COO Mirko Bibic to take over
MONTREAL – Bell Canada today announced president and CEO George Cope will retire as of January 5, 2020 and will be replaced in the role by company COO Mirko Bibic.
“The BCE board is pleased to take the next step in our succession plan by confirming Mirko Bibic as our next CEO,” said Gordon Nixon, chair of BCE and Bell Canada, in the company press release. Bibic will be the company’s 14th CEO, dating back to the company’s founding in 1880.
“Mirko is a seasoned Bell executive who has played a critical leadership role in the company's strategic transformation over the last decade. With deep experience across Bell's business segments, outstanding financial and operational acumen, and an unmatched understanding of the issues transforming the Canadian communications landscape, Mirko is the ideal choice to lead Bell's management team forward in the execution of our growth strategy.”
As CEO, Cope (who replaced Michael Sabia in July 2008 after being hired as COO in 2006) “has re-energized Bell as an agile competitor,” added Nixon. “He has led the restructuring initiatives and made the critical investments in Bell's team, networks and customer service infrastructure required to build a bold competitor across every segment of communications.”
Cope (pictured at Bell’s last AGM) executed strategic investments and acquisitions valued at more than $15 billion, notes the press release, building Bell's competitive scale in wireless, media, customer service and distribution, including leading brands like CTV, Astral, The Source, Bell Aliant, Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS), Virgin Mobile Canada, the Montreal Canadiens, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (co-owned with Rogers and Kilmer Investments), including the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors, notes the press release. He also launched and has led the Bell Let’s Talk mental health community investment campaign, one of the largest in the country.
Prior to his time leading Bell, Cope built wireless upstart Clearnet Communications before its $6.6 billion purchase by Telus in 2000 (back when cell penetration was only around 15% of Canadians). He remained with Telus for a few years after that, running the wireless division. Telus' very successful, long-time "critters" series of ad campaigns actually began at Clearnet under Cope.
A Bell executive since 2004, Bibic (right) spent a number of years as Bell’s lead lawyer regulatory officer, appearing in front of the CRTC many times. He moved from there to EVP, corporate development, guiding initiatives such as multiple wireless spectrum auctions and the consolidation of regional communications companies Bell MTS and Bell Aliant. As COO, he is 
responsible for Bell Mobility, Bell Residential and Small Business, and Bell Business Markets.
According to the Bell announcement this morning, Bibic has led the launch of initiatives such as the expansion of Bell Wireless Home Internet to scores of small towns and rural communities; the acceleration of Bell prepaid wireless, including the introduction of low-cost Lucky Mobile and Virgin Mobile prepaid service in Dollarama stores across Canada; Bell Media's launch of the all-new Crave; BBM's acquisition of Axia NetMedia and award of Alberta's SuperNet contract; and strategic planning for Bell's 5G future.
“The time is right for Mirko to take our company to the next level," said Cope in the release. “He has been front and centre in the successful execution of Bell's broadband leadership strategy from its beginning. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mirko through the transition to his new role.”
“It is a profound honour to be chosen as the next CEO of this great Canadian institution,” said Bibic in the release. “I am grateful for the confidence that our board, George Cope and the Bell executive team have shown in me, and for the opportunity to have partnered with a CEO as experienced and esteemed as George.”
