News

Now 3 changes - - well, two; new bosses.

No explanation is offered; the current boss of 3UK becomes chairman, and the man in charge of 3 Italia joins as co-CEO with him. Two CEOs, one of whom is chairman. Why?

All we have from Hutchison Whampoa Limited is a statement by Mr Canning Fok, who is HWL Group Managing Director and Chairman of Hutchison 3G UK Group - 3 UK - that Dr Colin Tucker, who is currently Managing Director of 3 UK, will be appointed as Deputy Chairman of 3 UK.

And then, Mr Fok added, Colin will also be appointed Deputy Chairman of the HWL European Telecommunication Group and to the main boards of HWL's "3" operations in Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Israel and Australia.

But although Tucker becomes chairman, he doesn't stop being managing director. He just gets a second horse in the shafts with him: Bob Fuller, who is currently co-CEO of HWL's Italian 3 operation, H3G Italia Spa ("3 Italy") who will be appointed as co-CEO with Dr Tucker. Tucker "will assist Mr. Fuller in taking up his new position, whilst focusing principally on strategic matters and industry relations."

And if that was not confusing enough, "In order to further promote the close co-operation between 3 Italy and 3 UK," the announcement concludes, "Mr Fuller will remain as a main board director of 3 Italy and Vincenzo Novari, CEO of 3 Italy, has been appointed as a main board director of 3 UK."

If I ever find out what this all means, I'll tell you. Fok stated:

"These new front line arrangements reflect the transition of 3's businesses from development to operating stage. My work with Colin will ensure that as the enterprises develop locally in their markets they will not lose sight of the common strategic direction and focus that will be necessary to assure HWL's continuing leadership in this sector in the coming years. I look forward to working closely with Colin, Bob and Vincenzo to chart the future of this important phase of 3's development."