Posted: 01/08/2012Cable & Wireless Communications has appointed Sean Cassidy as its chief financial officer for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Mr Cassidy, 42, has moved to the company and the island having spent more than six years working as financial reporting director and group financial controller at Digicel Group, one of Cable & Wireless' competitors in Jamaica.
‘I was working for Cable and Wireless' main competitor in the Caribbean and had always known them to be worthy adversary and had often thought that my next move might be to them, although though a move within the Caribbean region would have been impossible because of the constraints of a non-compete arrangement,' he said.
‘When the Guernsey role came up, I was immediately keen as the company had a more sophisticated portfolio and more mature business model and it would allow me to widen my experience.'
Chief executive Eddie Saints said that Mr Cassidy would play a pivotal role in the future of the company.
‘Sean brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in senior financial director and controller roles across a number of industries including telecommunications. I have no doubt that he will make a significant contribution to Cable & Wireless Communications' commitment to providing the island's with a reliable, secure and modern communications system,' said Sure's chief executive Eddie Saints.
Mr Cassidy, who is married to Shakira and has three children, Lucy, 17, Ronin, nine, and four-year-old Eva, said his new role would give him a number of challenges.
‘Coming from a more mobile centric operation, the initial personal challenge will be to learn the dynamics and drivers of the technology that is new to me,' he said.
‘From a business perspective, I hope to help the company play a bigger part in an ever more connected world, continuing to punch above our weight in a very competitive and commercial industry. The company and Guernsey itself are already well-positioned and the challenge will be to progress the great work which has already been undertaken.'
The Manchester City fan added that he was looking forward to learning to surf with his son and watching his football team win its first game while enjoying a pint of Patois.
'I had been living in Jamaica for a very long time and was starting to get homesick for some of the little things, English newspapers, proper sausages, decent restaurants, summer holidays in France and watching football matches at the proper time of day,' he said.
‘Living in Jamaica gave us good weather, beautiful beaches and a great outdoors lifestyle. Guernsey just about ticks all my boxes and I'm really looking forward to spending time here. Not unlike Jamaica, it is a beautiful and friendly island and so hopefully we'll all fit right in.'