On this episode, Marcelo Cataldo, CEO of Digicel, shares the extraordinary story of how he led a sweeping turnaround throughout 25 nations—bringing new stability, focus, and innovation to the Caribbean’s largest cell supplier. From navigating hurricanes and financial uncertainty to investing in underserved communities and modernizing legacy programs, Marcelo’s journey reveals what it really takes to guide a telecom transformation with folks—and resilience—on the middle.
At the moment’s visitor, Marcelo Cataldo, joined Digicel in 2024 after a serious restructuring and shortly repositioned the corporate for progress. Below his management, Digicel is increasing knowledge entry, investing in solar-powered infrastructure, and deepening its function as a lifeline throughout areas nonetheless battling 2G limitations, low broadband penetration, and local weather vulnerability.
Marcelo breaks down his three-part turnaround technique: narrowing focus to core companies, decentralizing operations to empower native markets, and rebuilding tradition from the bottom up. He shares what it takes to construct hurricane-ready networks, reply in disaster, and create long-term social influence by way of connectivity—particularly in nations like Haiti, the place Digicel’s community actually powers the nation.
From AI-powered customer support brokers to bottom-up expertise growth throughout various island economies, Marcelo discusses how Digicel is getting ready for a future outlined by local weather strain, automation, and community-driven progress.
With clear communication, relentless execution, and a imaginative and prescient rooted in service, Marcelo presents a management playbook for any operator navigating complexity at scale. His insights transcend telecom—concerning what it means to guide with objective in a area the place each textual content, name, and connection might change a life.
From infrastructure to influence, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and digital inclusion.
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About
Marcelo Cataldo took the helm of Digicel Group in Might 2024 and moved shortly to reset the corporate’s management and working rhythm. In his first months, he has introduced in a brand new senior workforce, given markets higher autonomy whereas tightening central oversight, and embedded a governance tradition grounded in transparency and business self-discipline. His strategy blends the tempo and agility of a aggressive telecom with the rigor of long-term stewardship, positioning Digicel to compete tougher and develop sustainably throughout its various markets.
Initially from Paraguay, Cataldo brings a profession formed by international expertise throughout Latin America, the USA, and Europe. Earlier than becoming a member of Digicel, he served as Chief Government Officer and President of Tigo Colombia from 2016, the place he oversaw communications companies for 16 million clients, driving progress in each subscriber base and digital companies. Below his management, the corporate expanded its market attain, superior community funding, and strengthened its governance framework.
Cataldo’s tenure at Millicom, which he joined in 2010, noticed him rise by way of senior business, enterprise growth, and product roles. He was additionally a driving drive behind the corporate’s ESG and company governance agenda, together with the Contigo Conectados initiative—an schooling program on accountable web use reaching youngsters, mother and father, and educators nationwide. Earlier in his profession, he held know-how roles within the European finance sector. He holds a Bachelor’s and Grasp’s in Pc Science and Engineering from Universidad Católica “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción” in Paraguay, and an MBA from Madrid Polytechnic College.
Now based mostly in Kingston, Jamaica, Cataldo is targeted on constructing a Digicel that’s sharper in its execution, extra disciplined in its administration, and instilling a relentless tradition with an obsession and dedication to serving clients—all whereas sustaining the very best requirements of ethics and accountability. On the coronary heart of his management are the Digicel values of Variety, Integrity, Development, and Innovation. Formed by three a long time of world expertise, Cataldo has introduced these values to life throughout the enterprise, embedding them into the on a regular basis tradition of Digicel and making them the muse on which its folks serve, innovate, and develop.
On the core of my management are Digicel’s values, Variety, Integrity, Development, and Innovation. They don’t seem to be simply rules however a regular of excellence I anticipate of myself and of the corporate. I consider in main with focus, committing with out compromise, and driving ahead with relentless power. Excellence shouldn’t be optional- it’s the self-discipline, the ambition, and the promise that defines Digicel’s future.
