Hatem Dowidar, former CEO of Vodafone Egypt and current Group CEO of Emirates Telecommunications Group (e&), has been appointed as a non-executive director to the Vodafone Group board. The announcement comes after Vodafone Group and e& entered into a strategic relationship agreement in May 2023.
Dowidar, with a remarkable 30-year career in multinational companies, has spent 24 years specifically in the telecommunications sector. He commenced his career at AEG/Deutsche Aerospace in Egypt, transitioning into marketing roles at Procter & Gamble.
Dowidar held various leadership positions at Vodafone, including Regional Director of Emerging Markets, CEO of Vodafone Egypt, CEO of Vodafone Malta, and CEO of Partner Markets, overseeing Vodafone’s partnership agreements in over 45 markets globally.
Having joined e& in 2015 as Group Chief Operating Officer and subsequently becoming the Group CEO in 2020, Dowidar has been instrumental in steering the company’s strategic direction.
Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chair of Vodafone, expressed delight at Dowidar’s appointment, highlighting the valuable experience he brings to the telecommunications industry and his extensive leadership roles across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The appointment is seen as a reinforcement of the strategic partnership between Vodafone and e&.
Vodafone officially confirmed that regulatory approvals for Dowidar’s appointment have been obtained, and he will assume the role of Non-Executive Director effective from February 19, 2024. Dowidar will also be appointed as a member of the Nominations & Governance Committee.
Hatem Dowidar, acknowledging his new role on LinkedIn, expressed his happiness in joining the board of Vodafone, a telecom giant with notable global achievements and promising potential for the future. He looks forward to contributing to the rapid transformation led by Margherita Della Valle and the management team.
In response to Vodafone’s announcement, Dowidar stated, “I look forward to joining the Board of Vodafone and working with Jean-François and my fellow Board members to support the rapid transformation being undertaken by Margherita Della Valle and the management team.”
This move solidifies Dowidar’s commitment to leveraging his extensive experience to contribute to Vodafone’s strategic growth and evolution in the telecommunications sector.
