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Mara Samaniego new CEO of Digicel BVI

- Former CEO Kevin C. Smith remains as advisor to Digicel BVI Board
Mara Samaniego is the new CEO of Digicel BVI. Photo: YouTube
According to Digicel, local Kevin C. Smith has decided to move on from the day-to-day operations of Digicel, but will remain as an advisor to the Digicel BVI board. Photo: VINO/File
According to Digicel, local Kevin C. Smith has decided to move on from the day-to-day operations of Digicel, but will remain as an advisor to the Digicel BVI board. Photo: VINO/File
The Digicel flagship store in Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola. Photo: VINO/File
The Digicel flagship store in Waterfront Drive, Road Town, Tortola. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Following the resignation of local Kevin C. Smith as the Chief Executive Officer of Digicel BVI in June 2020, the telecommunications company today, September 23, 2020, announced its new CEO, Mara Samaniego.

According to a Digicel press release, Mara is no stranger to Digicel, having spent 12 years with Digicel from 2005.

Starting as Commercial Director for Digicel El Salvador, according to the press release, Mara then moved to Digicel Panama in 2008 where she spent six years in senior leadership commercial, operations and marketing roles before being appointed in 2015 as CEO of Digicel Panama - a role she held until March 2017 when she decided to pursue opportunities outside Digicel.

Mara then spent 18 months as General Manager of Corporacion Automotriz MDS in Mexico where she successfully conceived and implemented a turnaround strategy for the business before joining Alton Redes, a wholesale telecommunications company deploying an LTE Network in Mexico as Mobile Services Director – a position she held for just over a year. She has also held senior marketing roles with Coca-Cola in Panama and Costa Rica.

Kevin C. Smith to remain as advisor

According to Digicel, Mara takes over from Kevin C. Smith, who has decided to move on from the day-to-day operations of Digicel, but will remain as an advisor to the Digicel BVI board.

“Mara and Kevin will work closely together with the Digicel BVI management team to ensure a smooth handover,” the press release stated.

“In recent months, under Kevin’s leadership, the company has made moves to assist people through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with free access to Government call centres and educational sites, discounted service to frontline healthcare workers and the provision of high-speed complimentary connectivity to the Althea Scatliffe Primary School and Ebenezer Thomas Primary School.”

Commenting on Mara’s appointment, Regional CEO, Sinead O Marcaigh said; “With strong commercial acumen, Mara leads with great energy, enthusiasm and insight taking care of her teams and always ensuring that we stayed connected to our customers and our communities. I am delighted to be welcoming Mara back to the Digicel family and would like to wish her every success.

She continued; “My sincere thanks also to Kevin for his contribution. I am looking forward to continuing the close working relationship with him in his new capacity as advisor to the Digicel BVI Board to expand the depth and breadth of the services we provide to customers across the BVI.”

An 'exciting time' to be rejoining Digicel- New CEO

Incoming Digicel BVI CEO, Mara Samaniego, commented; “With our customers increasingly looking to power their lives using digital services and experiences, there’s so many opportunities for us to connect with them in new and meaningful ways. It’s an exciting time to be rejoining Digicel and I am looking forward to working with the teams to build on the great work they have in place and connect more BVIslanders with their digital future.”

According to Digicel, after entering the VI and completing a 14-day quarantine period, Mara is ready to lead the local operation.

22 Responses to “Mara Samaniego new CEO of Digicel BVI”

  • Who CARES !! (23/09/2020, 13:55) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply
    This company need to get their Sh%t TOGETHER !! YOU CAN CHANGE MANAGERS UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME !!! YOUR PRICES ARE OUTRAGEOUS, AND YOUR SERVICE SHITTY !!
  • Get him out (23/09/2020, 14:11) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Give the new lady the green light to move digicel forward.. Get the heavy obstructive load out...
  • Last Chance (23/09/2020, 14:35) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    Digicel if you don’t lower your prices or at least improve your service to an acceptable standard, you will lose a lot of customers. I am tired of the dropped calls, missed calls, slow and often non existent internet. But most of all I’m tired of the CRAZY PRICES! I have been with you guys for 20 years but I’m exhausted with being treated like an idiot.
  • work permit? (23/09/2020, 15:02) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply
    No new work permits since March but suddenly there is a new CEO even though there is no work permits being processed? Sorry but rules should be for everybody.
  • Aucks (23/09/2020, 15:03) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Digicel is doing everything except offer good service. 98% of the time I activate a data plan....I have hell with the signal no matter what area I'm in.....ALL the cellphone operators are shhhh!+
  • GG (23/09/2020, 15:06) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    Darn! What happened to Mr. Smith? He was truly fit for the job and was getting things done. It sad he wasn’t given the job full time. I’m so saddened by this.
  • Tru Dat! (23/09/2020, 15:15) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    The TeleComms companies in BVI don't need marketing people in charge - they need infrastructure people. Too slow, too unreliable and too damn expensive - every last 1 of them. Bring in AT&T from St. Johns and force them to compete with that!
  • FBI (23/09/2020, 15:18) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    So what’s the real story why Oj left the job?
  • LABOUR (23/09/2020, 15:33) Like (10) Dislike (13) Reply
    How the Labor Dept. Ain't block her work permit...Aren't there any other local to hold that position?
  • Communications (23/09/2020, 15:40) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    Me/ Smith is a rollling stone gathering no moss he needed to be gone
  • What? (23/09/2020, 17:30) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought the processing of new work permits was on hold.
  • politricks (23/09/2020, 18:11) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply

    OJ know he gearing up to come again with the new political team on the horizon but Myron you simply will not be our Premier.

    Round up all your boys in the club but this is a new generation of young leadership de the Be VI.

    We don’t want you cause you too t*****.

  • acting director (23/09/2020, 18:15) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    a kindergarten child told me confidentially that Smith will contest # 3: The NDP is revamping according to the school child....i am just a Messenger
    • @Acting Director (23/09/2020, 21:23) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      A little birdie told me the same thing while I was minding my business having lunch. He is going to try to go for Fraser seat again. Yeah, NDP is plotting to make a come back.
      • acting director (24/09/2020, 07:12) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
        even if smith hands out free iPhones he will never win fraser
        • I agree (24/09/2020, 07:46) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
          None of them can unseat Fraser. So it would be nice for them to stop humiliating themselves. Fraser is a seasoned Politician that been around before the ones who is trying to unseat him was in pull ups.
  • Axe (23/09/2020, 19:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    She coming to cut staff you wait and see !
  • digi thief (23/09/2020, 20:30) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    It took $10 to send a two minute video using digicel without a plan. I plan to leave them and vip in this Plandemick.
  • Nabuel bottom (24/09/2020, 06:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    OJ fo and sit down you will never beat faser you are not well loked in the district the only yime you might get in that is if fraser give it up and he recommend you, Tgere are persond in the district who do not want to SEE you and tgwt are saying bexause of your M..... they will not vote for you so you better tibk a gain and as fir Myron he better go back Antudia he has no ties here hus parents is not from here any way myron thhe resturant people might be looking for their money tge bvi does not want you for no PTRMIER OJ nnarrow chance even some of your own family donot want to seeyou muchless vote for you. So bo NDP woll cpme agaon The big MUCHO MAN ID NOY STUDYING YOU ALL BECAUSE he need help himself when things stsrt to get sour and OJ whose money will uou use to campagin with the BOG MAN OWN have you repaid FRASER IN THE TGIRD ALL THE WAY
  • Just bailed on them (24/09/2020, 11:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We just bailed out of the internet account we had with Digicel for more than 6 years. Download speeds suddenly started to vary wildly at the beginning of July, from super fast to cold molasses slow. We went to them both on the phone and in person. Documented the speeds... Numerous times over a couple months. Nothing! Zip! Nada!
    Digicel used to be really on top of service calls. Since the company went bankrupt... Not so much.
    Bye-bye!
  • @ Nabuel bottom (24/09/2020, 12:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Learn to f$&@king spell ! It takes so much from competent people to understand what you are trying to say ....


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