Director of External Media Relations

About VEON

VEON is a Nasdaq-listed global digital operator serving over 150 million customers and around 120 million monthly active users across five countries that collectively host nearly 520 million people. The company leverages technology-driven services to empower individuals and stimulate economic growth in these dynamic frontier markets, contributing connectivity and digital services that align with its Digital Operator 1440 vision. This vision seeks to redefine telecom engagement, enabling customers to enjoy the best digital experiences for up to 1440 minutes daily, while supporting businesses across industries using AI, big data, and cloud technologies.

VEON maintains a strong commitment to sustainability, ethical operations, and fostering digital entrepreneurship and literacy within the communities it serves. The company is guided by experienced global leaders, with CEO Kaan Terzioğlu at the helm since 2021.

Role Overview

The Director of External Media Relations is entrusted with managing VEON's global media presence, financial communications, and reputation, safeguarding and enhancing the Group’s image throughout its markets. This role liaises between VEON and external media and financial entities, ensuring consistent, credible, and proactive communication of the Group’s strategic narratives and performance alongside Investor Relations and Government Relations teams.

Key Duties

• Design and implement the Group's external media relations strategy in harmony with corporate goals and digital transformation initiatives.
• Advise senior leadership, including the CEO and communications head, on media strategy, message formulation, and reputational risk management.
• Manage the media relations calendar encompassing earnings announcements, strategic releases, industry events, and key milestones.
• Develop standardized media relations protocols and playbooks for Group-wide adoption.
• Lead financial media engagement around earnings, mergers, capital transactions, ensuring compliance with Nasdaq and SEC regulations.
• Build and nurture relationships with financial journalists and analysts covering telecommunications and emerging markets.
• Prepare executives for media interactions related to financial disclosures and investor conferences.
• Promote VEON as a thought leader on AI, digital financial services, and technology through global media placements and executive visibility efforts.
• Coordinate media activities around major events and campaigns.
• Manage crisis communication frameworks, execute rapid-response strategies during incidents or regulatory events, and conduct regular crisis simulations and media training for spokespeople.
• Provide early warnings and scenario planning on emerging market issues to leadership.
• Lead and support Operating Company communication teams to ensure narrative consistency without direct management authority.
• Oversee media relations resources, including agencies and monitoring services, and manage budgetary aspects linked to media impact metrics.

Experience & Expertise

• Minimum 12 years in media relations, corporate communications, or journalism, of which at least 5 are in senior roles within public multinational corporations, top-tier consultancies, or major news outlets.
• Experience supporting US-listed firms through financial reporting and sensitive disclosures.
• Proven success securing international tier-one media coverage in financial, business, and technology domains.
• Practical crisis communications experience, preferably in politically or geographically complex environments.
• Domain familiarity with telecommunications, technology, or fintech sectors, particularly in emerging markets such as South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
• Capability to influence in a matrixed, multi-market organizational context.

Skills & Personal Attributes

• Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills, capable of producing high-quality press materials under tight deadlines.
• Deep understanding of capital markets communications, regulatory disclosure, and investor relations interfaces.
• Established network with international financial and technology media reporters.
• Poise and decisiveness during crisis events, including availability across different time zones.
• Competence in media monitoring, analytics, and the application of AI-enabled communication tools.
• Executive presence with credibility in advising top-level leaders, balanced by a practical, hands-on operational approach.

Company Values

VEON’s foundational principles focus on delivering a "Better Life for All" through clarity, pioneering innovation, a commitment to excellence over mediocrity, results-oriented processes, inclusive hiring, courageous leadership, audacious objectives, ethical incentives, unity, and resilience.

Additional Information

VEON is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion both within its workforce and in its products and services, aiming to serve diverse customer needs globally. The company employs AI tools to assist the recruitment process but confirms that final decisions rest with human judgment.