DUBAI, (Reuters) – Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the Gulf Arab region’s No. 1 telecoms operator, has appointed Abdulaziz al-Suqair as chairman and Mohammad al-Kharashi as vice-chairman, the former monopoly said on Sunday.

The pair were appointed for a period of three years at a company board meeting on Saturday, STC said in a statement to the Saudi bourse.

Earlier this month, STC said Chief Executive Saud al-Daweesh will step down, effective October 1.