Zain Group, a leading mobile telecom innovator across the Middle East and Africa, announces the promotion of Dr Andrew Arowojoluto Group Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO), effective October 1, 2016.
This important role within Zain Group will see Dr Andrew liaise with Regulatory Authorities across the company’s eight-country footprint, dealing with multiple issues including spectrum license terms and conditions as well as working with various industry bodies such as the GSMA and Samena Council to enhance the regional telecommunications sector. As part of the senior executive management team, he will also address regulatory matters pertaining to the development of new expansion opportunities and in support of the implementation of Zain’s digital lifestyle strategy.
A seasoned telecom executive with over 25years of experience and a proven track-record in the telecom industry across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia, Dr Andrew joined Zain in 2003 and most recently held the role of Group Executive Director, Strategy & Business Development. Prior to joining Zain, he had worked in professional engineering consulting for 11 years for UK based firms, specializing in radio network design, software solutions, and engineering services for telecommunications operators.
Commenting on the appointment, Zain Group CEO Scott Gegenheimer said, “With the ever increasing importance of telecom regulation in our region, Dr. Andrew has the right qualifications and industry experience to support all Zain operations in their crucial dealings with regulators. Given his distinguished record, I have every confidence he will further ensure that critical regulatory issues, which are prominent and have a material impact on our business now and into the future, are given their due attention.” Gegenheimer continued, “It is a particular pleasure to promote a Zain stalwart to a senior position, fulfilling our human resources policy of capitalizing on and promoting our talented leaders from within.”
Since August 2003, Dr Andrew has held senior leadership positions within Zain Group in the areas of corporate strategy development, mergers & acquisitions, and business development. Over a 13-year period, he played key roles in Zain’s successful international M&A transactions, initial public offerings and license bids, as well as digital venture capital investments in the Middle East and Africa region. Milestones include the purchase of 13 mobile operations from Celtel International for a total consideration of USD 3.36 billion in May 2005 and the subsequent USD10.7 billion sale of Zain Africa BV to Bharti Airtel in June 2010; the 2008 Zain Saudi IPO and subsequent USD 1.6billion rights issue in 2012;as well as both the Zain Bahrain and Zain Iraq IPOs that were completed in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
On the regulatory/business development front, Dr. Andrew has actively led relevant licensing assignments, as well as being directly involved in the development of regulatory policy papers and public consultation responses on greenfield licences, spectrum auctions and awards, and regulatory positions on digital services in marketsacross the MENA region.
A UK-national, Dr. Andrew holds a Doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Mobile Radio Communications (1994) and a M.Sc., (Distinction) in Microelectronic and Telecommunications from University of Liverpool, United Kingdom (1991) and a B.Sc. (First Class) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University of Lagos (1988). Dr. Andrew is a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
Source: Zain