Alcatel-Lucent has appointed Willem Hendrickx as president of its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) operations with effect from Jan. 1, 2015, replacing Luis Martinez Amago who will be taking up a new position at the equipment manufacturer to be announced in due course.
Hendrickx, who has a degree in Commercial Sciences and holds a Masters degree in Economics from the European Institute of Higher Education (EHSAL) in Brussels, joins the company from Riverbed Technology, where he was senior vice-president for EMEA. At Alcatel-Lucent he will assume overall responsibility for all sales activities and operational management of company activities in the EMEA region.
"Willem brings to us vast experience in the broader IT and telecom market. He has the perfect background to support our objectives in executing The Shift Plan in Europe, Middle East and Africa as we apply our strengths in innovation to become a specialist in IP, cloud and ultra-broadband access. Furthermore, his commercial understanding of converged technology needs will be a huge asset as we diversify into new market segments, such as extra-large enterprises," said Alcatel-Lucent CEO Michel Combes.
The Shift Plan is the name of the Franco-U.S. equipment manufacturer's restructuring plan that was launched in June 2013 with the aim of returning the company to being cash flow positive in 2015. Under the programme, Alcatel-Lucent has focused on IP networking, broadband access, LTE and small cells, as well massive cutting of fixed costs and jobs.
In November, Combes said the company will be profitable this year and generate positive free cash flow in 2015. Alcatel-lucent is also looking beyond traditional telecoms operators as customers. That's a strategy that rivals Ericsson and Nokia have embraced as well, reported sister publication FierceWireless. For example, Ericsson expects that by 2020 it will generate 20 to 25 per cent of its revenue from non-operator customers, up from 10 per cent in 2013.
For more:
- see this Alcatel release
Related Articles:
Alcatel-Lucent to supply Inmarsat with LTE kit for EU in-flight broadband network
Alcatel-Lucent claims LTE 450 first in Norway with AINMT deal
Alcatel-Lucent teams with Korea Telecom to drive NFV
Alcatel-Lucent's Combes: We're 'back in the game,' plan to woo non-carrier customers
Alcatel-Lucent becomes latest beneficiary of Vodafone's Project Spring