MegaFon appoints first deputy chief Tavrin as general director
MOSCOW. April 20 (Interfax) - Ivan Tavrin, the first deputy chief of MegaFon , has been appointed the company's general director.
The telco said in a statement on its website that a decision of MegaFon's extraordinary shareholders meeting on Tavrin's appointment will enter into force on April 20.
Sergei Soldatenkov was the previous general director of MegaFon, where he occupied that position for nine years. His powers expire in June 2012 and were terminated ahead of schedule.
Tavrin's appointment as general director had been anticipated. He became a member of the executive board at the start of the year as first deputy chairman and is also chairman of the board of directors at the UTV media holding, which he set up together with Alisher Usmanov, one of Megafon's main shareholders.
Sergei Soldatenkov has said he would not be against continuing to work for Megafon as a non-executive director, but that he intends invest in other business, possibly the oil industry. Telecoms market source have said Soldatenkov has been discussed as a possible communications and information minister, but this has not officially been confirmed.
Megafon said in a press release on April 20 that the board backed an initiative by shareholders to nominate him for membership at this year's annual shareholders meeting.
TeliaSonera owns 43.77% of Megafon (35.6% directly), companies controlled by billionaire Alisher Usmanov hold 31.13% (8.22% directly, 23.3% through Telecominvest) and Alfa Group's Altimo owns 25.1%.