Hatem Dowidar is the Group CEO of e&, [1] leading its transformation from a telco into a global technology group and its expansion across 38 markets. [2] [3] Under his leadership, e& evolved into a global technology group in February 2022, becoming, in 2024, [4] the Fastest Growing Technology Brand and the Most Valuable Brand Portfolio in the Middle East and Africa. [5] Recognised as the top-ranked telecom leader globally on the Brand Guardianship Index 2024, he holds roles as a Non-Executive Director of Vodafone Group [6] [7] [8] [9] and board memberships at Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), Maroc Telecom and Etisalat Egypt. Before e&, Hatem worked for Vodafone, Procter & Gamble as well as Daimler Benz Group in various roles. Hatem is as well a member of international forums such as the board of the GSMA and the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) leadership panel. His academic background includes a bachelor's in Communications and Electronics Engineering and an MBA. [10] [11] [12] [13]
Although Hatem Dowidar began his career as an engineer, he quickly discovered his passion for the commercial side of business. By closely observing business leaders, he admired their holistic approach to leadership and their growth mindset in tackling daily challenges. Inspired by their progressive outlook, Dowidar realized his true calling: to be a leader for change. With a natural drive to embrace challenges and a sharp ability to adapt to the evolving telecom industry, Dowidar’s skills have been instrumental in shaping his journey as Group CEO of e&, guiding the organization through transformative growth. [14]
Hatem Dowidar began his professional journey at AEG/Deutsche Aerospace (Daimler Benz Group) in Egypt before transitioning to Marketing at Procter & Gamble, where he held several key managerial positions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Electronics Engineering from Cairo University and an MBA from the American University in Cairo, reflecting his strong academic foundation and versatile career path. [15]
Egypt has long been the cultural and informational centre of the Middle East and North Africa, and Cairo is the region's largest publishing and broadcasting centre.
Vodafone Group Plc is a British multinational telecommunications company. Its registered office and global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It predominantly operates services in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania.
Swisscom AG is a major telecommunications provider in Switzerland. Its headquarters are located in Worblaufen near Bern. The Swiss government owns 51% of Swisscom. According to its own published data, Swisscom holds a market share of 56% for mobile, 50% for broadband and 37% for TV telecommunication in Switzerland. Its Italian subsidiary, FASTWEB, is attributed 16% of private clients and 29% of the corporate clients share of Italian broadband and is also active in the mobile market.
e&, formerly branded as Etisalat, is a UAE state-owned telecommunications company. It is the 16th largest mobile network operator in the world by number of subscribers.
Jürgen Erich Schrempp was the CEO of Daimler-Benz from May 1995 to December 31, 2005, which became DaimlerChrysler, a German-American car and truck manufacturer. Following a decision of the board taken on July 28, 2005, he was succeeded on January 1, 2006, by Chrysler frontman Dieter Zetsche. Schrempp was the architect of the merger joint venture between Daimler Benz and Chrysler, which ultimately ended in failure when Chrysler was sold in 2007.
Vodafone Egypt is the largest mobile network operator in Egypt in terms of active subscribers. It was launched in 1998 under its former name Click GSM. It covers various voice and data exchange services, as well as 4G, 3G, ADSL and broadband Internet services.
Paul Michael Donovan is a British-born businessman and philanthropist, recognised for his abilities as a turnaround Chief Executive. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Arqiva Group Ltd since April 2020 and has been a non-executive Director at Thames Water Utilities Ltd since June 2019.
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company P.J.S.C., commercially rebranded as du (دو) in February 2007, is one of the two main telecom operators in the United Arab Emirates. du offers fixed line, mobile telephony, internet and digital television services across the UAE. It also provides carrier services, a data hub, internet exchange facilities and satellite service for broadcasters. It expanded its services in support of economic and social transformation of UAE and operates subsidiaries such as EITC Investment Holdings Limited, Edara, Smart Dubai Platform Project Company LLC and EITC Singapore PTE. LTD.
Telecom Egypt, is Egypt's primary telephone company. It started in 1854 with the first telegraph line in Egypt. In 1998, it replaced the former Arab Republic of Egypt National Telecommunication Organization (ARENTO).
Vodafone Ghana, formerly Ghana Telecom, is the national telecommunications company of Ghana.
True Corporation Public Company Limited is a communications conglomerate in Thailand. It is a joint venture between Charoen Pokphand Group and Telenor, formed by the merger between the original True Corporation and DTAC in the form of equal partnership to create a new telecommunications company that can fully meet the needs of the digital age. True controls Thailand's largest cable TV provider, TrueVisions, Thailand's largest internet service provider True Online, Thailand's largest mobile operators, TrueMove H and DTAC TriNet, which is second and third only to AIS. and entertainment media including television, internet, online games, and mobile phones under the True Digital brand. As of August 2014, True, along with True Telecommunications Growth Infrastructure Fund, had a combined market capitalization of US$10 billion. TrueMove is also a partner of Vodafone Group. Charoen Pokphand Group and Telenor hold equal ownership of 30% of True's shares as of March 2023. It operates fixed-line, wireless, cable TV, IPTV and broadband services.
e& Egypt is the third mobile operator to enter the Egyptian market and the first integrated operator for telecom services in Egypt. It officially started its business in 2007 and attracted one million subscribers in the first fifty days of the launch of its operations. e& was the first company to provide 3.5G and 4G services while not needing its customers to change their SIM cards, in addition to consistently developing its network.
Vittorio Amedeo Colao is an Italian manager who served as Minister for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition in the government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi from 2021 to 2022. From 2008 until 2018, he was the chief executive officer at Vodafone Group.
Vodafone India was the Indian subsidiary of UK-based Vodafone Group and was a provider of telecommunications services in India with its operational head office in Mumbai.
The Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG) is a submarine communications cable providing a direct trunk connection between Barka and Penang (Malaysia) with four branches to Fujairah (UAE), Mumbai (India), Colombo and Chennai (India). The project was carried out by a consortium that includes Vodafone, Omantel, Etisalat, AT&T, China Telecom, Telstra, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Dialog and Telekom Malaysia. Construction was started in May 2013 and was completed by the end of 2014. From Penang the system is connected via a terrestrial connection to Singapore. The length of the submarine Cable system is 5,934 kilometres (3,687 mi) from Barka to Penang, with a 216 km (134 mi) branch to Fujairah, 426 km (265 mi) branch to Mumbai, 142 km (88 mi) branch to Colombo and a 1,322 km (821 mi) branch to Chennai, totalling a total length of 8,040 km (5,000 mi).
Lucy Quist, née Afriyie, is a Ghanaian-British business and technology executive. She is a managing director for Morgan Stanley
Nicholas Jonathan Read is a British businessman who was the CEO of Vodafone Group plc from October 2018 to December 2022. Read currently works as a senior advisor for Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and is chairman of EXA Infrastructure. He is also a non-executive director for Booking.com.
Idea Cellular was an Indian telecommunications company based at Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was an integrated GSM operator and had 220.00 million subscribers as of June 2018.
Sten Ola Källenius is a Swedish-German business executive. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of the Mercedes-Benz Group. Källenius was the first non-German to hold both positions prior to obtaining German citizenship.
Selorm Adadevoh is a Ghanaian business and technology executive. He is the current chief commercial officer of the MTN Group, and former chief executive officer of MTN Ghana. He has worked as a telecommunication, business leader and consultant in Africa, the Caribbean, UK and US.