Yuri Kharlamov appointed Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Kcell JSC

10.02.2021
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Kcell Joint Stock Company (“Kcell” or the “Company”) (LSE, KASE: KCEL; AIX: KCEL, KCEL.Y), the leading provider of mobile telecommunications services in Kazakhstan, announces that on February 6, 2021, its Board of Directors appointed Yuri Kharlamov as Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Management Board of Kcell JSC, with immediate effect, and with a term of office of one year from the date of the appointment.

Mr. Kharlamov has more than 20 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry, having held a number of senior level management positions. Since March 2020, he has been Chief Financial Officer of Kcell, and since June 2020, he has served as a member of the Management Board of Kcell.

Mr. Kharlamov graduated from the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology with a degree in Management and the University of Birmingham with a degree in Finance, and has an MBA degree from London Business School.

The Board of Directors believes that Yuri Kharlamov in his role as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Kcell JSC will ensure effective operational performance and continuity of the Company’s strategy.

“I’m grateful to the Board of Directors for the high confidence placed in me and I’ll do my best to justify it, – Mr. Kharlamov commented on his appointment. – I’ve been with the company for about a year. During this time, the whole world has faced unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the level and volume of business activity in Kazakhstan and around the world. Despite this, Kcell demonstrated high financial and operational performance indicators in 2020. Taking into account the signs of a gradual stabilization of the situation in Kazakhstan and provided there are no extraordinary events or situations that could undermine this stability, the Company expects that in 2021 our company will continue the growth trend with good results,” Yuri Kharlamov emphasized.

250+ program is one of the most significant projects to which Kcell JSC directs the generated cash flows. The program aims to achieve a high level of digitalization of the entire population of Kazakhstan by providing access to mobile broadband Internet in rural areas where 250 people or more live. This is a project that changes the social landscape of the country, erases the facets of digital inequality between the village and the city and becomes one of the drivers of the country’s economy.

“Moreover, we’ll continue to successfully develop the joint projects with our majority shareholder, Kazakhtelecom JSC, aimed at increasing the operational synergy, – the Chairman of the Management Board of Kcell JSC says. – The first stage of integration of the companies’ radio networks, which began in the 3rd quarter of 2020, resulted in significantly improved quality of services and network bandwidth; in 2020, we launched successfully our first joint convergent product with Kazakhtelecom JSC, which builds on the experience of the two companies in providing fixed and mobile services, and in the 4th quarter of last year we launched a project to enhance the efficiency of commercial function aimed at improving customer experience,” Yuri Kharlamov emphasized.

Let us recall that on December 21, 2018, Kazakhtelecom JSC acquired the 75 percent stake in Kcell JSC held by Telia Company and Fintur Holdings B.V. For almost two years now, Kcell has been part of Kazakhtelecom group of companies and has been successfully using the benefits of partnership with the parent company in all its activities. The process of integrating its networks with Kazakhtelecom JSC allows Kcell to maximize all potential synergies, so as to facilitate further improvements in technologies and services.

“Each member of Kcell team continues to demonstrate the highest professional qualities and commitment to the mission, thanks to which we continue to provide society with advanced technologies and high-quality services, despite external factors,” Mr. Kharlamov concluded.

Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhtelecom JSC, expressed his hope that the appointment of Yuri Kharlamov as the new Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Kcell JSC will allow the mobile operator to build on the company’s achievements over the past two years.

“Having regard to the professional achievements and experience of Yuri Kharlamov, the management of Kazakhtelecom, as the majority shareholder of Kcell JSC, hopes that the company will continue to pursue its sustainable development path. And it will achieve, in synergy with Kazakhtelecom, serious results in its highly competitive and high-tech environment,” Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev stated.

The appointment of the new CEO of Kcell was commented by Rashit Makhat, Member of the Board of Directors, Independent Director of Kcell JSC: “The decision to appoint a new CEO is an evolutionary factor and a natural corporate process. With the departure of Kaspars Kukelis, Kcell JSC does not plan to radically change its strategic course. High professionalism and extensive experience in the telecommunications industry give the Board of Directors an opportunity to hope for maintaining the pace of development the company has gained over the past 2 years”.

“Every year, even despite today’s contemporary challenges, the company breaks its own records. The new appointment will provide much-needed momentum for implementation and completion of ongoing and planned strategic projects that will help the operator to improve the quality of services provided throughout the country. Under the leadership of Yuri Kharlamov, I am confident that the company will continue its further growth and development, not only for the benefit of shareholders, but also for the society as a whole,” Dinara Inkarbekova, Member of the Board of Directors, Independent Director of Kcell JSC summarizes.

Press-Service of Kcell JSC pressa@kcell.kz

+7 701 211 4060

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Member of the Management Board, Chief Finance Officer

Damir Mullashev graduated from Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Forecasting (KIMEP) in 2003. His professional experience spans 20 years in financial sector, of which 13 years in leadership roles. He started his career in the banking sector, where he worked in an investment bank since 2007 and since 2013 in a private equity fund. In 2016 he moved to the telecommunications industry and took up the role of Head of External Asset Management Service at Kazakhtelecom JSC. He has extensive experience in corporate finance (M&A), telecom asset management, as well as debt and equity financing. In September 2022, Damir Mullashev joined Kcell JSC as Deputy Chief Finance Officer and in December 2022 he was appointed acting Chief Finance Officer.

Member of the Management Board, Chief Commercial Officer

Olga Tsoi holds a master's degree in business administration from KIMEP University. She has 17 years of work experience in the commercial sector in various industries, of which 13 years in leadership roles, including 3 years in FMCG and retail, 8 years in telecom, 3 years in consulting (FinTech and InsuranceTech) and 3 years in the banking sector. In 2023, Olga was appointed Director of Consumer Department of Kcell JSC.

Daniyar Ibrayev graduated from the Military Institute under NSC of the Republic of Kazakhstan (currently the Border Force Academy under NSC) in 2000 with a degree in Telecommunications Engineering. In 2007, he graduated from the Kazakh Humanitarian Law University (Nur-Sultan), with a Bachelor of Law degree. Since 2020, he has worked at Kcell JSC as an Adviser to the Strategic Development Department, then as a Chief Expert of the Security Department. Since 2017, he has worked at The Unified Pension Savings Fund JSC and prior to that he worked in government bodies.

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 Director

Mr. Uisumbayev was appointed Chief Corporate Officer and a member of the Management Board since April 15, 2022.

Azamat Uisumbayevfor the last 12 years, he has worked in the group of companies of Kazakhtelecom JSC in various positions, including Managing Director - Financial Controller of Kazakhtelecom JSC and Commercial Director of KT Cloud Lab LLP. Prior to joining the telecommunications industry, he worked in government bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Higher education in the specialties - economic and legal. He has a master's degree from MPA&MBA, RANEPA, Moscow. Successfully completed an advanced training course at the Moscow School of Management “Skolkovo” under the program of additional professional education "Leaders of Digital Transformation". Currently studying under the Executive MBA program at Nazarbayev University.

Member of the Management Board, Chief Digital Development Officer

Malik Amardinovin 2008 graduated from the Academy of Banking of the Kazakhstan Alatau University, Faculty of Finance, in 2016 graduated from the Kazakhstan Engineering and Technology University, Faculty of Higher Technical Education. Total work experience - 16 years in IT, 12 of them in senior positions in the banking sector. Most recent positions are Executive Director and Chief IT Architect of Fortebank, where Malik successfully led all IT development.

Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer

Askhat Uzbekov elected to the position of Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer of Kcell JSC, effective May 11, 2022.

Askhat Uzbekov graduated from Turan University (Kazakhstan) in 2000 majoring in International Economics. In 2022, he took his Executive MBA from London Business School. Until 2005, Askhat Uzbekov worked in the tax and audit departments at Ernst & Young Kazakhstan LLP, and for the next seven years, until early 2012, he has held various positions in the Treasury Department of KazMunayGas Exploration Production JSC. Then for almost 2 more years, until December 2014, he worked as CFO at KMG EP International (Netherlands).

In January 2015, Askhat Uzbekov joined Kazakhtelecom JSC, the largest national telecom operator, as Finance Director. In March 2015 he was appointed Managing Director - Chief Treasurer of Kazakhtelecom JSC. In January 2016, his job responsibilities were expanded to include the duties of a financial controller of the Kazakhtelecom group of companies. From September 2016 up to the present, he has held the position of Chief Financial Officer of the company. Askhat Uzbekov was actively involved in the acquisition of the 75% stake in Kcell JSC in 2018.

Member of the Kcell Board of Directors since May 19, 2022.

Representative of shareholder Kazakhtelecom JSC

Since 2019, Ms. Kishkimbayeva has been the Managing Director for Legal Affairs and Risks of Kazakhtelecom JSC. Ms. Kishkimbayeva graduated from the Adilet Higher School of Law with a degree in Law, as well as the Kazakh State University of World Languages (English language department).

Ms. Kishkimbayeva has extensive experience in the telecommunications as well as oil infrastructure. Her previous work experience includes Kcell JSC, PetroKazakhstan Inc., KASP CJSC AralParker.

Member of the Kcell Board of Directors since May 19, 2022.

Representative of shareholder Kazakhtelecom JSC

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

Mr. Lezgovko has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Since 1999, he has worked at Kazakhtelecom JSC. From 2007 to 2021, he has held the position of the Chief Technical Director at Kazakhtelecom JSC.

Mr. Lezgovko graduated from the Almaty Energy Institute with a degree in Automatic Telecommunications. In 2005, he was awarded the title of ‘Kurmetti Baylanysshy’.

In 2012, he was awarded the Kurmet order.

Member of the Kcell Board of Directors since May 19, 2022.

Independent director

Mr. Kivikko has many years of experience in the telecommunications industry, where he has held senior positions at TeliaSonera and Tele2. He also worked as Managing Director of Paroc Owens Corning Insulation Materials in Russia. He is currently the Managing Director at Fexcon Consulting.

Mr. Kivikko holds a Master's degree in Management Accounting and Business Law and Marketing from the School of Economics and Business Administration (University of Turku) Turku, Finland.

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.