Zain appoints new CEO for Iraq

Zain Group’s board of directors has appointed former Motorola executive Emad Makiya as chief executive officer of the group’s Iraq operation, effective June 15, 2010.

Makiya previously held the position of Middle East director of sales for Motorola Networks, where he oversaw the company’s deployment of 2G and 4G solutions to mobile operators in the region. Prior to that he was the general manager of Middle East and Africa Extreme Networks, as well as holding various positions at the NASA space science program, where he worked with distinguished companies of the likes of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Information and Computer Systems from the University of Houston, USA.

On being appointed CEO of Zain Iraq, the country’s largest operator, Makiya, whose professional specialty is data analysis and telecommunications, said he was determined to see the firm continue its impressive growth and play a significant role in reviving Iraq’s economy. Zain has already created more than 3,000 direct, and more than 50,000 indirect jobs.

In April the Zain Group announced the management of its Iraq operation would fall under the direct supervision of the group’s CEO, Nabeel Bin Salamah. The former Zain Iraq CEO, Ali Al Dahwi, had been appointed special advisor on Iraq for the Zain Group, until such time as a new CEO was selected.

The operator explained the move on the basis of the company’s long term development in Iraq and did not necessarily mean a change in the strategic direction set out by Al Dahwi. Zain Iraq counts a customer base of 11 million, the highest among the Zain’s Middle East operations.