The steps of the merger between Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania have not been set yet and it’s too soon to talk about layoffs or managerial changes, Beckers said.
The process needs time as each company has its own targets, Beckers said, adding that discussions on merger have just started and there is no deadline to finish negotiations.
The merger should create a company to fit the Romanian market. If they are not efficient, they won’t have funds for investments in new technologies, which will harm employees, shareholders and clients, he added.
Beckers took over as CEO of Romtelecom and Cosmote Romania on April 1 replacing Stefanos Theocharopoulos.
Theocharopoulos would take on new responsibilities within OTE Group as Group Chief Technology & Operations Officer for both fixed and mobile telephony, Cosmote Romania said in March.
Beckers began his career in 1989 at Deutsche Bank and also served as President and CEO of Deutsche Telekom France, Managing Director of Deutsche Telekom Philippines, Financial Director at T-Online France. He was appointed T-Systems France CEO in September 2011.
Theocharopoulos joined OTE Group in 2002. He was named Cosmote Romania CEO in January 2008 and Romtelecom CEO in July 2011.
Cosmote Romania and Romtelecom registered cumulated revenus of about EUR1.2 billion in 2012.
Romtelecom is 54.01% owned by OTE International Investments (Greece) while the Romanian Communications Ministry holds 45.99% of the shares.
The shareholders of Cosmote Romania are Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications (Greece), with a 70% stake, and Romtelecom, which controls 30% of the shares.
Last year, Romtelecom’s revenues dropped 5.4% to EUR619.6 million, while its EBITDA rose 39.5% to EUR166.1 million. Cosmote Romania registered revenues of EUR462.8 million in 2012, slightly down from EUR468.2 million in 2011, while its operating profit climbed 19.4% to EUR119.5 million.
Cosmote Romania had a market share of 24.5% at the end of 2012.