The GSMA today announced that its director general Anne Bouverot is to leave the organisation at the end of July to become the chair and CEO of security and identity solution vendor Morpho.

Bouverot’s achievements over her four-year tenure were recognised by GSMA chairman – and Telenor President and CEO – Jon Fredrik Baksaas: “Anne has made significant impact… building a stronger organisation focused on our industry’s priorities and advocating effectively on behalf of mobile operators across the globe.”

Bouverot herself pointed to the growth of the GSMA, and wider mobile industry, in the last few years: “Mobile is undeniably the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sector in technology today, creating significant opportunities for mobile operators and providing important socio-economic benefits for consumers and businesses around the world. I am very proud of the progress that the GSMA has made in aligning with our members around key industry initiatives, driving forward important advocacy programmes and convening the broad mobile communications ecosystem at leading events such as Mobile World Congress.”

Bouverot’s new role will see her running a multinational company with over 8,000 employees and a turnover of around €1.5 billion. Morpho is a major player in the digital identity and smart transaction space, areas of keen interest to Bouverot in her time at the GSMA.

The GSMA said in a statement it has commenced a search process to identify a new director general “and will make an announcement regarding Ms. Bouverot’s successor in due course.”