GSMA elects new board members and Chairman

The board of the GSMA, the global body for the mobile industry, has elected Alexander Izosimov, the Group Chief Executive Officer of VimpelCom, as its new Chairman for a two-year term. As Chairman, he will help oversee the strategic direction of the GSMA, which represents more than 750 mobile operators worldwide. Bill Hague, Executive Vice President of AT&T, was elected as Deputy Chairman.
 
Speaking for the board, Rob Conway, CEO and board member, said: "With the election of Mr. Izosimov, we will continue to have the excellence in the chairman's role that was well established by outgoing chair, Craig Ehrlich," a board member of Hutchison Mobile Communications, who had served for seven years with distinction as GSMA Chairman. Mr. Ehrlich will remain on the board.
 
Mr. Conway added: "With his exceptional telecom experience, and understanding of leading international businesses, Mr. Izosimov will enable us to build on that foundation, providing the commercial, strategic and technical insights that will prepare our industry for an era of mass-market mobile broadband services and an increasingly rich mobile lifestyle for its billions of customers."
 
Mr. Izosimov said: "The GSMA board, with its wealth of expertise, intellect and business acumen, is well placed to steer the mobile community through the opportunities and challenges presented by the global economic slowdown, the rise of investment stifling regulation, the release of new spectrum and the convergence of mobile and Internet services. I am looking forward to working with the CEO and the board to ensure that the GSMA remains at the vanguard of our industry."
 
Jon Fredrick Baksaas, the CEO of Telenor,  Dato' Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, Managing Director, President and Group CEO of TM International, and Eduardo Barnetche Girard, Head of International Roaming & International Long Distance at America Moviles, have joined the new 26-member GSMA board, which now includes the CEOs of 14 leading mobile operator groups and represents 69% of global mobile users.