Chief Strategic and Corporate Development Officer, said:
"A few years ago Magyar Telekom set up a dedicated corporate development team to explore the opportunities and development directions that represent growth potential for the Group. In this way, based on our knowledge and assets, we managed to get a foothold in new markets and business areas that are not typical telecom markets but could come into closer connection with telecommunications after certain services have been developed. In the coming period and in the newly established unit, media and content services will remain among the most important directions of our corporate development activities. We put a strong emphasis on launching new TV channels and, in addition to content, we are working on the introduction of innovative technological platforms as well. Other important corporate development directions include our involvement in the energy market and health care. In the future, we would like to achieve outstanding results in these areas with corporate development projects that can guarantee well-balanced and continuous growth for Magyar Telekom on the long run."