Amsterdam (November 14, 2011) – VimpelCom Ltd. (“VimpelCom” or “the Company”) (NYSE:VIP) announced today that Jan Edvard Thygesen will join VimpelCom on January 1, 2012 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer.  Mr. Thygesen joins VimpelCom’s executive team from Telenor, where he currently is Executive Vice President and Head of Central and Eastern European operations. Khaled Bichara, President and COO of VimpelCom, will be stepping down as planned, at the end of December 2011, following his successful efforts in the post acquisition integration of the operations of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom.
Jo Lunder VimpelCom Group CEO said: “Khaled informed me some time ago that he would be stepping down from VimpelCom at the end of the year with the successful integration of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom. Khaled has played an instrumental role in the merger and securing the targeted synergies within the enlarged business. I express our sincere gratitude to Khaled for his dedication and achievements within the group and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.”
CEO Lunder further stated: “I am pleased to welcome Jan Edvard in his new position as Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer.  Jan Edvard knows VimpelCom well, having served as a member of our board.  He has extensive operational experience in all aspects of the telecom industry, which will help us deliver on our new strategy and further operational excellence throughout the company.  With Jan Edvard as a member of our senior executive team, I am very positive about our future and believe that we have both the right strategy and the right management in place to create shareholders value in VimpelCom by increased focus on profitable growth, operational excellence and capital efficiency.”
Thygesen echoed Lunder’s focus on continuing to strengthen VimpelCom’s operations. “I am very excited to accept this position with VimpelCom’s executive team, in which I can utilize my operational experience in various telecom markets to build upon VimpelCom’s accomplishments,” he said.
Khaled said: “I am very pleased with what we have achieved as these complementary businesses have come together. The integration of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom is well on track. Additionally, we have maintained good growth in our mobile and fixed broadband operations and secured excellent synergies.”