Batelco

Gert Rieder joined Batelco in April 2009 to lead the Bahrain operation of the Batelco Group, as part of the Company’s restructure to manage the growing needs of the organisation. Prior to joining Batelco he was Senior Advisor for ENEX Finance SA, a Private Equity company based in Switzerland. Gert has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications business having begun his career in 1987 with TDC (TeleDanmark). He held various roles and executive positions within TDC including Director Residential FixNet Division, Director Business Division, Senior Vice President, Mobile Marketing and Wholesale Divisions. In 1997, he joined Sunrise Communications, a full service provider telecommunications company in Switzerland, a joint venture between TDC, BT and three Swiss partners, as Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Executive Team. In 2001 he was promoted to COO Sunrise Mobile and member of the Executive Management Board. From 2004 until 2008 Gert was Executive Vice President for TDC Residential and member of the Executive Team in TDC Solutions as well as Chairman of the Board in Call Center Europe. He holds an Executive MBA (INSEAD, France) plus an MBA from the business school in Aarhus, Denmark and is fluent in English, Danish and German.

Kataryna Stapleton was appointed as Chief Financial Officer for the Bahrain operation in December 2007, having joined Batelco in 2006 to lead a Business transformation programme, including Group integration synergies, enhancements to customer experience, process improvement and cost leadership, aimed at driving significant operational efficiencies. Having held senior financial and operational roles at Cable & Wireless (USA & Australia), Savvis Communications (USA) and SingTel Optus (Australia), Kataryna brings to Batelco significant telecom and change management experience. Her academic qualifications include an MBA (Melbourne Business School, Australia), Master of Financial Management (Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Australia) and other courses in strategic and entrepreneurial management from institutions such as the Harvard Club of Australia.

Ebrahim Zainal, having joined Batelco as a trainee technician in 1970, achieved his B.Eng and C.Eng while combining study with work. He has held various positions including General Manager Internal Services and GM of Network Operations prior to his role being expanded to include Network Development in 2003 and Information Technology in 2008, with the task to meet the continual changes within the organisation. Ebrahim, who currently holds the post of Chief Technical Officer, was the driving force in Batelco’s major NGN implementation project which was completed in January 2009 making Bahrain the first country in the world with complete nation-wide Broadband access.

John Ford worked at Batelco from 1980 to 1982 and again from 1988 to 1992, while employed by Cable & Wireless. 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 he moved to a new position to deal with wholesale customers (Batelco competitors) in Bahrain and foreign administrations, a dynamic area of the company which has evolved significantly since the advent of competition. He has over 15 years of competitive experience both as a start-up operator, incumbent and supplier which gives him an edge as Batelco faces increasing competition from new entrants in the telecom market in Bahrain.

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 leading the development and product management of all existing and new services that are distributed via the retail Consumer and Enterprise channels, to the market. 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 and acting GM Business Sales & Products. 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.

Abdulla Althawadi joined Batelco as a Technical Trainee in 1989 and completed his PHD and Masters Degree while combining work and study. Abdulla has risen through the ranks at Batelco, holding various senior roles including Senior Technician and Networks & Planning Development Manager, prior to taking over the role of GM Enterprise Division & Government Business. In 2007 Dr. Abdulla joined the mobile development department and in his role as Head of IP Core & NGN was heavily involved in Batelco’s next generation network programme, leading the department prior and post the NGN deployment. His comprehensive experience and knowledge gained over the years in a variety of roles qualify Dr. Abdulla well to lead the Enterprise & Government Division to great success in the future.

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.