The resignation, submitted at a supervisory board session on Thursday, comes after days of media reports that Merkan was on his way out.

Radio Slovenija said he stepped down after refusing to launch an inquiry into his predecessor Rudolf Skobe, whose tenure has been in the spotlight after Telekom has been ordered by an arbitration tribunal to pay millions to the Greek Antenna Group, which wants to exit a media joint venture.

TV Slovenija has quoted anonymous people privy to information that he was not up to the job.

The company today rejected these reports and said he was resigning for personal reasons.

His deputy, Tomaž Seljak, will serve as interim boss until a new chairman is appointed, Telekom announced.

Before coming to Telekom, Merkan headed Weiler Abrasives, the maker of abrasives formerly known as SwatyComet, for just over six years.

In the afternoon, Telekom issued a statement that the supervisors also decided to change Skobe's termination contract today.

In April, Telekom and Skobe agreed that his employment would be terminated on 29 February 2020. But under the changes made today, Skobe's employment will be terminated at the end of the month.

TV Slovenija said that Skobe was no longer needed by the supervisors. Earlier termination means Skobe will not get ten salaries and severance as stipulated in the original agreement but only seven salaries.