Viaccess-Orca appoints Thomas Kohler as new CEO

Viaccess-Orca (VO) has named Thomas Kohler as the new CEO of the company. Kohler assumes this role following the retirement of Philippe Léonetti. With more than 20 years of international experience in senior management positions at Orange, one of the major telecommunications operators, Kohler brings a wealth of expertise in business development, innovation, and company transformations to VO.

Koen Vermeulen, Chairman of the Board of Viaccess-Orca and Senior Vice President of Orange Innovation IT and Services, said: “Over the course of his career, Thomas has demonstrated that he is a natural leader, guiding Orange through several business challenges. Thomas’ leadership, technology know-how, and comprehensive understanding of the B2B industry will ensure VO is well-equipped to handle the future evolutions of the market. I’d like to warmly thank Philippe for his vision and management over the past four years.”

Prior to joining VO, Kohler served as the Chief Operating Officer at TOTEM, a subsidiary of Orange TowerCo, where he spearheaded business development and operational efficiency initiatives. His previous roles include positions at BuyIn, the procurement joint venture of Orange and Deutsche Telekom, where he oversaw devices and service platform procurement, digitalisation, and business development. Kohler also managed transformational projects for the Orange Group in London and Paris and began his career as Chief Commercial Officer at Orange Switzerland after working as a management consultant in Germany.

Kohler added: “VO has a strong history in technology and service offerings for video content providers. The company’s solutions are meant to address the inherent challenges involved with providing the best TV and OTT experience in a very dynamic and competitive area. I look forward to leading the company forward and driving growth in collaboration with a strong team of experts.”