AIRTEL Nigeria has denied reports in some media alleging ‘mass exit’ of staff from the telecommunication company, over the recent decision of the company’s Senior Manager, Brand and Communications, Eyitemi Taire to dump the telecoms company for Guinness.
Describing the reports as ‘mere wild speculations and sponsored campaigns of calumny’ the company’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. James Eze, stated that Taire’s resignation was to enable her take up a new role as Director, Trade Marketing at Guinness Nigeria Plc.
According to him, the company’s former Brand Manager had been offered the job much earlier, but was kept on hold to enable her ‘complete a cycle’ in the company.
‘Indeed, Taire’s appointment at Guinness came barely four months after her resumption as Head, Brand and Communications at Airtel and had been on hold ever since to ensure that she was fully confirmed on her Airtel job before taking up the appointment,’ he stated.
Taire’s resignation, he stated, had sparked off unfounded rumours of instability in Nigeria’s oldest GSM operator leading to speculations about the real reason behind her exit, especially as it came on the heels of the departure of Olu Akanmu, the former Chief Marketing Officer of the company.
The company’s spokesman argued that following the recent squabble over the handling of the company’s advertising account, ‘some fifth-columnists had formed the habit of waiting in the wings to amplify and twist any story on Airtel to suit their mischievous designs.’