At the top of ladder of success, only a few people are counted among multitudes of dreamers who embarked on the voyage to the top. In that scenario, the saying that many are called but few are chosen becomes a resounding statement of fact.
In the face of global economic meltdown and businesses falling into pieces in manners that betrayed acts of savage, a man of topmost mercurial managerial prowess, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat has continued to steer the ship of one of the world’s most reckoned telecommunication brands to heights that transcends beyond imagination. His vast knowledge and capability is predicated on his almost 30 years’ experience, serving in a variety of critical positions within the Group to become the administrative henchman; responsible for the daily operations of the company’s enterprise across shores of different continents, are gauge and affirmation to Abdulkarim’s talents in impactful, managerial and leadership excellence.
Since Mr Julfar was crowned Etisalat’s Group CEO in 2011, he has shouldered the responsibility for the Group’s overall strategy and overseeing the operations in all 19 of its markets across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. His success as the leader of a multinational has distinguished him globally where he represents the Group at international forums and conferences, the platform on which he has continued to echo milestones the brand has set for itself to transform global communication ecosystem, further growing Etisalat’s reputation for leadership in innovation and quality. In his current capacity, Mr. Julfar has ensured the delivery of the Group’s commercial, technological, financial, business development and overall organizational goals, as he keeps driving Etisalat’s workforce to task itself upon its stated goal; to become the world’s leading and most admired emerging markets telecom group.
His overall leadership approach points to the genre of class of which he belongs, one that can be hurriedly categorized as remarkable performance of the Group’s CEO; delivering an expansion to 19 markets in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, with over 180 million subscriber’s base. Mr Julfar ensured that the company’s success is not limited to the Arab region, and the UAE—its place of birth and where it is headquarted. In February 2014, the company was named the 17th largest mobile operator in the world, and most powerful company in the UAE, according to Forbes. It is also the largest carrier of international voice traffic in the Middle East and Africa and the 12th largest carrier in the world. The company’s financial success is also as rich as it conquers territory. In 2014, it announced net revenue of $10.6 billion, and net profits of $1.93bn.
The astronomical growth of the Group’s business conglomeration under Mr Julfar’s foresight also incorporates a number of non-telecom business units in training and consultancy services, SIM/smart card manufacturing and payment solutions, data clearing house services, peering/voice and data transit, cable TV, facilities management, as well as submarine cable laying services; under the umbrella of Etisalat Service Holding LCC. Etisalat is also a major investor in Thuraya; a mobile satellite communication company, whose board Mr Ahmad Chairs. Etisalat’s dynamic application of strategy for innovation and success in Nigeria is archetypical of what its international repute all stands for; haven garnered over 22 million subscriber base in 7years of its operations.
Asides Mr Julfar’s duties as Chairman of Thuraya and the Group’s CEO, he also serves on the Board of two other Etisalat international subsidiaries; Chairman, Risk Management Committee, Mobily, Saudi Arabia, member of the Compensation and Remuneration Committee, Excelcomindo (Indonesia), and member of the Steering Committee; responsible for delivering a nationwide All-IP NGN network in the UAE, which will provide high quality cable TV, Internet and fixed-line telephone (triple-play) services.
Mr Ahmad, an insightful leader by every standard, joined Etisalat in 1986, and rose to become Manager, Customer Service in 1993. In 2000, he was appointed General Manager of Comtrust, and also General Manager, E-Company in 2004. In 2005, he was appointed General Manager, Dubai Region, the capacity in which he served until he was appointed to his present office in 2011. In 2004, he became one of the first graduates of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Establishment for Young Business Leaders. He also holds degrees in Civil Engineering and Computer Science from the Gonzaga University in Washington, USA.