Batelco announces new management roles

The Group's latest quarterly results, recent acquisitions (Sabafon and Umniah), expansion of fixed services operations in Kuwait and Jordan and, the granting of a new license for fixed services in Saudi Arabia are examples of how Batelco has been delivering on its strategy for growth.

"In order to better align our efforts and deliver a solid performance in 2007 a number of executive management 'moves and changes' plus some minor organisational changes are taking place," announced Batelco Chief Executive Peter Kaliaropoulos.

New to Batelco is David Clarke who has been appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer. David brings to Batelco significant knowledge of telecoms, media and technology and has experience in leading banking, finance and new business activities, deal execution teams and investor and rating agency initiatives. He has held senior positions in the industry including Fujitsu Services (UK), British Telecom (Singapore), as well as investment banking expertise with Arab Banking Corporation in Bahrain, Deutsche Bank (Japan & UK), Salomon Brothers (US & UK).

"We welcome David on board and wish him well in his new role at Batelco," said Mr. Kaliaropoulos.

"We also extend our appreciation to our outgoing CFO Chris Gabriel for his tremendous contribution to the Company."

Batelco's General Manager Business Division Abdulwahed Zainal will take on a new role as GM Customer Process Improvement Team. Mr. Zainal will head up a team which will review all customer related, pre and post sales processes and introduce company-wide required process changes and lead IT developments to deliver to consumers and businesses an improved customer experience.

"We need to keep improving our customer experience as a competitive differentiator and we need to design a "blueprint" for an integrated, cost effective and differentiated customer experience," said Mr. Kaliaropoulos.

Tass Messanis, who has been driving Batelco's Sales Transformation project, will assume responsibility on an acting basis for the Business and Government Division. He has over 20 years experience in the telecommunications and information technology industry throughout the Asia Pacific region, in both sales and marketing.

Changes have also taken place in Batelco's overseas operations. Ihab Hinnawi has been appointed as CEO of Batelco Jordan and Joseph Hanania, following a very successful career with HP across the Middle East, has been appointed CEO of Umniah.

Both Mr. Hinnawi and Mr. Hanania bring significant sales and marketing experience to these roles as Umniah and Batelco Jordan are poised to accelerate their growth in Jordan by offering mobile and broadband services to consumers and integrated communications solutions to business customers.

Batelco Senior Manager Access Networks Sadiq Alkhayat will now take the lead Batelco role in the new Batelco/Atheeb Consortium which has won a license to offer fixed services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Alkhayat and a team of Networks specialists will relocate to Riyadh to take on the most challenging role of rapid rollout of new infrastructure and services across Saudi.

"I wish all staff across the Batelco Group well and look forward to future successes with their continuing support as we all pull together with a single aim - to improve and grow Batelco's operations across Bahrain and the Middle East region," concluded Mr. Kaliaropoulos.