Former VimpelCom chief executive Alexander Izosimov (pictured) is to take the head role at newly enlarged VimpelCom Ltd. The ‘new’ VimpelCom Ltd was formed last month when shareholders including Norway’s Telenor and Russia’s Alfa Group agreed to merge their holdings in US-listed VimpelCom and Ukraine’s Kyivstar after a dispute that ran almost five years. A statement today from Telenor notes that “VimpelCom Ltd will be a leading mobile operator in Russia, Ukraine and the CIS, with a significant presence in Southeast Asia. VimpelCom Ltd. will seek to expand its operations in other rapidly developing markets in Europe, Asia and Africa, becoming one of the world’s leading players in the industry.” The company is incorporated in Bermuda and will be headquartered in the Netherlands and listed on the NYSE.

Izosimov left VimpelCom in March and was replaced by Boris Nemsic, who had been CEO of Telekom Austria. Dow Jones Newswires notes that there are no plans to change Nemsic or his management team at OAO VimpelCom. Izosimov is also expected to remain as chairman of industry group the GSMA. Meanwhile Jo Lunder, who was CEO of VimpelCom for two years from 2001, will be chairman of VimpelCom Ltd.