Johannesburg - Former Primedia CEO Kuben Pillay is the new chairperson of the Cell C board and Blue Label Telecoms chairperson Larry Nestadt is his deputy, Cell C announced on Monday.
The appointments follow the recent recapitalisation of Cell C, in which Blue Label Telecoms and Net1 respectively acquired 45% and 15% of the company’s share capital.
“The combined experience and business acumen that Kuben and Larry bring to Cell C will undoubtedly provide sound guidance and support to the business as we begin a new chapter,” said Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos.
Pillay served on the boards of several public and private companies, including Primedia – first as CEO and then as chairperson – and chairperson of the Mineworkers Investment Company.
He replaces Mohammed Hariri as non-executive chairperson of Cell C.
An attorney by trade, Pillay also currently serves on the boards of Transaction Capital Limited and the Outsurance Group of Companies.
“The Cell C executive team has made incredible strides operationally, despite difficult circumstances and I look forward to supporting them in the future growth of Cell C as its new chairman,” said Pillay.
Nestadt, a co-founder and former director of Investec Bank Limited, will serve as non-executive deputy chairperson on the Cell C board.
Aside from his role as Blue Label Telecoms chair, Nestadt is also chairperson of Dis-Chem Pharmacies and Universal Partners, executive chairperson of Global Capital as well as chairperson of several unlisted companies.
“There is little doubt that Cell C has the opportunity to generate a formidable business and having a role in that is exciting. I know I speak on behalf of the board when I say that we are all ready to put our best efforts into ensuring that Cell C meets its potential,” Nestadt said.