Digicel has announced the appointment of Rajeev Suri as chairman-designate of the Digicel Group. a digital services provider in 25 markets across the Caribbean and Central America.

Rajeev will succeed Denis O’Brien post implementation of the previously announced Restructuring Services Agreement [RSA]. O’Brien will continue to serve on Digicel’s board and remain a shareholder in the company. Suri will continue to be based in London.

Implementation of the RSA will see the Digicel shareholder consortium led by PGIM, Contrarian Capital Management, and GoldenTree Asset Management gaining a controlling stake in the company.

The incoming shareholders of Digicel, in a joint statement, said; “Rajeev has a proven track record of transformative delivery and with a strengthened balance sheet, we see considerable potential to grow value and profitability at Digicel.”

Commenting on the appointment of Suri to lead the new Digicel board, O’Brien said; “I am delighted to welcome Rajeev as chairman-designate. Given his impressive track record of delivery over 35 years, I know he will both add value and create value for all our stakeholders. He joins superb local teams across the Caribbean and Central America with whom it has been my privilege to work for over 25 years. He is the ideal leader to deliver on Digicel’s next phase of growth.”

Commenting on his appointment Suri said; “Denis has built a fantastic company with leading positions in the markets it serves. I look forward to getting on the road to meet our customers and employees and continuing to strengthen the company’s board and leadership team to take the company forward in this next chapter.”

Suri has worked in the telecoms industry for around 35 years, most recently as chief executive officer of Inmarsat from March 2021 until its acquisition by Viasat in May 2023. He joined Inmarsat from Nokia, where he was president and chief executive officer from 2014 to 2020, having served as CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks since 2009. He was a commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission and served as chair of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA).

As CEO of Inmarsat, a global mobile satellite communications services company, he delivered record financial performance and provided a successful exit for the company’s private equity and pension fund shareholders.

When at Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks, Rajeev took a business valued at around €1 billion and increased that to more than €25 billion, creating one of the top two global leaders in telecommunications network infrastructure. He also led the sector’s consolidation, improving the health of the company and the industry.

Previously, Suri served as co-chair of the digitalisation task force for the B20 and he was also a member of various digital and healthcare committees at the World Economic Forum and is a past recipient of China’s prestigious Marco Polo award. He currently serves as a director of Stryker Corporation, Viasat and Singtel. He holds a B.E. in electronics and communications and an honorary doctorate from Manipal University.