Byorns Ursula (Ursula Burns)

Byorns Ursula (Ursula Burns)

Interesting Facts

She is the first black female director who headed Xerox. In 2009 Forbes called her the fourteenth most influential woman of the planet.

Biography

1958-1980

Was born in New York in 1958. In 1980 received the bachelor's degree at the New York polytechnical institute, in 1982 — the master's degree in Columbia University. In 1980 came to train to Xerox to the mechanical engineer's position. held different positions in product marketing and planning later

1992-2007

In 1992-2000 directed different business groups, including the direction of office color print. Ursula Burns managed several working groups promoting products of Xerox. In 2000 became the senior vice president of Xerox for production and deliveries. Afterwards took more responsible position on the management of Research and Development, product development, marketing and deliveries.

In 2002 Burns became the president of Xerox Business Group Operations, and in April the 2007th it is appointed the president of Xerox. Then in its area of responsibility there were IT infrastructure questions, strategic planning, personnel management, corporate marketing and interaction with key clients of Xerox – the international companies.

2009: Appointment of Xerox as the head

Ursula Burns is appointed the chief executive officer of Xerox. Anne Mulcahy yielded her a position of the CEO on July 1, 2009. However, it will continue the activity in the company as the chairman of the board of directors.

2018: Appointment of Veon as the CEO

On December 13, 2018 the telecommunication holding Veon which includes the Russian operator of mobile and fixed connection VimpelCom, announced Ursula Burns appointment the CEO on a permanent basis. She temporarily fulfilled duties of the head of the company since March, 2018 — after departure of the former CEO Jean-Yves Charlier.

Ursula Burns remains the chairman of the board of directors of Veon. She held this post in the summer of 2017. She is also included into Boards of Directors of ExxonMobil, Nestle and Uber.

In  the press release  of Veon it is reported that during operating time as the interim head of Veon Ursula Burns "successfully implemented the simplified corporate structure".^[1]

The board was impressed with Ursula's work and her skills of management. Under its management Veon performed large deal selling joint venture in Italy for $2.9 billion and showed the period of stable quarter operational indicators, says holding.

Ursula Burns said that she is going to continue to work on increase in shareholder value of the company and will try to lead the company to success further.

Ursula Burns

When Ursula Burns was the acting as the CEO of Veon, the corporation simplified structure and cut down the managerial staff. Area managers in 11 markets where the holding works, began to report right in front of the headquarters. The company reduced regional managerial structures in Eastern Europe and Pakistan.

For the last three years Veon cut down the staff worldwide approximately on a third. As of the end of 2017 in the company there were about 40 thousand employees.

Among priorities for Veon Ursula Burns listed gain of attention to emerging markets, expense control, improvement of a financial balance of the company and preserving of the existing level of dividends.

2020: Departure from the job of the chief executive of Veon

On February 13, 2020 the Veon company (parent company of VimpelCom) announced departure from the job of the chief executive Ursula Burns who held this position since December, 2018. It will remain the chairman of the board of directors of the company.

Since March 1 Serkhi Errero and Kaan Terzioglu will become co-directors of Veon.^[2]

Notes