•      With a strong track record of business transformation, seasoned telecoms executive to focus on greater innovation and take full advantage of the growth opportunities in the Kingdom

 

 

The Board of Directors of Mobile Telecommunications Company Saudi Arabia ("Zain KSA") today approved the appointment of Hassan Kabbani as Chief Executive Officer of Zain KSA, replacing Fraser Curley, who resigned from his post as Zain KSA CEO. 

 

With 23 years of executive telecommunications experience in the Middle East and Africa, Mr. Kabbani joins Zain with very strong credentials. To date, he has held the post of CEO of five successful telecommunications operations, playing a pivotal role in business transformation.

 

Mr Kabbani headed mobile operations within the Orascom Telecom Group in Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, and many other countries, and prior to these CEO positions, he held key commercial and customer focused roles in France Telecom Mobile Lebanon. Prior to joining Zain, Mr. Kabbani was Advisor to the Chairman and Board member of Oger Telecom, as well as a Board member of Cell C in South Africa.

 

Mr. Kabbani takes over from Fraser Curley, who led Zain KSA through a comprehensive turnaround of its operations and its financing structure. Fraser leaves the Company well positioned for the new CEO to place a greater focus on commercial and customer centric activities, and lead the business on the next phase of its growth path. 

 

Under Mr. Curley’s tenure, Zain KSA achieved several noteworthy milestones including the continuous improvement of many key financial results and improving the quality of its 4G LTE network. In addition the company also successfully restructured its capital through a rights issue; renewed two substantial loans on very favorable terms, as well as entering an agreement with the Kingdom’s Ministry of Finance in June 2013 to postpone payments of the government’s entitlements for seven years.

 

Mr. Fahd bin Ibrahim Al Dughaither, Chairman of Zain KSA commented, “Hassan Kabbani joins Zain KSA at a crucial stage of the company’s evolution and we have the utmost confidence he is the right leader to build upon the success achieved by Fraser Curley.”

Furthermore the Chairman noted, “The Company’s enhanced cash liquidity positions, together with the improved capital structure and our state-of-the-art 4G LTE network will give Mr. Kabbani adequate room and stimulus to bring more innovation and take full advantage of the growth opportunities in the Kingdom.”

 

Scott Gegenheimer, CEO of Zain Group said,”We appreciate Fraser Curley’s hard work in the successful turn-around of Zain KSA, fulfilling the mission that was set when he joined. With Hassan Kabbani now at the helm and the compelling support of Zain Group’s resources in all facets of the business, I am confident that Zain KSA will enter a new and prosperous era, playing a key role in the growth of the telecommunications sector and the economic and social development of the Kingdom.”

 

On his part, Hassan Kabbani, CEO of Zain KSA said, “The telecom industry is at a turning point and my objectives are to capitalize on Fraser Curley’s outstanding work, to develop into new areas of growth, to further enhance the customer experience and service offerings to the Saudi market and to strengthen relationships with all other stakeholders.”