Ex-Centrica finance chief to head up Cable & Wireless
Phil Bentley to take on Cable & Wireless as the business focuses on Latin America
FORMER CENTRICA finance chief Phil Bentley has joined Cable & Wireless Communications as CEO.
Bentley (pictured) held a number of international roles with BP before serving at Diageo as group treasurer and FD of its spirits division. He joined Centrica in 2000 as group FD, then served as its European MD, before taking the British Gas MD position in 2007.
He takes the C&W post from Tony Rice on 1 January 2014.
His appointment comes as the business moves forward with its latest strategy, to focus on broadband and communications in Latin America and the Caribbean. The executive office is also moving to Miami, Florida.
Sir Richard Lapthorne, chairman of CWC, said: “CWC is entering a new phase. Following our recent divestments, we now have a business with a single geographic focus and a strong balance sheet and we are investing in growth areas of mobile data and high-speed broadband. I am delighted to have attracted someone of Phil Bentley’s calibre to lead the company.
“Phil demonstrated his leadership skills at British Gas, combining strong operational capability with a real focus on customer value – experience which he will bring to CWC as we focus our business on a single region, and drive greater operational improvements.”
Rice joined Cable & Wireless as a non-executive before serving as FD, then chief executive.
“He has reshaped the group’s portfolio while maintaining its strong market positions and evolving its services to focus on data, which has provided an excellent platform for future growth,” Sir Richard added.
