PM says signs order to appoint VTB Bank exec as Rostelecom’s head

MOSCOW, Mar 1 (PRIME) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a directive to appoint Mikhail Oseyevsky, deputy chairman at VTB Bank, as a new president of state-controlled telecom operator Rostelecom, he said on Wednesday.

“I’m going to order to covene the board of directors on the basis of this directive to make all necessary decisions,” Medvedev told Oseyevsky.

Oseyevsky thanked the prime minister and said that Rostelecom is a core company for the country’s whole telecommunications industry. “The quality of life of our country citizens and an opportunity to create a new, sophisticated digital economy depend on how advanced and affordable this service will be,” the executive said.

Rostelecom has hugely modified its business structure over the recent years toward digital services. “Meanwhile, it’s evident that the volume of provision of these services should be expanded, including hard-to-reach regions, the fulfilment of the digital divide bridging program,” Oseyevsky said.

“I think there are potential resources to improve the internal effectiveness and cut expenses. I’m going to work on these matters in the nearest time, to apply all experience and knowledge to solving these tasks.”

Sergei Kalugin, who has been running Rostelecom since March 2013, was offered a position of a deputy communications minister.

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