ISLAMABAD ( MEDIA REPORT )
VimpelCom on revealed that the CEO of its Russian unit, Mikhail Slobodin, has resigned with immediate effect following revelations about his former company, T Plus.
“Kjell Johnsen, head of major markets, will lead VimpelCom’s business in Russia with immediate effect,” said VimpelCom, in a brief statement. “Kjell has extensive experience in the country and will continue to drive the company’s transformation forward.”
Slobodin’s resignation came after he was named as a person of interest by the Investigative Committee of Russia, which is looking into suspected bribes totalling 800 million roubles (€11.07 million) paid by utility firm T Plus between 2007 and 2014.
Slobodin was CEO of the company, which at the time was called Integrated Energy Systems, between 2003 and 2010. He joined VimpelCom as CEO of its Beeline unit in Russia in September 2013.
The revelations come just months after VimpelCom paid US$795 million (€711.87 million) to settle a corruption investigation related to its operations in Uzbekistan.
Probes by U.S. and Dutch authorities focused on VimpelCom’s mobile operation in Uzbekistan and its links with an entity known as Takilant, through which it acquired spectrum in the country.