Former Telkom acting group CEO Jeffrey Hedberg is taking over as chief operating officer at JSE-listed technology group Altech.

The former Cell C CEO, who joined Telkom as head of subsidiary Multi-Links in November 2009, will assume his duties at Altech on 1 July. Until then, he will continue consulting to new Telkom group CEO Nombulelo “Pinky” Moholi.

Hedberg, who will report to Altech CEO Craig Venter, will be responsible for the operational leadership of Altech’s 33 operating companies, with the group executives of the telecommunications, multimedia and IT divisions reporting to him.

The chief operating officer role at Altech has been vacant since the resignation last year of Andy Baker, who recently took the reins at Nashua Mobile.

Hedberg’s appointment is likely to lead to questions about whether he’s being primed to take over from Venter at a future date. However, Venter says nothing like this should be read into the appointment. Venter, who has been Altech’s CEO for the past 14 years, says he has no immediate plans to relinquish the CEO role.

Hedberg, a US national with more than 20 years of experience in the telecoms industry, says his focus “will be very much on the operational role”. “I’m very excited to be operationally focused again.”

He says he is privileged to be joining the Venter family business. Altech parent Altron was founded by Craig Venter’s father, Bill. Today, Altron is led by Craig’s brother, Robbie. — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral