JOHANNESBURG-Michael Stocks, legal and regulatory general manager for MTN in South Africa, assumed the chairmanship of the GSM Association as from 1 May, taking over for Richard Midgett.
Stocks is the first GSM representative from Africa to be elected to the post.
“I am very excited and honored to take this post as I believe that an African chairman can only be of benefit to the association as I know well the problems and possibilities of the continent,” said Stocks.
“I see myself very much as an ambassador for Africa, conveying the needs and requirements of the continent to the rest of the world. At the same time I wish to convey a positive message to the industry that GSM technology in Africa is advanced and ready to move into the mainstream of global standardization. Africa is still an untapped market, offering good investment opportunities to international players.
“We need to encourage Africa to become more involved in resolving African problems that are stifling social economic growth. Take the effect of high import duties imposed by certain countries on handsets, for example, and the rippling detrimental effect this has on the industry as a whole.
“GSM technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate worldwide. Africa needs to remain in the mainstream.”
Stocks will retain his official position with MTN in South Africa and will not be relocating to the association’s headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.
