Hanna (pictured, with European network), who starts work at Tampnet on 1 September, has been with Ericsson for 17 years, most recently as president of the vendor’s operation looking after the north of Latin America, the Caribbean and América Móvil.
He said: “I am very excited to join Tampnet and contribute to its growth as well as the further development of first-class and game-changing offshore connectivity and IoT [internet of things] solutions.”
The investment group 3i Infrastructure acquired 50% of Tampnet in March 2019 for a reported €220 million, alongside Danish pension fund ATP which bought the other 50%. The previous owner was Swedish investor EQT Infrastructure.
Reports said Tampnet management team will also invest to acquire a minority shareholding.
Since then Tampnet has acquired BP’s 1,200km fibre network in the Gulf of Mexico, and has announced plans to add 300km. The system also provides 4G and 5G services to AT&T customers in the gulf.
Hanna has worked for Ericsson in Algeria, Egypt, the Philippines and Sweden and will now be moving to Houston, Texas. “Tampnet is well positioned to help its customers in their digitisation journey, increase efficiency and identify new revenue streams,” he said.
He replaces Per Helge Svensson, who had been CEO since 2008. Svensson posted on LinkedIn two weeks ago: “It is with mixed feelings that I now resign as CEO of Tampnet after 13 years. It has been an exciting journey, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.”
The company said: “We thank [him] for his significant contribution to developing Tampnet into a world-leading offshore communications provider, and we wish him the best of luck in his new endeavours.”
Magnus Mandersson, who chairs the Tampnet board, said: “Elie is a true global executive within the telecoms and technology industry with a passion for business execution and people, who fits our company and the growth phase we are now entering very well.”
Svensson noted on LinkedIn: “Tampnet has grown from a small and unknown telecom operator to a global leader of high-speed connectivity to the offshore industry. With fibre infrastructure and mobile networks in the most important offshore basins in the world, Tampnet is well positioned for the future. I look forward to follow the company's further journey from the outside.”
The former CEO said: “My next chapter is still under development.”
