Prenesh Padayachee will officially take over as Seacom Group Chief Digital Officer.

Internet and data transmission provider Seacom announced that its current Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Claes Segelberg, has resigned.

In a statement, the company said Prenesh Padayachee, former CTO at Internet Solutions and former Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Telkom Openserve, will officially take over as Seacom Group Chief Digital Officer (CDO) effective from 4 January 2021.

Segelberg is quoted as saying: “Seacom is heading into a new future of investment and growth, focusing on the rapidly expanding corporate segments in our key markets. This requires fresh ideas and new skills that will take Seacom from its current strengths into its future expansion and development.”

In addition to the CTO’s responsibilities, Padayachee will also be absorbing the Chief Information Officer role, and thus the new title of CDO, Seacom explains.

Byron Clatterbuck, the outgoing Group CEO, said: “Claes has been a true asset to the Seacom team, playing a pivotal role in shaping our organisation into the industry leader it is today. We wish him the very best with his future endeavours, and are grateful that he will be staying with us until the end of March 2021 to ensure a seamless handover into the capable hands of Prenesh.”

Incoming Group CEO Oliver Fortuin expressed his confidence in Padayachee. “We know that Prenesh will continue to lead the team professionally and uphold the high standards our customers have come to expect from Seacom. This transition marks the start of exciting changes and new beginnings for our group. Thank you for supporting me, Claes, Prenesh, and the rest of the executive team as we make this necessary transition.”

According to Seacom, Segelberg has been with the ICT company almost since its inception in 2009 “and has contributed nine valuable years of service to SEACOM.”

In its statement, Seacom continued: “Claes and his passionate team are credited with building up the organisation from a small new private linear east coast cable system into the leading data transmission backbone of Africa. Claes’ hard work and dedication over the years has added immense value to Africa’s ICT development.”

During his time at Seacom, the company built, maintained and operated the first true high-speed data network on the continent.