Former Vodacom Group CEO Alan Knott-Craig has “not entered into any contracts with any company” but is still keen to reenter the SA’s telecommunications industry after 1 April when his restraint of trade with his former employer expires.

Speaking to TechCentral on Tuesday, Knott-Craig says he has seen reports that he is in talks about potentially taking the top job at mobile operator Cell C, but says it “remains to be seen” if he will make a comeback to the telecoms industry.

He doesn’t say whether he has held any discussions with Cell C.

A report on Tuesday quoted unnamed sources as saying that Knott-Craig is in talks about a deal with Cell C that could see him facilitating an investment in the company or taking over as its CEO following the departure in July of Lars Reichelt. Chairman Simon Duffy is acting CEO.

“While I have not entered into any contracts with any company, I am still keen to enter the telecoms market next year in April when all of my restraints come to an end,” he says.

Knott-Craig told TechCentral in an interview in April that he was “hoping to work in the sector again” and was keen to get involved in projects that would deliver faster and cheaper broadband to SA consumers.

Vodacom has restrained him from working in the telecoms sector until the end of March next year. He was paid an amount of R5m to restrain him from working for or advising competitors in the industry. Included in the amount was payment for any advice and assistance requested by his successor, Pieter Uys.

Cell C is majority owned by Oger Telecom, which has signalled a commitment to continuing the strategic course that was introduced by Reichelt. Duffy told TechCentral in July, shortly after Reichelt resigned, that the company was “halfway through the investment and ‘rebooting’ programme” and intended to complete it. — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral