Telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless Communications Plc (CWC), the parent company of LIME, yesteday announced that CEO Tony Rice has decided to step down at the end of the year.

He will be succeeded by Phil Bentley, former managing director of British Gas, the UK’s leading energy and services provider. The appointment becomes effective January 1, 2014.

According to CWC, Rice decided to step down as CEO ahead of the establishment of CWC’s new executive office in Miami, Florida, and will leave the Board as well.

The company stated that Bentley has been given a mandate to take forward a strategy aimed at establishing CWC as the leading provider of mobile, fixed line and broadband communications services in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

CWC is investing in its operations in the region, particularly in mobile data, high-speed broadband and customer experience systems, as well as considering strategic acquisition opportunities. It has also committed to reducing operating costs by US$100 million over the next two years, the company said.

“CWC is entering a new phase. Following our recent divestments, we now have a business with a single geographic focus and a strong balance sheet and we are investing in growth areas of mobile data and high-speed broadband,” Sir Richard Lapthorne, Chairman of CWC, said in a statement.

“I am delighted to have attracted someone of Phil Bentley’s calibre to lead the company. Phil demonstrated his leadership skills at British Gas, combining strong operational capability with a real focus on customer value – experience which he will bring to CWC as we focus our business on a single region, and drive greater operational improvements.”

Lapthorne thanked Rice for his services to the company.

“Tony has led the business, with distinction, through considerable change. He joined Cable & Wireless as a Non-executive Director in 2003 going on to become Finance Director of Cable & Wireless and then Chief Executive at CWC. He has reshaped the Group’s portfolio while maintaining its strong market positions and evolving its services to focus on data, which has provided an excellent platform for future growth,” he said.

Bentley has been credited for leading a turnaround of British Gas, increasing profits from £300 million to £1.1 billion, and sales by over 30 per cent to £14 billion. The turnaround saw British Gas lead the industry in service excellence, employee engagement and innovation. Prior to British Gas, he was Managing Director, Europe and Group Finance Director at Centrica plc and served on its Board since 2000. He has also held senior executive roles at Diageo and BP.