BONN, Germany -- René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, has requested that the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Telekom terminate his employment contract and appointment as Chief Executive Officer as of December 31, 2013. The Board agreed to this request in today’s meeting.
Commenting on the timing, Obermann said: “In the last few years we have found solutions for our key issues. Deutsche Telekom has the best network, the best customer service in the industry and is expanding its customer base with innovative products. As an employer, we have given the topic of cultural diversity new momentum, which has been recognized and even emulated beyond the company. Furthermore, we have driven a shift in the values at the company: Today, DT is defined by a culture of fairness and open cooperation. And the company also has a solid financial foundation. In short: this is the right time to prepare to pass the baton and ensure a smooth transition. I will work closely with Tim Höttges on this.” Obermann is also counting on support from the company’s employees: “Deutsche Telekom has very good employees who are all highly qualified and motivated. Without their commitment, we would not have been able to handle the difficult tasks we faced in the last few years. For that, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
Obermann is leaving Deutsche Telekom after 16 years, of which he spent seven at the head of the company and 11years as a member of the Board of Management to move closer to operational activities than would otherwise be possible for the CEO of an international corporate group and take on even more entrepreneurial activities: “I want to go back to having more time for customers, for product development and for technology.”
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