Morten Karlsen Sorby is the new Uninor CEO: All you need to know

Norwegian firm Telenor Wednesday appointed its strategy and regulatory affairs head Morten Karlsen Sorby as the new Chief Executive Officer of its Indian telecom arm Uninor effective immediately.

"Morten's vast experience from the global mobile industry and solid leadership skills will inject new energy and further insights into the already empowered Uninor team," Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Telenor Group, said in a statement.

Telenor holds a 74 percent stake in Telewings Communications, which manages and operates Uninor.

The appointment of the new Uninor CEO comes as the company prepares its strategy for India's spectrum auction, scheduled from February 3. The last date for submitting entries for the auction is January 15.

Telenor holds a 74 percent stake in Telewings Communications, which manages and operates Uninor.
AFP

"The strategy is clear and our model is proven. My job will be to deliver on this strategy alongside the management team and every single Uninor employee. I have actively contributed to the development of our India operations since we first entered in 2008 and now I look forward to joining the remarkable Uninor organisation," Sorby said.

Before his appointment as Uninor CEO, Sorby served as Head of Strategy and Regulatory Affairs in Telenor Group. He has previously been head of Telenor's Norwegian and Nordic mobile and fixed network operations.

Sorby, a state-authorised public accountant in Norway, holds a Master of Science in Business Administration and has qualifications from the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland.

The nomination of Sorby as CEO of Uninor is subject to regulatory approvals. Sigve Brekke, who took charge as interim CEO after the resignation of Yogesh Malik, will continue as Head of Telenor Group's Asia Operations.

Uninor has over 32 million customers in the country's fastest-growing and most populous telecom circles: UP East, UP West, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & Goa and Gujarat.

PTI