Evans resigns as Etisalat CEO

Steven Evans

Steven Evans has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian subsidiary of Emirates Telecommunications Corporation operating as Etisalat in the country.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Evans resigned last month and returned home to the United Kingdom after leading the company for most of its five years in existence.

The Chief Commercial Officer, Matthew Willsher, was appointed as acting CEO in his place, the spokesperson for Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Chineze Amanfo, was quoted as saying this by telephone on Wednesday.

Willsher did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comments and Evans’ Etisalat e-mail bounced back, according to Bloomberg.

Abu Dhabi-based parent Etisalat didn’t immediately respond to calls and e-mails seeking comments.

Evans was appointed in December 2008, two months after Etisalat began full commercial operations in Nigeria, according to the company’s website.

Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of the London-based BT Group Plc (BT/A)’s mobile unit.

Etisalat is the fourth largest mobile phone operator in Nigeria.

The company had 15.3 million subscribers as of June 2013, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission.