One Norwegian will be the new chief of Russian Vimpelcom

Photo: Vimpelcom

The Norwegian Kjell-Morten Johnsen replaces the corruption suspects head of the Russian branch of Vimpelcom.

Johnsen has previously served on the board for Vimpelcom and was until August this year head of Telenor Europe, NRK reported. Lately, he had overall responsibility for Vimpelcom’s business in Russia and Italy.

Vimpelcom chief in Russia, Mikhail Slobodin, resigned from the post on Monday evening, after it became known that he is being investigated in a major corruption case including involving billionaire Viktor Vekselberg.

The Russian investigation committee stated Monday that they have arrested two people suspected of having paid large sums under the table in conjunction with an energy project in the Republic of Komi.
Committee named also Vimpelcom chief Slobodin as a suspect in the case.

Norwegian Telenor owns 33.6 percent of shares in Vimpelcom.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today