(Telecompaper) Provider of telecommunications services VimpelCom has promoted Anton Kudryashov to chief group business development and portfolio officer from 14 October. Kudryashov will be based at the group headquarters in Amsterdam, responsible for business development and mergers and acquisitions, as well as strategic business control. His contract has been extended to 31 December 2016. Mikhail Slobodin (40) will replace Kudryashov as head of the Russia business unit, effective immediately. Slobodin comes from the energy group TNK-BP, where he was executive VP of strategy and new business development.