Rating: Anne Bouverot takes over from Rob Conway. Remember him?
Given the spectacular gaff GoMo News made over the succession of power at the GSMA see here, we can make immediate amends by revealing that the new ‘director general’ of the GSMA is Ms Anne Bouverot. She most recently acted as an executive vp for mobile services with France Telecom Orange. She will assume leadership of the GSMA as from September 1st [2011]. Strange, however, that the official announcement makes absolutely no mention of the GSMA’s previous CEO (notice the different title), Rob Conway. His departure was officially announced on June 7th [2011]. Of course, Ms Bouverot, is ideally place for the GSMA as she’d appreciate that GSM actually stands for Groupe Spécial Mobile not Global System for Mobile communications. “[Ms Bouverot] has a deep understanding of the opportunities and the challenges facing mobile operators today, and will leverage this as she leads the GSMA in driving strategic programmes and initiatives for the benefit of its membership,” commented Franco Bernabè, chairman of the GSMA Board and CEO of the Telecom Italia Group.
She holds MSc and PhD degrees in mathematics and computer science and an MSc from Telecom Paris.
Given that Paris didn’t make it as the centre for the GSMA’s World Capital, it’s some compensation to have a French national in charge of the GSMA.
“We are now entering a new phase, where virtually everyone and everything is connected by mobile, and with many new challenges facing the industry,” Ms Bouverot observed.
Is this an attempt to subliminally plug France Telecom’s new co-venture, Everything Everywhere, GoMo News wonders?
Just to show that we haven’t forgotten Rob when his departure was announced, Franco Bernabè said, “[Rob] has nurtured the Mobile World Congress into an extraordinary yearly event where the mobile industry convenes to do business. We wish Rob well as he looks to the future.”
