Somali telecom CEO wins global award
AMSTERDAM: Hormuud Telecom boss Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf has been named the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the year by Total Telecom, a UK-based company that recognizes the achievements of the telecom industry worldwide.
Yusuf received the prestigious award at a ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Thursday night, becoming the 25th leader to win the honor since its inception in 1999.
He was selected from a pool of five finalists, who included the heads of Deutsche Telekom from Germany, MasMovil Telecom from Spain, Colt Technology Services from the United Kingdom, Bahrain Network from Bahrain and Kacific Broadband Satellites from Singapore.
The award celebrates leaders who have demonstrated excellence in driving the development of telecoms and technology in their respective markets, as well as contributing to the social and economic progress of their countries.
Yusuf was praised for his visionary leadership of Hormuud Telecom, the largest and most innovative telecom company in Somalia, which has been providing affordable and reliable services to millions of Somalis for over two decades.
The CEO said he was humbled and honored to receive the award, and dedicated it to his team, his customers and his country. He said Hormuud Telecom was committed to continue investing in the telecom sector and expanding its network coverage and quality across Somalia.
He also expressed his gratitude to Total Telecom and the judges for recognizing his efforts and achievements.
Total Telecom’s CEO, James Barton, congratulated Yusuf on his win, and said he was a deserving recipient of the award.
He added that Yusuf had shown remarkable leadership and resilience in overcoming the challenges and opportunities in the Somali telecom market, and had made a significant impact on the lives of the Somali people and the development of the country.
He further pointed out Yusuf was an inspiration to other telecom leaders around the world, and wished him and Hormuud Telecom continued success in the future.