GSMA Director General Anne Bouverot has resigned from the mobile telecoms industry association after four years and is to become the chair and CEO of Morpho, a vendor of security and identity solutions, although she is to remain with the GSMA through to 31 July 2015.

The GSMA seems effusive in its praise and Bouverot gracious in her departure.

“On behalf of the GSMA Board, I would like to thank Anne for her exemplary leadership and outstanding work over the last four years,” said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Chairman of the GSMA and President and CEO of Telenor Group. “Anne has made significant impact during her tenure with the GSMA, building a stronger organisation focused on our industry’s priorities and advocating effectively on behalf of mobile operators across the globe. We are naturally disappointed that Anne has decided to move on to a new opportunity, but we wish her every success as she takes this next exciting step in her career.”

“Mobile is undeniably the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sector in technology today, creating significant opportunities for mobile operators and providing important socio-economic benefits for consumers and businesses around the world,” said Ms. Bouverot. “I am very proud of the progress that the GSMA has made in aligning with our members around key industry initiatives, driving forward important advocacy programmes and convening the broad mobile communications ecosystem at leading events such as Mobile World Congress. I want to thank the GSMA Board, our entire membership and, of course, the GSMA staff for their support over the last four years.”

Before joining the GSMA, she was Executive Vice President for Mobile Services for France Telecom/Orange.

The GSMA has begun a search process to find a new director general and is expected to make an announcement shortly.