The company has appointed UK-based businessman Mike Parton to oversee the process as interim chairman. Parton is stepping down from his current role as chairman of Swedish operator Tele2 as from 21 May. Tele2 is being merged with cable operator Com Hem.
The change in TDC’s management follows its takeover – completed in April – by a consortium led by Danish pension agency PFA. Allan Polack, the CEO of PFA, said: “Mike’s wealth of experience speaks for itself and we have full confidence in his ability to help oversee our transformational growth plans for TDC.”
Erenbjerg said: “I feel a strong sense of duty to assure that the company undergoes this next transition phase in the best possible way, which is why I have agreed with the new board of directors to stay on as CEO in a transition period to help implement the new strategy and business structure.”
TDC said: “Pernille has been CEO since end of 2015, and has been the architect and driving force behind the turn-around strategy that has taken TDC group from double digit EBITDA decline to organic growth.”
TDC said it Parton’s successor as chairman would be “a longer term chairman with a strong Danish presence, network and track record”, but gave no hints as it who it would be – or who the new CEO would be.
As well as chairing TDC, Parton is also chairman of UK-based tower company Arqiva. He came to fame in the telecoms industry as CEO of equipment company Marconi in the early 2000s and then ran Telent, carved out of Marconi when the rest was sold to Ericsson.
TDC said that “in the near term, [Parton] will oversee TDC to help achieve the vision of delivering high-speed internet for all households and businesses across Denmark”.
Parton said: “It is a privilege to lead TDC into the next phase of its growth and mobilise its leading role in developing Denmark’s future digital infrastructure”
