UAE headquartered telco also scoops Stevie’s for innovation and customer care
The prestigious International Business Awards – more widely known as the Stevie’s – has honoured Etisalat, the UAE headquartered Telecommunications Company, with three awards for Most Innovative Company, Best Customer Care and Best Chairman.
Mohammed Omran, chairman, Etisalat, who is the architect of the group’s expansion to encompass operations throughout the Middle East, Africa andAsia, received the Best Chairman award. Under his leadership, Etisalat’s customer base has increased from four million in 2004 to 140 million today across 18 markets.
Since becoming chairman in 2005, group revenues have enjoyed double-digit compound annual growth rate to reach AED 31.9 billion (USD $8.7 billion) with a four-year period where CAGR exceeded 25% between 2005 and 2008. Etisalat’s footprint now covers two billion people, nearly one third of the world’s population.
Mr. Omran has also guided the group through a diversification programme that has seen Etisalat develop as one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies with the broadest portfolio of products, capabilities and talent. In addition to providing telecommunications services in 18 markets, the group’s portfolio of companies also includes submarine cable maintenance and repair, the Thuraya satellite communications network, and a leading manufacturer of SIM cards among others.
Receiving the award Mr. Omran said: “Telecommunications transforms economies, businesses, communities and the way people live. Our mission is to bring the future of communications to the most dynamic regions in the world, no matter how challenging or demanding the market, and that requires innovation.
“Etisalat’s innovations, such as the launch this week of our cashless payment service by mobile phone, provide a platform for the future of communications, commerce and collaboration, and we are delighted that the International Business Awards has recognised this.”
He continued: “Etisalat is a home for remarkable people. Our success is due to the talented problem-solvers who focus every day on delivering next-generation services that transform the lives of the people who live, work and play on our world-class networks. I thank them for their dedication and ingenuity.”
In addition to the three top awards, the company also received medals in four other categories: Green Initiative, Corporate Social Responsibility, Telecom Company and Human Resources.
The Stevie Awards were created to honour the achievements and raise the profile of exemplary work done by organizations from around the world. The board of judges comprises prominent global industrialists and management experts including Tom Peters and Gary Hamel.
