SEACOM has unveiled a new senior management structure designed to cater for the company’s growth plans.

These changes, they say, will enhance synergies between regions and functions within the business, as well as position SEACOM to enter new markets in Africa.

SEACOM has established a new Business Development Group, to be led by Suveer Ramdhani. This department will focus on SEACOM’s strategic growth into new markets as well as evaluating strategic investments and possible M&A targets.

Previously the Head of Product Strategy,  Ramdhani is one of the founding members of the SEACOM leadership team and has a wealth of experience building businesses in the region, with his background in management consulting.

Chris Smyth was appointed as CFO in October last year and takes a hands-on approach to financial management with his strengths in wide financial, commercial and operational experience and expertise. He has held a range of senior financial management roles and has worked in both private and public entities in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Chris will head up the Finance function which comprises amongst others, statutory and monthly reporting and analysis, budgeting, treasury, payments, billings and collections.

Product and service development will be consolidated into the Sales and Marketing functions currently under the leadership of Chief Commercial Officer, Byron Clatterbuck.

This new consolidation will put product development and market segment expansion all into one market-facing team. Clatterbuck has more than 15 years of global telecoms experience in managing large data businesses as a ‘line of business’ executive, focusing on data service expansion and profitable growth.

Other key changes as a result of this restructuring include:

• Willem Marais promoted to Global Head of Sales, with global responsibility for all SEACOM sales teams across all segments;
• Robert Marston promoted to Global Head of Product and will taking the lead in designing, developing and managing all SEACOM products and services.
• Nicola Haynes-Smart promoted to Head of Business Operations. In addition to her responsibility for sales operations, she will drive analysis of business performance together with the Product team.

SEACOM also announced that Brian Herlihy, SEACOM’s Founder, has returned as Executive Director at the company.

“We have a strong platform for growth. In particular, we have a strong management team with real depth and experience,” said Herlihy.  “Our new management structure positions us perfectly to expand our revenues and share of ICT spending in our core markets in the years to come.”