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Chief executives of Tata Communications, Chunghwa, and Roshan among those nominated for Asia Communication Awards’ CEO of the year.
Asia’s telecoms sector is a heady mix of highly-developed markets blazing a trail with the latest technology, and developing countries making ingenious use of connectivity to improve people’s lives.
As a result, comparing the various pros and cons of the region’s major telco CEOs is no mean feat, but nonetheless, we are asking our readers to do exactly that.
Voting is now open for CEO of the Year in 2016’s Asia Communication Awards!
In 2015 the title went to outgoing Telstra CEO David Thodey. He proved a popular choice not only for the success he achieved as leader of the Australian incumbent, but also for his affable personality.
This year, Total Telecom has again been inundated with nominations, and we have produced a final shortlist of 12 CEOs who we think deserve recognition, and included the comments of those who nominated them. Read on to find out who made it.
The ultimate winner is up to you, so vote for who you think should be awarded the coveted title of CEO of the Year at the 2016 Asia Communication Awards, which take place at the five-star Marriott Tang Plaza, Singapore on 1 June.
Vinod Kumar
Tata Communications Group
Vinod Kumar has led Mumbai-based Tata Communications Group since February 2011, having joined the company in 2004. A wholesale telecoms and enterprise services provider, Tata boasts a global IP network spanning five continents. Over the past five years, Tata Communications has grown revenues and EBITDA by 67% and 144% respectively.
"He has always been ahead of the times and has brought out many new product innovations; some of these are industry leading initiatives. Being a young leader he has led from the forefront and has always wanted Tata Communications to be at the cutting edge of technology and services."
Arif al Islam
Summit Communications
Arif al Islam took up the role of CEO of Bangladeshi wholesaler Summit Communications in 2010, having left his post as deputy CEO and CFO of Grameenphone in Bangladesh the previous year.
A qualified accountant, Islam has been credited with ushering in a successful era of expansion at Summit Communications, in terms of network architecture, licence acquisition and revenue generation. Under his tenure, Summit’s achievements include extending its network reach to 13,200 kilometres, and providing connectivity to more than 2,000 base stations.
"Bolstered by a strong team of professionals, his leadership has been instrumental in bringing Summit Communications to where it is today."
Dileepa Wijesundera
Sri Lanka Telecom
Dileepa Wijesundera assumed the duties as CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom on 9 March 2015. An engineer by profession, he has extensive experience in project logistics, profitability and restructuring both at private and government level.
In the year to 31 December 2015, Sri Lanka Telecom’s revenues grew by 5% year-on-year, while operating profit surged by 19%.
"A forward-thinking CEO who made lots of changes in the company by eliminating a lot of unwanted costs. He empowered senior management."
V D Wadhwa
SITI Cable Network
Harvard-educated V D Wadhwa was named CEO of SITI Cable in May 2013. The Indian cableco serves 12.2 million TV customers and boasts a 16,000-kilometre fibre network.
Under Wadhwa’s leadership, SITI Cable swung to a pretax profit of US$8.5 million in the three months to 31 December 2015. The company also added 1.1 million digital cable customers and more than 10,000 broadband customers.
"He has brought the company into profitability for the first time in so many years. A visionary and a strategist with impeccable execution, he is transforming the company."
Karim Khoja
Roshan
Karim Khoja has served as chief executive officer of Afghanistan’s Roshan since its inception in 2003 with the goal of providing connectivity in a country in which telecoms infrastructure was virtually non-existent.
Over the past 12 years Khoja has built up the business, despite a highly challenging operating environment. Roshan has more than 6.5 million customers, and around 1,100 employees. It also offers a range of services designed to improve the lives of Afghans, including mobile banking and healthcare.
"Since Roshan started operations in a war-surrounded country, there have been many challenges, from security to competition and economic problems. Still, he has always managed to keep the company and employees motivated, which is why Roshan is the leading operator in the market. He truly cares about Afghans and the country…He is a true leader not just a CEO."
Ririek Adriansyah
Telkomsel
Ririek Adriansyah didn’t waste any time after assuming his role as president director of Telkomsel in January 2015. By April, the Indonesian mobile operator revealed a $985 million plan to expand its mobile networks, deploying an extra 15,000 base stations in a bid to grab a 50% share of the country’s LTE market.
"Mr. Ririek outperformed the competition and extended market leadership in Indonesia. His success was achieved through continuous and meticulous investment planning to improve customer experience, operational efficiency, innovation in digital services and strong management and leadership skills."
Syarif Syarial Ahmad
Telin
Under Ahmad’s leadership, Telkom Indonesia’s wholesale arm is pursuing an aggressive international expansion strategy. Recent milestones include participating in a new submarine cable system linking Indonesia to the U.S., and opening a new data centre in Singapore. Telin’s achievements in the wholesale space were also recognised at the 2015 Carriers World Awards, where they won the Most Innovative Wholesaler category.
Syarif Syarial Ahmad has held the top job at Telin since May 2012; he holds a master’s degree in telecoms engineering.
"A remarkable achievement in global business, within the last two years he has expanded into several counties like Malaysia, Taiwan, Macau, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Timor Leste, and Australia."
Alexander Rusli
Indosat Ooredoo
44-year-old Alexander Rusli was appointed president director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo in November 2012. He also worked for nine years at the Indonesian government, serving six of those years as an advisor to the minister of communications and IT.
In the nine months to 30 September 2015, Indosat Ooredoo generated revenue of $1.5 billion, up by 10.5% year-on-year.
"Alexander Rusli is a young visionary. He has aligned Indosat Ooredoo with global trends, as well as to Indonesia’s roadmap for the digital economy. He also inspires all Indosat-ers to deliver the best customer care with youthful spirit."
Talal Said Al Mamari
Omantel
Talal Said Al Mamari has worked for Omantel for 22 years, stepping up to the CEO role in late June 2014. Prior to that he served as the operator’s finance chief, and was instrumental in its 2005 IPO.
Omantel got off to a flying start in 2016, with the launch in late January of a new IPTV service. The company is also busy upgrading its networks, signing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Ericsson and Cisco. Omantel also recently struck a deal with Huawei to improve mobile coverage by deploying small cells on street lamps.
"If he says he will do something, for sure he will do it."
Arti Ots
Kcell
Arti Ots must be one of the busier CEOs on our shortlist. Kazakhstan’s Kcell has been put up for sale by its parent company, TeliaSonera, and is in the midst of investigating alleged corrupt practices by some former employees.
Meanwhile, the competitive landscape in Kazakhstan is changing: Tele2 in February formally established a mobile joint venture with Altel, Kazakhtelecom’s mobile arm, creating a stronger third player.
"Arti focuses employees on important goals and four disciplines of excellence: Being modest, transparent, well-organised, and down to earth."
Albern Murty
Digi
Albern Murty joined Malaysia’s Digi in 2002. He held a variety of positions in the company, including head of strategy and new business and chief marketing officer, before being promoted to the CEO role in April 2015.
One of the most interesting developments to emerge from his relative short tenure is Digi’s ‘We want 4G’ Twitter campaign, which enables it to target 4G rollout to areas where demand is strong. The company is also working on the rollout of VoLTE and voice-over-WiFi services.
"Albern has all its takes to deserve this award, hurdling through the tough economic situation in Malaysia. He brought Digi into the limelight and maintained its status as an elite operator in Malaysia. He is a thinker and knows how to get the best out of his team."
Rick L.Tsai
Chunghwa Telecom
Rick Tsai became chairman and CEO of Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom in early 2014. He was charged with the responsibility of overseeing the telco’s aggressive promotion of LTE and fibre broadband services, as well as developing digital converged services.
Under his leadership, Chunghwa Telecom grew revenue by 2.3% last year, driven by growth at its mobile business, which was in turn boosted by a 1.8% hike in turnover from mobile value-added services. The telco’s 4G customer base reached 4.4 million, which it claims gives it a 38.2% market share, and it expects to add another 2 million 4G customers this year.
"He always encourages the management team to pursue change and growth by aiming high, and asked for going all-out for growth instead of just defending the mature telecom market in Taiwan."
