In confirming the separation, the cell phone company told the Observer yesterday that Fontanez had left the group because "he is interested in pursuing his own personal ventures in the Dominica Republic within the telecommunication industry".

Fontanez joined the Digicel group in September 2004 as group CEO in charge of the company's expanding operations throughout the Caribbean region.  He replaced Seamus Lynch, the Irish man who came to Jamaica to start the company, and who was closely identified with the remarkable success of the firm.  Lynch was placed on the company's board as a non-executive director.

At the time of Lynch's departure, David Hall was named chief operating officer in charge of the Jamaican operation.

Fontanez came to Digicel with more than 20 years of industry experience.  He had previously served as CEO of Orange Dominicana (Dominican Republic) and Orange Caraïbe (French West Indies).

Headquartered in Jamaica, Digicel is the single largest GSM provider in the Caribbean region with operation in St Lucia, Grenada, Aruba, St Vincent/Grenadines, Barbados, Cayman and beginning this week, Haiti.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20050608T220000-0500_82029_OBS_DIGICEL_S_GROUP_CEO_LEAVES_IMMEDIATELY.asp