Warsaw – August 30, 2010 – GTS Central Europe (“GTS”), a leading infrastructure-based telecommunications operator in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Michael Rees as Senior Vice President of Group Strategy and Corporate Development.
Michael brings over 13 years of telecommunications industry experience to GTS, having served in a number of senior executive positions within Cavalier Telephone and OnFiber Communications (acquired by Qwest Communications). Prior to joining the founding team at OnFiber, he assisted in the nationwide DSL roll-out at Covad Communications. Furthermore, Michael spent over two years with Hardiman Telecommunications providing due diligence and strategic consulting to private equity firms and telecoms carriers throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Commenting on the appointment, Adam Sawicki, Group CEO at GTS, said: “I am delighted to welcome Michael to the GTS management team. His extensive experience in building telecoms companies in the United States and advisory work throughout the EMEA region will provide additional insight into GTS’s strategic direction.”
“I look forward to working with the GTS management and board as we continue to build upon the Company’s strong market position throughout the region and create value for our stakeholders – employees, customers and investors,” said Michael Rees.
Michael received a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Boston University and an MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.
About GTS Group:
GTS Central Europe (GTS) is a leading provider of integrated telecommunications solutions in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. GTS has an extensive regional fibre optic network throughout the CEE region with network extensions to neighbouring countries such as Austria, the Balkans, the Baltic States, Russia, Turkey and the Ukraine. In the CEE countries of Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, GTS has deep metro networks which provide voice, data, IP, MPLS and broadband communication services for local business customers as well as telecommunication carriers, mobile operators and content providers. GTS CE was awarded the “Best Wholesale Offering of Central and Eastern Europe” award by the Capacity magazine in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In 2009, GTS generated revenues of EUR 384.5 million and EBITDA of EUR 86.0 million.
GTS is owned by a consortium of private equity investors, led by Columbia Capital and M/C Venture Partners, US-based investors with extensive experience in the communications and technology-enabled services sectors, as well as Innova Capital, a leading private equity group focused on Central Europe. HarbourVest Partners, Oak Investment Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners round out the Consortium. More information is available at www.gtsce.com.
