(Telecompaper) VimpelCom has announced the departure of COO Rene Schuster, who is leaving the company to pursue other business interests. His responsibilities will be assumed temporarily by CEO Jo Lunder. Anja Uitdehaag, the group chief human resources officer, is also leaving the company. Uitdehaag will be succeeded by Jeremy Roffe-Vidal, who will take up duties from 1 February. Roffe-Vidal was previously group human resources director and corporate VP of Cap Gemini. Meanwhile, Andrey Patoka has been promoted to head of the CIS Business Unit. Pakota joined the group in 2008 and is currently executive VP and chief infrastructure officer of OJSC VimpelCom. Mikhail Gerchuk, acting head of the CIS, will continue in his role as group chief commercial and strategy officer. Roffe-Vidal and Pakota have also been appointed members of the group's management board.