Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 15th, 2012 - The GSM Association (GSMA), the organization that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, has announced that Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, chief executive officer of Etisalat Group, has been elected to the GSMA Board. Mr Julfar will join 24 other CEOs and senior executives reflecting the largest operator groups as well as smaller independent operators with global representation.  Mr Julfar will serve on the GSMA Board for a two-year term from January 2013 through December 2014.  

Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators with more than 230 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo.

"It's a pleasure to welcome Mr Julfar to the GSMA Board, and we are all looking forward to working with Etisalat Group on the GSMA's efforts to advance the strategic priorities of the operator community," said Franco Bernabè, Chairman of the GSMA Board and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Telecom Italia Group. "In the election of the new Board, one of the criteria besides geographical representation, was the potential to actively drive the industry and in this respect Mr Julfar and Etisalat Group have historically had very positive engagement with GSMA."

Mr Julfar will work with the GSMA Board and the GSMA to help shape the future of mobile communications, helping to benefit individuals, organizations and governments throughout the world.

Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar was appointed Group CEO at Etisalat Group in July 2011, after serving as Group Chief Operating Officer between 2006 and 2011. His role includes the delivery of the Group's commercial, technological, financial, business development and overall organisational goals as Etisalat strives to become one of the world's top telecommunications companies.

Since 1976, Etisalat has been at the forefront of the Middle East's technological revolution and for close to forty years, the company has developed and grown to become one of the world's leading telecommunications companies. 

Etisalat Group has been active in the work of various GSMA groups, including the Chief Regulatory Officers Group (CROG) and Chief Strategy Officers Group (CSOG) and was involved in the creation of a Middle East and Africa CROG. Etisalat was a supporter of the GSMA Africa Mobile Observatory issued in 2011 and was also a founding member of the African mHealth Alliance.

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About Etisalat:
Strong commitment to excellence and innovation has seen Etisalat become one of the world's fastest-growing telecom groups, rapidly expanding across Asia and Africa. Its UAE operations, strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, enables Etisalat to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services. Etisalat has been recognised as 'Best Operator' 10 times since 2006 and 'Best Wholesale Provider' four times in the last three years. Servicing over 130 million customers in 15 countries Etisalat continues to reach out to new customers and markets.

For more information: - www.etisalat.com

Etisalat Media Desk
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© Press Release 2012