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**First Lady to Hold CEO Role in the GCC's Telecom Industry**
Manama - Batelco Chairman Shaikh Hamad Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has announced the confirmation of Muna Al Hashemi as Batelco Bahrain's CEO. Mrs. Al Hashemi was appointed as Acting CEO for the Bahrain operation in December 2014. She is the first lady to hold the leadership role of a telecommunications company in the GCC region.
The announcement follows the publication of Batelco Group's Half Year 2015 Financial Results. The Group posted half year profits of BD27.5 Million (US$72.9 Million), an increase of 11% year on year. Batelco Bahrain's role, under the leadership of Mrs. Al Hashemi, was noted for its contribution to the overall performance of the Group with the mobile subscriberbase in Bahrain showing an increase of 2% year-over-year and by 2% since Q1. Batelco Bahrain's Broadband customer base also showed impressive improvement with customer numbers up by 16% YoY and by 4% since Q1.
Prior to taking on the role of Acting CEO, Mrs. Al Hashemi was Batelco's Consumer Division General Manager since 2008. With a Master's degree in Telecommunications and a BSc in Electronic Engineering, Muna joined Batelco in 1994 and gained invaluable experience as she progressed through a number of divisions, including Engineering, Customer Services, Accounts, Product Marketing& Development and Customer Marketing. The depth of knowledge of various functional units and processes that Muna gained in her diverse roles, including the experience gained over seven years as a General Manager and the past eight months as Acting CEO, provides her with the necessary skills for the role of CEO.
Mrs. Al Hashemi is also a Board Director at Umniah, Batelco Group's operation in Jordan.
Batelco Board of Directors congratulates Mrs. Al Hashemi on her successful career with Batelco and her success since taking on the Acting CEO role and wishes her every success as she embarks on the task of running the Company's Bahrain operations as CEO Bahrain.
Shaikh Hamad stated that Muna is assured of the ongoing support of the Board of Directors and also the full support of the Bahrain executive team to assist her in delivering key targets and meet the various goals as outlined in Batelco Bahrain's strategy.
Batelco Group A/CEO Ihab Hinnawi extended congratulations to Muna on her appointment as CEO of the Group's Bahrain operation.
"The Board's decision is based on Muna's excellent achievements since December 2014 as Acting CEO, and also on her long and successful career with Batelco since joining as a graduate in 1994."
"Muna's achievement is also testament to Batelco's excellent programmes for development and promotion and to the company's equal opportunities for both ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Hinnawi added.
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About Batelco
Batelco Group is headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain and listed on the Bahrain Bourse. Batelco has played a pivotal role in the country's development as a major communications hub and today is the leading integrated communications' provider, continuing to lead and shape the local consumer market and the enterprise ICT market. Batelco has been growing overseas via investing in other market-leading fixed and wireless operators.
Batelco Group has evolved from being a regional Middle Eastern operation to become a major communications company with direct and indirect investments across 14 geographies, namely Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Maldives, Diego Garcia, St. Helena, Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands.
This press release has been issued by Batelco Corporate Affairs department.
For further information, please contact Batelco Public Relations Office
Public.Relations@btc.com.bh / Fax +973 17611898
© Press Release 2015
