• Abfalter previously served as FLAG’s chief strategy and revenue officer
  • Grivner will retain board-level involvement after moving from chief executive to chairman

The Fact

FLAG has appointed Paul Abfalter as chief executive, succeeding Carl Grivner, who will become chairman, Capacity reported. Abfalter moves from his previous role as chief strategy and revenue officer, where his responsibilities included commercial strategy, revenue growth and network investment.

FLAG operates submarine and terrestrial cable systems across routes linking Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. It also provides edge data-centre capacity at cable landing sites. When checked, the company’s website still listed Grivner as chief executive and Abfalter in his previous role. FLAG has not disclosed the appointment’s effective date or who will assume Abfalter’s former responsibilities.

The assessment

Abfalter moves into the chief executive role after helping shape FLAG’s commercial strategy and network-investment priorities. He will now oversee those plans alongside the company’s operations, project delivery and financial performance.

Grivner’s move to chairman keeps him involved in board oversight, but FLAG has not explained how responsibilities will be divided between the two positions. It has also not identified who will take over Abfalter’s previous remit. Clear allocation of those duties will matter as the company continues to make investment decisions and deliver existing network projects.

For BTW readers, the appointment keeps FLAG’s current leadership closely involved while shifting day-to-day control to Abfalter. FLAG still needs to decide who takes over his previous commercial and strategy responsibilities and how he and Grivner will divide authority.

What to watch

Further company disclosure may confirm the appointment’s effective date, Abfalter’s replacement and the chairman’s responsibilities. Changes to the executive team, investment approvals and delivery milestones for existing network projects will show how the new leadership structure works in practice.