Changes to composition of executive body

13.04.2021

Almaty, 12 April 2021 – Kcell Joint Stock Company (“Kcell” or the “Company”) (LSE, KASE: KCEL; AIX: KCEL, KCEL.Y), the leading provider of mobile telecommunications services in Kazakhstan, today announces that on 9 April 2021, its Board of Directors adopted the following decisions:

  1. Acceptance of the termination of the employment agreement of Sergey Yeltsov, member of the Management Board, Chief Legal Officer of Kcell JSC, effective from 16 April 2021 at the initiative of the employee.
  2. Election of Sevil Gassanova as a member of the Management Board, Chief Legal Officer of Kcell JSC, from 19 April 2021 to 1 July 2022.
  3. Election of Maria Averchenko as a member of the Management Board, Chief Commercial Director of Kcell JSC, from 9 April 2021 to 1 July 2022.
  4. Election of Alexey Bobrov as a member of the Management Board, Chief Financial Officer of Kcell JSC from 9 April 2021 to 1 July 2022.

The new composition of the Management Board of Kcell JSC:

  1. Yuri Kharlamov – Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer; term of office until 31 July 2021;
  2. Askar Yesserkegenov – member of the Management Board, Chief Technical Officer; term of office until 31 July 2021;
  3. Sevil Gassanova – member of the Management Board, Chief Legal Officer; term of office from 19 April 2021 to 1 July 2022;
  4. Maria Averchenko – member of the Management Board, Chief Commercial Officer; term of office from 9 April 2021 to 1 July 2022;
  5. Alexey Bobrov – member of the Management Board, Chief Financial Officer; term of office from 9 April 2021 to 1 July 2022.

Yuri Kharlamov, Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer of Kcell JSC, commented:

“I would like to thank Sergey Yeltsov for his dedication and hard work over the last two years. His experience and leadership skills have contributed to further development of our Company, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I am also pleased to welcome our new members of the Management Board: Sevil Gassanova, Maria Averchenko and Alexey Bobrov. I am sure their invaluable international experience and expertise will help us to take Kcell forward and achieve even greater success.”

Short biographies of the new members of the Management Board are set out below:

Sevil Gassanova is a qualified Kazakh lawyer and has respective qualifications of an English solicitor, with more than 15 years of experience in international companies across the energy and construction sectors, including Norton Rose, the Rosatom group of companies and the PJSC Lukoil group of companies. Ms. Gassanova has extensive experience in international arbitration. She is an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Arbitrators and holds an LLM from Stockholm University. Ms. Gassanova joined Kcell in May 2020 as a counsel.

Maria Averchenko has over 17 years of experience in the telecommunication and banking sectors. From 2017 to 2021, she worked as a Partner Relationships Director at Vimpelcom Ltd, and prior to that, between 2015 and 2017, she was a Commercial Director B2C. Previously, Ms. Averchenko held a number of senior positions in RTK (MTS retail chain) and Euroset. She graduated from the Krasnoyarsk State Technical University with a degree in Computer and Engineering Graphics.

Alexey Bobrov has over 20 years of experience in finance and audit. Mr. Bobrov has held various managerial positions in international companies. Between 2018 and 2021, Mr. Bobrov served as Vice President for Finance at AvtoVAZ JSC. Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Officer in the Michelin group of companies, as well as an auditor at E & Y / Andersen and a financial controller at Lafarge SA. Mr. Bobrov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) with a degree in International Economics. Mr. Bobrov is Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Enquiries:

Kcell 
Investor Relations 
Irina SholTel: +7 727 2582755 ext. 1002Investor_relations@kcell.kz
  
International Media 
Instinctif PartnersTel: +44 207 457 2020
Kay Larsen, Galyna Kulachek 

Company Overview

Kcell provides mobile voice telecommunications services, messaging services, value-added services such as multimedia and mobile content services, as well as data transmission services including internet access. It has two brands: the Kcell brand, which is targeted primarily at corporate subscribers (including government subscribers), and the Activ brand, which is targeted primarily at mass-market subscribers. The Company offers its services through its extensive, high quality network, which covers substantially all of the populated territory of Kazakhstan.

Kcell plans to continue investing in the deployment of its 3G/4G network to expand coverage and to introduce high quality services. Kcell aims to provide high quality services at competitive prices, expand its offering of products and services, while maintaining the high quality of its network and enhancing its brand value.

Member of the Management Board, Chief Finance Officer

Sabigat Rakhmetov graduated with honours from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Forecasting (KIMEP) with a degree in finance.

His experience spans over 13 years in finance and investments, M&A, financial and economic analysis, transaction structuring and portfolio management, including international portfolio investment management.

He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers Tax & Advisory LLP (PWC) in 2011. He worked at Samruk-Kazyna for over six years, rising to the position of Director of the Investment and Business Support Department.

From 2022 until now, he has served as Director of the Investment and Strategy Group at KazMunayGaz International N.V., Bucharest, Romania.

Kirill Strashenko graduated from the Almaty Institute of Energy and Communications in 2004, majoring in Telecommunication Engineering. From 2004 to 2016, he has held various positions at Kcell JSC, from a Data Transmission Systems Engineer to Manager of Data Transmission Systems Section. From 2016 to 2018, he has held the position of Network and IT Infrastructure Manager, and was also appointed as Project Manager for the Unified LTE Network Construction project (a joint project with Kar-Tel LLP). He was appointed Deputy Technical Director (2018-2021) and later Network Development Manager (2021-May 2022). In 2019, he was awarded the state award "Kurmetty Bailanyshy”.

Member of the Management Board, Chief Corporate Officer

Dauren Shaikhin holds a master's degree from the Kazakhstan-British Technical University (2016) and an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

He has 15 years of experience in a number of different areas within the financial markets, corporate finance, risk management, operations and procurement. He has successfully developed and implemented corporate strategies, improved companies' financial portfolios and optimized operational processes, contributing to profit growth.

Dauren Shaikhin began his career in 2008 as a leading broker in Kazakhstan's securities market at Eurasian Capital JSC. In 2018, he was Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Kcell JSC. Since 2023, he has been Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at RTsKS JSC (Astana, Kazakhstan).

Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer

Askar Zhambakin was elected Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Management Board of Kcell JSC, effective on July 15, 2024.

Askar Zhambakin has a degree in Multichannel Telecommunication Systems from the Almaty Institute of Energy and Communications, a Master's degree in Management and Information Systems from the University of Manchester, and a Diploma in Organizational Leadership from Saïd Business School.

He started his career as a communications technician at Air Kazakhstan, has worked as an engineer at Mobile Telecom-Service LLP (Tele2/Altel) for several years, worked at HSBC Bank Kazakhstan, where he was engaged in strategy, business process transformation. He was involved in similar tasks at Beintech LLP, a subsidiary of BI Group. He worked at the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, where he held various managerial positions, including Deputy Director of the Payment Systems Management and Development Department of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. In his previous role as Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace, he was involved in a number of key initiatives, including the digital transformation of public administration, business process re-engineering and data management.

Member of the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC and representative of a major shareholder Kazakhtelecom JSC.

Elected to the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC on 26 September 2024 at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.

Alibek Indykbayev has two degrees in finance and telecommunications and boasts over 19 years of professional experience.

He launched his career in 2005 in information technology, subsequently occupying senior roles at organizations such as KazTransCom JSC and acting as an IT advisor to the Chairman of the Management Board at Altyn Bank JSC.

He currently serves on the Management Board of Kazakhtelecom JSC as Director General of the Corporate Business Division.

He holds a degree in Finance from Turan University (2008) and a degree in Radio Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications from the Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communications named after M. Tynyshpayev (2018).

Member of the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC and representative of major shareholder Kazakhtelecom JSC.

Elected to the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on 26 September 2024.

Yerzhan Meiramov launched his career in 2004 at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, subsequently holding senior positions at the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, Astana EXPO 2017 National Company JSC, Qazkom, Fincraft Investment House JSC and Kcell JSC.

In 2021, Yerzhan Meiramov was appointed Chairman of the Telecommunications Committee under the Ministry of Digital Development and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

He graduated from King's College London with a degree in Public Administration.

Yerzhan Meiramov was awarded the State Medal 'Yeren Enbegi Ushin' on 14 October 2022.

Independent Director

Mr Abdualiyev has been a member of the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC since 28 May 2024.

Mr. Abdualiyev has a proven track record of success in international business, having held senior roles at leading companies such as TASKRABBIT, INC. as Head of Strategy and Development, MCKINSEY & COMPANY as Senior Consultant, and Almaty Development Centre JSC as Deputy Chairman of the Management Board.

He is the founder and CEO of Silkroad Innovation Hub, based in Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, USA).

Mr Abdualiyev holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Master of Science in Business Administration and Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr Abdualiyev is also an independent director of Kazakhtelecom JSC and a member of the boards of trustees of American University of Central Asia and Best for Kids PF.

Member of the Board of Directors, Independent Director

Mr. Zhamalov has been a member of the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC since 29 November 2023.

Mr. Zhamalov is an expert in the financial sector, having held senior roles at Kazkommerts Securities JSC, ING Bank N.V. in the London office and the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He also represented ING Bank N.V. in Kazakhstan, where he was appointed Head of the Presidency for Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Currently, he is appointed as the CEO of Mastercard in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Independent Director of Bolashaq Investments; member of the Board of Directors, Independent Director of the Republican Physics and Mathematics School; member of the Board of Directors, Independent Director of Otbasy Bank JSC; member of the Board of Directors, Independent Director of Jusan Invest JSC.

He joined the telecommunications sector in 2014 as the Chief Manager of the Department of Project Finance of Kazakhtelecom JSC, and was also a member of the Board of Directors of National Company KazSatNet JSC and National Information Technologies JSC, an operator of information and communication infrastructure of the ‘e-government’.

Mr. Zhamalov holds an Executive MBA from Cambridge University (UK), an MSc in International Financial Analysis from Newcastle University (UK) and a BSc in Financial Mathematics from Charles University (Czech Republic). Mr. Zhamalov is a holder of the prestigious CFA Financial Certificate and Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors (UK).

Member of the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC, representative of major shareholder Galimzhan Yessenov.

Elected to the Board of Directors of Kcell JSC at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on 29 November 2023.

Mr. Kereybayev has extensive experience in information technology and telecommunications, economic analysis and planning, and finance.

During 2018 - 2021, he has held the position of Managing Director for Digitization and Transformation at Samruk-Kazyna JSC.

In 2021, he moved to Kazakhtelecom JSC as Managing Director for Modernization Programme, then was appointed Director for Support Functions Development.

Mr. Dauren Kereybayev graduated from Novosibirsk State University with a degree in Mechanics and Applied Mathematics (1992) and from the Kazakh State Academy of Management with a degree in Finance and Credit (1998).

In 2018, he received a master’s degree in business administration in the Executive MBA programme at the University of Chicago Booth (USA).

He has been awarded the medal "Yerenenbegi ushin" and the public order "Yenbek sinirgen karzhy mamany".

Member of the Management Board, Chief Commercial Officer

Kazbek Shaimov is a seasoned expert in the commercial sector with over 27 years of experience, including 23 years in leadership roles. His career spans multiple industries: 10 years in FMCG and retail, 14 years in telecommunications, and 3 years in consulting, specializing in crisis management.

Kazbek Shaimov is a graduate of S. Toraigyrov Pavlodar State University. He started his career at Kcell in 2008 as Manager of Retail Sales, overseeing the company's branches in Semey, Aktobe, and Astana. With a proven track record, he has successfully introduced new products in both retail and business segments, streamlined sales processes, and significantly improved customer service across both remote and in-store channels.

Member of the Management Board, Chief Technical Officer

Kerey Zhumabekuly Zatilda is a graduate of the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Communication. He specialized in Multichannel Telecommunication Systems and Economics and Management for Telecommunication Enterprises, earning qualifications as a Telecommunication Engineer and Engineer-Economist.

He began his career at Kcell JSC in 2004 and steadily advanced from engineer to head of regional technical departments over the course of 17 years. With extensive experience in telecommunications networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiMAX technologies, he has worked across various regions of Kazakhstan. His expertise spans radio network planning, managing contractor organizations, and leading technical teams.

From 2021 to 2023, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the Board and Technical Director at Kazteleradio JSC. In this capacity, he led the development of television and radio broadcasting networks, the adoption of innovative technologies, and managed the execution of government projects.

In June 2023, Kerey Zatilda was appointed Deputy Director General of RGP State Radio Frequency Service. In this role, he was responsible for monitoring the radio frequency spectrum, swiftly identifying violations involving radio-electronic equipment, and providing detailed analyses of communication quality.

Kerey Zatilda’s career spans 20 years, with more than 15 of those years spent in managerial roles. Throughout his career, he has made a significant impact on the implementation of complex technical projects and the modernization of the national telecommunications infrastructure.

In recognition of his contributions to the telecommunications industry, he was awarded the title of 'Honored Telecommunications Professional of the Republic of Kazakhstan.'

He is fluent in Kazakh, Russian, and English.

Member of the Board of Directors since January 15, 2019.

Independent director

Member of the Board of Directors since January 15, 2019. On May 19, 2022, at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders  was re-elected for 3 years.

Mr. Calmes has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications, wholesale and retail business with a particular focus on emerging markets. From December 2016 to June 2019, he was the CEO of Metro Cash & Carry Russia. Prior to that, Mr. Calmes held various senior positions in the telecommunications sector, including CEO of Tele2 Russia, Managing Director of Wind Telecomunicazioni, Managing Director of the Moscow office of VEON JSC. Mr. Calmes holds a bachelor's degree in Political science and Economics from Bates University, Maine, USA, and has also completed the Wharton School of Business Executive Development Program.

Member of the Board of Directors since January 25, 2019.

Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Member of the Board of Directors since January 25, 2019. On May 19, 2022, at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders  was re-elected for 3 years.

Mr. Buyanov is also an independent director of Kazakhtelecom JSC and Director at Bengala Investments S.A. From 2002 to 2014, he has held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and has been a member of the Management Board of Sistema OJSC – an investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange.

From 2014 to 2016, he has held the position of Managing Director and Head of the Investment Committee of Redline Capital Management S.A. Mr. Buyanov graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) with a degree in Applied Physics and Mathematics, and completed Oxford Fintech Program by Said Business School, University of Oxford.