Batelco

Rashid Abdulla took on the role of Chief Executive for Batelco Bahrain in January 2011, having held the position of Managing Director of Qualitynet, Batelco’s sister operation in Kuwait, since 2000. During his 10 year tenure at Qualitynet, Rashid helped to turn the company into a highly profitable and customer focused organisation recognised as the leading internet and Data Communications Company in Kuwait.

Rashid has been in the telecommunications business for 30 years, beginning his career as a student in 1979 with Batelco’s former shareholder, Cable & Wireless and training at their Telecommunications College in the UK. He later attended Thames Polytechnic, UK, from where he graduated with a BSc (hons) in Electrical & Electronics Engineering.

A long and illustrious career has seen Rashid gain experience in various aspects of Batelco’s operations, holding management and general management roles from 1986 onwards. Among the roles he has held are Manager International Business & Tariffs, General Manager Major Accounts and General Manager of New Business Development. He was instrumental in the delivery of a number of major achievements over the past 25 years including the launch of Internet Services in 1995, which remains as one of Batelco’s most significant and far reaching accomplishments.

Rashid, who is supported by a strong team of experienced General Managers at Batelco Bahrain, has all the credentials necessary to lead and grow Batelco as the Company enters the second decade of the new century.

Dr. Ghassan was appointed as Chief Financial Officer - Bahrain in September 2010. Since joining BATELCO in November 1996, Dr. Ghassan was predominantly responsible for leading inorganic New Business Development and M&A transactional activities in the region, culminating in the role of Head of Mergers & Acquisitions for the Middle East and Africa region. Dr. Ghassan has managed and structured various Telecom license bids, and was also actively involved in a number of successful acquisitions of buying Telecom companies. He also held Board positions in a number of BATELCO’s operational investments in Kuwait (Qualitynet), Jordan (Batelco-Jordan), and currently India (S Tel).  Dr. Ghassan’s financial planning and modelling, Telecoms corporate finance, corporate valuation and M&A transactional experience over the last 12 years with the BATELCO Group is complemented with a strong academic background. He holds a Bachelor degree in Control Engineering, an MSc in Control Systems from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London) and a PhD in Control Systems Theory from the University of Leicester (UK). Before joining BATELCO, Dr. Ghassan worked in the United Kingdom as a Research Associate at the University of Leicester. He was engaged in applied research into the theory of Advanced Control Systems, whereby his research projects were associated with large industrial sponsors from Holland and the United Kingdom.

John Ford was appointed to the role of Chief Technical Officer in January 2011 following four years as General Manager of Batelco’s Wholesale Division. With a career spanning over 30 years in the telecommunications industry, John worked at Batelco in Bahrain from 1980 to 1982 and again from 1988 to 1992 while employed by Cable & Wireless, Batelco’s former shareholder. Having left C&W, he returned to Batelco in 2001 to join the Engineering Department prior to entering the Corporate, Legal and Regulatory Affairs Department in 2004. In 2006, with the advent of competition in the Bahrain market, John took on a new role to head up Batelco’s Wholesale & Carrier Relations Division for four years prior to his current position as CTO.

Muna Al Hashemi has risen through the ranks at Batelco, having joined the Company in 1994. With a Masters degree in Telecommunications and a BSc in Electronic Engineering, Muna began her career in the Engineering Department and gained invaluable experience as she progressed through a number of divisions, including Customer Services, Accounts, Product Marketing, Product Development and Customer Marketing. The depth of knowledge of various functional units and processes that Muna has gained in her diverse roles has prepared her well for her current challenging task of heading up the busy Consumer Division.

Adel Daylami is responsible for the delivery of relevant products and services for Batelco’s business customers and ensuring round the clock support in order for them to operate their businesses seamlessly and efficiently. Since joining Batelco in 1989 he has held various roles including Head of Fixed Services, Senior Manager Business Product portfolio, Director International Operation & Business Marketing, CEO Batelco Jordan, acting GM Business Sales & Products and GM Product & Services Division. Adel was a key player in setting up Broadband Bahrain and ICT & Network Rationalisation Strategies. Among many key achievements, he managed, launched and successfully implemented Batelco’s Internet Services from its concept stage through to establishing its current exceptional user base. Mr. Daylami holds a Master’s in Business Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing and a BSc in Electrical & Electronics Engineering.

Suhaila Al Nowakhda, who joined Batelco in 1992 as a Management Services Analyst, completed a BSC from U.O.B while holding down her full time job. In 1998, she was transferred to the Remuneration & Benefits Department where she built up a wide experience in HR policies and procedures before completing a Postgraduate Diploma from Sheffield Hallam University, UK, in 2005. Since 2005, Suhaila has held a number of senior roles in the HR Department including Senior Manager HR Bahrain with the responsibility for Recruitment & Manpower, HR Operations & Systems, HR Policies & Reviews, Industrial Relations, and Buildings Projects & Support. In her role as GM of Human Resources Bahrain, Suhaila has full responsibility for all HR issues for the Bahrain Operation.

Hamza Ali, who joined Batelco in 1987 and has gained vast experience across a number of Batelco’s divisions over the years, was appointed as General Manager of the Company’s Wholesale department in January 2011. Having entered Batelco’s Maritime Operating Centre as an Administrative Supervisor in 1987 Hamza’s dedication and commitment led to a continuous trend of growth and promotion leading to his first senior management role as Senior Manager, Voice Products & Services in 2000. Hamza also gained international experience along the way with a secondment posting as Marketing Director of Batelco’s sister company, Umniah, from 2006 to 2008. On his return to HQ, he was assigned the role of General Manager Product Development & Strategy at the beginning of 2009 where he was responsible for major product development & strategy formulation across the Mobile, Fixed, Internet and Datacoms product portfolio. Hamza completed an MBA from the University of Hull UK and completed The Gulf Executive Development Programme with The Darden Graduate School of.

Nadia Hussain, who joined Batelco in April 2008, has held the roles of General Manager Corporate Affairs followed by Group Business Planning & Strategy, before taking over the role of Group General Manager Government Relations, in June 2010. In her Government Relations role, Nadia takes on the challenge of liaising with different Government entities with regard to Telecommunications policies as well as forwarding Batelco’s views and initiatives in supporting the Telecommunications Sector. Prior to joining Batelco, Nadia had gained experience in a number of fields including Finance, Banking, Aviation and Telecoms Regulation. She held senior executive positions including being the first lady branch manager in the banking sector of the Kingdom, CFO of Sabre International and Board Secretary of the Telecoms Regulator in Bahrain in addition to her role as Director of Finance & HR. Nadia is a BECOM graduate from Hilwan University in Cairo. Her academic qualifications include courses in finance, business strategies and planning as well as legal.