KINGSTON, JAMAICA -(MARKET WIRE) — Digicel Group, the fastest growing mobile telecommunications company in the Caribbean, today announced the appointment of three new executives who will help the company achieve its goals for continued growth in 2005.
The new appointments include Mr. Ken Mason as Digicel group business development director, Mr. Mario Assaad as group chief technology officer and Mr. Eric Viel as group customer facing services director. In addition to these three new positions, Mr. Michael Staunton has been named group human resources director. These executives bring a wealth of management experience to Digicel, which will help the company expand its current operations to new countries while reinforcing Digicel’s commitment to superior customer service.
Digicel currently operates in seven countries including Aruba, Barbados, The Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and is the largest GSM mobile operator in the region with an average market share of 60 percent. Digicel plans to further extend its footprint across the Caribbean, and is currently one of five operators being considered for an operating license in Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel’s customer base grew 33 percent in 2004 and the company was ranked number one in customer satisfaction in Jamaica according to an independent study.
“Digicel’s staff and management team are largely responsible for our success to date. Our unique culture is driven by seasoned telecom executives and industry experts with vast experience in building, expanding and marketing mobile services both in the Caribbean and in other international markets,” said Digicel Group CEO, Mr. Raoul Fontanez. “With these new positions filled by Ken Mason, Mario Assaad and Eric Viel, we are well-positioned for continued expansion in the region, bringing wireless users new, innovative services and superior coverage.”
Jamaican national Ken Mason joins Digicel from the Lewis Group/Pario Solutions, where he was responsible for the business development, and corporate and government relations in Jamaica and the Caribbean. As group business development director, he will play an integral role in Digicel’s expansion into new markets.
Mario Assaad and Eric Viel both join Digicel from Orange Dominicana (Dominican Republic) with a combined twelve years of wireless telecommunications experience in the Caribbean. Prior to Orange, both were involved in the launch and support of multiple international GSM operators around the world. As group chief technology officer and group customer facing services director, respectively, Assaad and Viel will strengthen Digicel’s ability to anticipate, innovate and develop mobile services that customers demand.
Group human resource director, Michael Staunton will be responsible for leading and facilitating organizational change to support the company’s growth into new markets. He will utilize his extensive HR experience gained through tenure at multinational companies in Europe, including Motorola.
