The head of Swiss telecom operator Swisscom, Carsten Schloter, was found dead at his home today after committing suicide, the company said.
"Swisscom is in mourning following the death of its CEO Carsten Schloter," the company said in a statement, adding that the 49-year-old German national had been found dead at his home near Fribourg in central Switzerland Tuesday morning.
"The police are assuming it was a case of suicide," it said, adding that "an investigation into the exact circumstances is underway."
The company said the current head of Swisscom Switzerland, Urs Schaeppi, would take over the CEO chair temporarily.
"The board of directors, group executive board and the entire workforce are deeply saddened and pass on their condolences to the family and relatives," board chairman Hansueli Loosli said in the statement.
Schloter, who is reportedly the separated father of three, joined Swisscom in 2000 as head of its mobile phone unit, and took over the helm of the company six years later.
Before Swisscom, he held various positions at Mercedes-Benz France and debitel.
