Econet Wireless Kenya has appointed Michael Foley, a former executive at Essar Telecommunications, to oversee the rollout of its products and services.

The move is calculated to beat the July 30 ultimatum set by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), requiring the company to start the rollout process. Econet was licensed in 2003 but was involved in an acrimonious legal tussle with CCK and other local partners. The matter was settled out of court and the deadline for rollout given by the regulator.

Foley has been in charge of Essar's Africa operations and has previously worked in Celtel Tanzania and as chief commercial officer with Celtel Nigeria.

Econet also announced the appointment of Shailendra Khare as the company's chief technical officer and Philip Mudimu as the project director. Khare has worked as a Cellular Networks Domains expert for the last 13 years, with IBM, Nokia and Reliance Infocomm. Mudimu is an Econet veteran who was instrumental in the company's operations for the last five years.

Anne Othoro is the new marketing director and is expected to spearhead marketing activities, operations and make the Econet brand a household name.

Othoro is a former marketing director at Celtel and was at the heart of the long running market share and price wars between Safaricom and Celtel.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.