On June 8, 2026, Bakcell released an official statement regarding a new appointment to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Gunnar Panke, who possesses over 35 years of international experience in the telecommunications industry, has been appointed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
Gunnar Panke has extensive experience in customer-centric business transformation, strategic development, and sustainable growth within the telecommunications sector. He has held various leadership positions at leading telecommunications companies in Azerbaijan, Germany, France, Romania, Azerbaijan, and other countries.
Gunnar Panke holds a PhD in Strategic Management from the University of Poitiers in France, as well as an MBA from ENSPTT University. In addition, he has successfully completed leadership programs at prestigious higher education institutions around the world, such as INSEAD (France), Oxford University (UK), London Business School (UK), IE (Madrid), ESMT (Germany), and Darden School of Business (USA).
“My appointment to Bakcell, which plays a vital role in the country’s digital development, is a great responsibility and honor for me. My goal is to further strengthen Bakcell’s position in the telecommunications sector and expand its strategic role in the country’s digital development by creating more value for our subscribers through innovation, artificial intelligence, and customer-centric solutions,” emphasized Gunnar Panke.
The new appointment will give impetus to further accelerating Bakcell’s long-term strategic priorities in the areas of customer-centric innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital services. Under Gunnar Panke’s leadership, the company will continue its activities towards further improving customer experience and expanding the implementation of AI-based solutions.
About Bakcell
Bakcell is the first and largest private telecommunications company in Azerbaijan. Currently, the company provides high-quality and fast telecommunications services to more than three million customers. As one of the largest investors in the non-oil sector of the country’s economy, Bakcell contributes to the sustainable development of Azerbaijan with innovative AI-based solutions.
Bakcell is part of the Azerconnect Group, which is a member of NEQSOL Holding, an international group of companies operating in various countries and fields.