TECOM GCEO Abdullatif AlMulla honoured at Middle East CEO of the Year Awards

Named Middle East Multiple Industry CEO by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute

April 24, 2010: Abdullatif AlMulla, Group CEO of TECOM Investments, a diversified conglomerate and a member of Dubai Holding, was acknowledged, today, as one of the region’s outstanding business leaders, by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute when he was named Middle East Multiple Industry CEO of the Year, at the 7th Middle East CEO of the Year Awards.

AlMulla received his award from Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed bin Saqr Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Bin Zayed Group, at a VIP ceremony, held at the Burj Al Arab, Dubai. He was one of 11 highly regarded business leaders, from across the Middle East, honoured at the annual ceremony.

It is a great honour to receive this award and I would like to thank the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute for selecting me,” AlMulla said. “I would also like to thank all my colleagues, who have contributed to the success of TECOM Investments. Without their hard work and dedication to excellence, I would not be here today. This award is as much for them as it is for me.

The Multiple Industry CEO of the Year Award was established to honour a leader with “an extraordinary ability to successfully lead organisations in more than one industry. The award recognises the immense skill-set required to handle the complexities of different organisations in different industries with equal professionalism and success.”

AlMulla was appointed CEO of TECOM Investments in 2005 and was named Group CEO in 2008. Under his leadership TECOM Investments has significantly diversified its brand portfolio by launching initiatives in new high-value sectors such as biotechnology, printing and publishing, film and television production and sustainable energy. These initiatives are in line with Dubai’s long-term vision of diversifying its economy from oil-based industries to knowledge-based ones.

Al Mulla has extensive experience in the IT sector. Prior to joining TECOM, he was General Manager, South Gulf at Microsoft. In his nine-year stint at the Microsoft regional headquarters in Dubai, he led the development of subsidiaries in the Gulf, Yemen and Pakistan. At Microsoft, he was conferred the Microsoft High Distinguished President Award in 1998. He was a member of the Microsoft Middle East and Africa Leadership Programme.

The Middle East CEO Awards were established by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute to recognise successful government and business sector leaders whose outstanding leadership has become instrumental in their organisations’ success.

According to the Institute the awards recognise CEOs, C-level management and decision makers who demonstrate “steadfastness, integrity and intelligence amid less than favourable circumstances to produce positive outcomes for all stakeholders of their organisations.”

About TECOM Investments

TECOM Investments, based in Dubai, is a member of Dubai Holding, a global company dedicated to knowledge and life-improving industries. A creator of vibrant knowledge industry clusters, TECOM Investments is currently active in buoyant cutting-edge sectors such as ICT, Media, Education, Sciences and Industrial. A recognized leader in the global knowledge industry, TECOM Investments manages entities such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai International Academic City, eHosting DataFort, International Media Production Zone, Dubai Outsource Zone, Dubai Studio City, DuBiotech, Enpark, Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Industrial City. TECOM Investments’ phenomenal growth also encompasses local and international joint venture interests like Empower, a district cooling service provider established as a joint venture with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates International Telecommunications Limited, a joint venture with Dubai Investment Group. Emirates International Telecommunications Limited holds stakes in Tunisie Telecom and GO, telecommunication carriers in Tunisia and Malta respectively. SmartCity develops and manages self-sustained townships worldwide to foster the knowledge economy.  SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi are the first two developments to be part of SmartCity’s global network.  This global network promotes productive linkages and taps into synergies between knowledge industry centres worldwide.
 
TECOM Investments also has interests in Axiom, the largest mobile distributor in the Middle East, and Interoute, the operator of Europe’s most densely connected voice and data network.
TECOM also launched the inaugural Pearl Awards in 2008 to honour and recognize its outstanding business partners.  The awards include categories for Corporate Social Responsibility Achievement of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Employer of Choice, Fastest Growing Company of the Year, Customer Service, Globalization and Diversification, Contribution to the UAE Society, HSE Award, Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, and Award for Maximum Suggestions made through VOICE IT - TECOM Investments' complaint and feedback management system. TECOM Investments is a proud winner of Dubai Quality Appreciation Program 2009.

For more information, please contact: Malcolm Ward
JIWIN Public Relations
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