Tele2 CEO falls out, walks out

Harri Koponen, the chief of Swedish carrier Tele2, has walked out citing “irreconcilable differences” with the company.

Koponen joined Tele2 in 2008 as president and CEO and oversaw a period of increased focus on profitability, with a refocusing of the company’s footprint in Russia and the CIS.

For the full year 2009 net profit for Tele2 jumped 168 per cent year on year to SEK4.6bn (€) from SEK1.7bn in 2008. Annual revenues were up three per cent year on year to SEK39.3bn.

Koponen switched Tele2’s focus over to mobile services on the company’s own infrastructure by ditching its MVNO operations, and complementing them in some countries by fixed broadband services and business to business offerings.

Tele2 said Koponen will receive his maximum notice period of 18 months during which he will be paid. In the interim chief financial officer Lars Nilsson has been appointed CEO, while the board of directors embarks on a search for a new chief.

Koponen said he is leaving the company due to irreconcilable differences over leadership.