Boingo
Wireless local area network provider and aggregator Boingo Wireless Inc. named David Hagan chief executive officer, replacing company founder Sky Dayton, who will remain chairman of the board at Boingo. Hagan previously served as Boingo’s president and chief operating officer. Boingo said that Hagan will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the company and adds organizational responsibilities for the office of the chief technology officer, corporate counsel, and finance and administrations to his previous responsibilities. Hagan also joins the company’s board of directors. Dayton, who founded Boingo in late 2001, said he will continue to focus on strategy and on working with key partners to evangelize the promise of broadband wireless and Boingo’s global roaming system. “By making this change, the board is acknowledging the great contribution Dave has made to Boingo while at the same time focusing both of our efforts on the things we do best,” Dayton added.
Rogers Wireless
Following the recently announced successful tender offer results relating to Canadian wireless operator Rogers Wireless Communications Inc.’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., Rogers Wireless appointed Alain Rheaume executive vice president of Microcell. Rheaume previously served as president and chief operating officer of Microcell subsidiary Microcell Solutions Inc., where he was in charge of marketing the carrier’s Fido-branded wireless service.
Rogers Wireless also reported that certain senior officers of Microcell have resigned, including former president and CEO Andre Tremblay, who fought off an unsolicited takeover bid by Telus Corp. in favor of Rogers Wireless’ bid, and former CFO and treasurer Jacques Leduc. John Gossling, current Rogers Wireless vice president and chief financial officer, was named to the same position at Microcell. In addition, Rogers Wireless announced the composition of Microcell’s new board of directors, which will replace the company’s previous board. The new board includes H. Garfield Emerson, George Fierheller, Ann Graham, James Grant, Thomas Hull, Nadir Mohamed, Pierre Morrissette, David Peterson, Ted Rogers, Martha Rogers and J. Christopher Wansbrough.
CellStar Corp.
Wireless phone distribution company CellStar Corp. announced it hired Zhang Yue, a former China Mobile Communications executive, as its senior vice president of Asia Pacific operations. The move is notable as CellStar recently canceled its initial public offering in China and exited its Singapore and Filipino operations. CellStar executives said the decision to hire Yue stems from the company’s new business direction in China. The company plans to work more closely with Chinese carriers in order to distribute phones, rather than through a loose alliance of local distributors. “Carriers are playing an increasingly important role in China’s handset market,” said A.S. Horng, chief executive officer and chairman of CellStar’s Asia Pacific operations. “Therefore, we need to increase our focus on our carrier relationships in order to thrive in this market. Mr. Zhang’s arrival will be a big push for us as we strive to increase our revenues from handset sales and services to carriers. Our local distributor customers are all eager to leverage Mr. Zhang’s relationships and influence in the industry to increase their cooperation with the carriers. We have high confidence in Mr. Zhang and expect that he will be a key player in the success of our China operation in the future.”
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless reported that John Townsend will be named vice president and chief financial officer effective in January. Townsend will replace current vice president and CFO Andrew Halford, who is set to join Verizon Wireless’ parent company, Vodafone Group plc, in July as group financial director. Townsend, who previously served as financial director of Vodafone U.K., will be responsible for the controller, financial analysis and planning, auditing, tax, treasury, revenue assurance and business strategy organizations for Verizon Wireless.
