Vimpelcom future CEO sees co expanding in Asia-state TV

VIENNA, March 3 (Reuters) - Russia's No. 2 mobile carrier Vimpelcom (VIP.N) is likely to focus its future expansion strategy on Asia, future chief executive of Vimpelcom Boris Nemsic told Austrian state television.

"Vimpelcom sees... its future expansion strategy in the Asian region," said Nemsic, who will step down as Telekom Austria (TELA.VI) CEO at the end of the month to head Vimpelcom. [ID:nL2258513]

"The company has already acquired two licences in Vietnam and Cambodia... and I think that is the direction it is going in," he said.

Nemsic said he did not think Vimpelcom would be interested any more in acquiring Telekom Austria.

"Timing is everything. As a group, we were interesting for the East European country two to three years ago, but today it is no longer the case."

Shares in Telekom Austria were down 1 percent at 9.94 euros by 0812 GMT, underperforming a 0.8 percent rise in the DJ Stoxx Telecoms index .SXKP.

Shares in Vimpelcom closed down 6.3 percent in New York trading on Monday. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Mike Nesbit)