Telecommunications company, Smile Telecoms Holdings Ltd, has announced the appointment of Ahmad Farroukh as its new Group Chief Executive Officer. Irene Charnley was also appointed as a Deputy Chairman of the company.
According to a statement made available by the company, the appointments will take effect from Saturday, June 1, 2019.
Ahmed Farroukh’s profile: MrFarroukh has been an Executive Director of Operations at Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited since May 1, 2017. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Mobily since July 2015. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of MTN South Africa between August 2014 until July 2015. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Etisalat Company since July 12, 2015. He was the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria.
Farroukh also served as a Group Chief Operating Executive of MTN Group Limited between April 1, 2012 to August 2014. He also served as MTN Group‘s Vice President of West and Central Africa (WECA) Region between March 2011 until August 2014.
He was the Managing Director of Scancom Ltd. He has worked for Mediterranean Investor Group, KPMG, and Deloitte & Touche.
He is an experienced telecoms executive with a distinguished record of commercial success, with extensive experience working in Africa and an impressive ability to drive strategy and profitability in accordance with international best standards. He currently serves as a Director of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
He once lectured Accounting at the American University of Beirut.
Farroukh holds an MBA and belongs to a host of high profile professional bodies including -the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Lebanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
He is a Certified Public Accountant. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the Lebanese American University.
Irene Charnley’s profile: Charnley founded Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited in 2007 and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer.
She served as Commercial Director of Strategic Investments of MTN Group Ltd. since August 1, 2001. She served as the company’s Executive Director from August 1, 2001, to June 13, 2006. She also served as an Executive Director of Johnnic Communications Ltd.
Charnley is a social entrepreneur and a widely respected telecoms visionary who was instrumental in the transformation of MTN Group Limited into one of the most respected telecommunications operators in the EMEA region.
She has served as Head of Telecommunications of ElementOne Limited. She also served as Head of Telecommunications of Johnnic Communications Ltd.
Charnley currently serves as Chairperson and Executive Director of M-Cell Limited. She serves as Chairperson of Orbicom (Pty) Limited, MTN Network Solutions (Pty) Limited, Mobile Telephone Networks Holdings (Pty) Limited, Airborn (Pty) Limited, and is a Member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance.
She served as Chairperson of South African Broadcasting Corporation since July 16, 2009. Charnley was also influential in obtaining one of three cellular licenses in Nigeria.
She served as a Director of Metropolitan Holdings Ltd. from 2001 to December 2, 2004. She has served as Member of Board of Directors of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
Charnley is an Institute of Retirement Funds councilor and a member of the Pensions Advisory Board which advises Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on policy issues.
