GSMA confirms Baksaas as chairman

Industry association the GSMA has announced the election of president and CEO of Telenor Jon Fredrik Baksaas as its chairman for the remainder of the current Board term through December 2014.

Baksaas has been acting president since earlier this month, when former chairman Franco Bernabè resigned from the role. Prior to that, Baksaas had served as deputy chairman at the GSMA.

In his new role, Baksaas will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation. He has worked in the telecom industry for 25 years and has been the CEO of Telenor since 2002.

““I look forward to working closely with the rest of the Board, the GSMA team and our entire membership to advance important industry issues,” commented Baksaas. “It is truly inspiring to work in an industry that has such a profound and increasing impact on the people and societies we serve.”

Baksaas added that connecting even more of the world’s population to the mobile internet is a top priority for the GSMA. To address this objective, the body will continue to focus on the future evolution of networks, the adoption of secure and interoperable new services and advocate for the needs of our industry to governments and regulators, he said.

“We are at a critical juncture in the development of the mobile communications industry, as we see an ever-increasing number of people, devices and things becoming connected by mobile,” said Anne Bouverot, director general at the GSMA.