Guillaume Boutin appointed as CEO of the Proximus Group
NOTE: The first paragraph, on the educational background of Mr. Boutin, was adapted on 19 December 2019.
The Proximus Board of Directors today appointed, on the advice of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Guillaume Boutin as the new CEO of the Proximus Group for a period of six years.
Guillaume Boutin, 45 years old and from Tours, France, holds a Master's degree in Corporate Finance (HEC Paris) and followed a Customer Specific Program for high potential executives of Vivendi at INSEAD. Guillaume acquired professional experience as a strategy consultant at the beginning of his career, surfed on the internet wave with the creation of a start-up and then joined SFR, where he held various positions including those of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Marketing Officer. In 2015, he joined the Canal+ Group as Chief Marketing Officer. In these different functions, Guillaume has always demonstrated his ability to respond to new market situations.
In August 2017, Guillaume joined Proximus as Chief Consumer Market Officer. He has created a new dynamic in the consumer department. With digital at the heart of its action, he has improved the commercial performance of the Proximus and Scarlet brands and has been at the origin of many innovations, including the launch of a new brand positioning around "Think Possible", the creation of the Pickx platform and Proximus' positioning as a major player in Belgiums’ gaming scene.
In his role as CEO, Guillaume's mission will be to pursue the digitalisation of the Group, to implement the transformation plan and to prepare Proximus for the important challenges that the company and the entire telecommunications sector will face in the coming years.
Guillaume will take up his new function on 1 December 2019.
The entire Board of Directors would like to thank Sandrine Dufour for her intense and active role as CEO ad interim during this transition period. During this period, she has prepared, together with the Executive Committee, the strategic plan and budget for next year. She has concluded the agreement with Orange Belgium on the mobile access network sharing.
During the selection process, Sandrine informed the Board of Directors that, after careful consideration, she had decided not to apply for the position of CEO. The Board of Directors is pleased that she resumes her responsibilities as valued member of the Executive Committee and as CFO of Proximus.
Stefaan De Clerck, Chairman of the Board of Directors
I am very satisfied with the appointment of Guillaume Boutin as new CEO at a decisive moment for the company, with the #shifttodigital strategy, the rapid evolution of market needs and the upcoming implementation of the transformation plan. In addition, it is the first time since the adaptation, in 2015, of the 1991 legislation on companies under Belgian Public Law, that the Board has been able to conduct the appointment process in an autonomous way.
With the Board of Directors, I am convinced that Guillaume fully meets the requirements of the profile and that with his experience, skills and vision, he has solid assets to lead Proximus and to take on the challenges of the future. Creative, enthusiast and with a very strong mix of strategic, financial and marketing experiences in the telecom and the media sector, Guillaume has a deep knowledge and understanding of market dynamics and business models.
Together with the Executive Committee and all Proximus employees, I would like to warmly welcome Guillaume to his new position and I look forward to our future collaboration.
Guillaume Boutin, future CEO of the Proximus Group
I am particularly proud to take on the role of CEO of Proximus and I would like to thank the Board of Directors for the confidence they have placed in me.
Proximus is a unique company. I know the exceptional talent and professionalism of its teams, the strength of its brands and the excellence of its networks and customer service. Proximus' strength is to be a technological leader, but above all to have the customer at the heart of its strategy.
Together with the Executive Committee and all the teams, we will build on these key assets to further strengthen Proximus' position as a leading operator in Belgium and Luxembourg.
I will devote all my energy to making Proximus the reference operator in Europe in the interests of our customers, our employees, the world surrounding us and our shareholders. I have full confidence in the future.