Mohammad Hassan Omran

Company:Etisalat
Position: Chairman

Biography: Etisalat Misr, the one-year-old telecoms subsidiary in Egypt, has been described as Mohammad Hassan Omran’s ‘baby’ by other executives at the company.

The decision to invest $2.9bn in Egypt’s third mobile phone licence in May 2006 was one of Omran’s first after becoming chairman of Etisalat earlier that year. The telecoms giant made its key investment outside the UAE two years prior to Omran’s appointment.

Etisalat’s purchase of the second mobile phone licence in Saudi Arabia for $3.5bn in 2004 was the foundation for its international expansion into Africa and Asia. Etihad Etisalat, the Saudi operation, made its first profit within 18 months of launching.

Omran needs Etisalat Misr to be as big a success story as Etihad Etisalat. Power in Etisalat is split between Omran and chief executive officer (CEO) Mohammad al-Qamzi, with Omran taking responsibility for international markets.

Contact: (+9712) 618 2173
Company website: etisalat.com.eg