Meet the Chief Judge 2025
The Final Authority in the Judging Process
At the Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards, the Chief Judge plays a crucial role in ensuring fairness, consistency, and transparency throughout the evaluation process.
As the highest authority in the judging panel, the Chief Judge resolves disputes, enforces integrity, and makes final decisions when necessary.
We are honored to announce that Patrick George will serve as the Chief Judge for the Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards 2025.
Patrick brings over 25 years of experience in the international telecommunications industry, having held key C-suite positions in mobile business, marketing, and innovation. Currently the President & Group CEO at iBASIS, Patrick co-founded Tofane Global in 2017, where he serves as the Group Chief Strategy Officer. His previous roles include SVP of Global Solutions at Syniverse, SVP of Marketing and Product Management at BICS, and senior consultant for Mobile Ecosystems at PCCW Global.
With a background in Civil Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Liège and Marketing from INSEAD, Patrick has specialized in R&D, engineering, strategy, marketing, and sales over the course of his career. His strengths in people management, communication, and business knowledge make him a natural leader.
Patrick’s wealth of experience, combined with his commitment to integrity, makes him the ideal leader to oversee the judging process for the 2025 Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards. We look forward to his guidance in ensuring the continued success of the Awards.
Judges Committee 2025
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Head of MoreThan160 &
Chief Judge at the
Antonio Meucci Global Telco AwardsAndreas Constantinides is a Wholesale and Enterprise Messaging Expert, Author, and Keynote Speaker. A highly motivated executive with in-depth knowledge of the international Messaging ecosystem.
Andreas is the Head of MoreThan160, a leading Consulting firm specializing in Voice, SMS, and Business Messaging, offering Consultancy and HR services. He is the Founder of the Business Messaging Academy, the first International Academy exclusively for Business Messaging affairs.
He is a qualified Professional Business Trainer of the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications & Vocational Guidance and the author of numerous best-seller Sales books and manuals. In 2022 he got rated the 16th in Rocco100 Influential Telco Professionals.
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President & Founder of HOT TELECOM
For the past 20+ years, Isabelle has been working with many of the world’s top international telecom service providers to help them define their transformation strategy. She has written multiple articles and regularly speaks at conferences on this topic.
She is also passionate about encouraging the involvement of women in technology and science and continuously conducts panels and interviews with leading and inspiring C-Level telecom executives around the world.
Isabelle holds a Bachelor degree in Engineering, an MBA in Finance and has over 27 years experience working globally.
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VP Global Customer Experience at Sinch AB
Neil has 18 years of messaging industry experience after joining Mblox in 2005 to run their Global Service Management and Technical Account Management teams. At the end of 2010, he decided to leave Mblox to join former colleagues at a small startup in Sweden called CLX Networks to establish their first oversea office in London and switch to a commercial role. Now known as Sinch, he has gone on to run their commercial teams across EMEA and APAC and currently heads up their Strategic Clients, Partners, and Fintech divisions. He has been an integral path in their growth journey, from 20 employees when he started to currently have 4000, along with an IPO in 2015 and 20 acquisitions (and counting!) during his 12 years.
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President & Group CEO at iBASIS
Patrick brings 25 years of experience in wholesale, having held C-suite positions in the mobile business, marketing, and innovation.
Patrick co-founded Tofane Global together with Alexandre PEBEREAU in 2017 and holds currently the position of Group Chief Strategy Officer at Tofane Global/iBasis.
Prior to that he served as SVP of Global Solutions at Syniverse after being SVP of marketing and product management at BICS and served as a senior consultant for Mobile Ecosystems at PCCW Global.
Patrick holds degrees in Civil Engineering in Computer Science from the University of Liège and Marketing Studies at INSEAD.
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Director of Business Messaging at HORISEN
Rafal Nowak’s background is closely tied to both large global enterprises and start-ups. An ambitious innovator with 10+ years of experience within the Telecom and B2B2C/C2B2B value chains. With initial experience in international new market development and acquisition marketing, he has extended his skills and expertise to Cloud Telecom Solutions.
Currently, he is Directing Horizen’s Messaging Business. Rafal is driven by the passion to innovate digital services by partnering with Telecoms, BigTech and entire ecosystems like Banking, Mobility, Gaming or eGovernment.
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SVP International Wholesale Business at Rakuten Mobile, Inc.
Tarek has a long track of around 17+ years of experience in executive leadership, building strong teams, business and product development, management, and strategy in multicultural global organizations.
In 2019, Tarek joined Rakuten Mobile in Japan to establish an international business team focused on roaming and interconnections. He successfully built a wholesale business and product portfolio from scratch, launching it within a year. He developed innovative products, including the award-winning “Roaming 360” solution for roaming business analytics and automation.
Tarek was recognized in the ROCCO 100 report for 2022 as one of the most influential people in the roaming, messaging, and interconnecting industries.
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Member of the advisory board at Interactive Digital Media GmbH (IDM) & AnyMessage.cloud
Over the last 20 years Andreas has worked for numerous startups, some of which he has been founding himself (4), as well as established companies.
He has been actively involved in all facets of growing an organization. One of his biggest professional achievements was the foundation of IDM (interactive digital media GmbH), a mobile service company which he created from scratch and build the company to an international accredited A2P and cloud communication service provider. While the company was initially sold to a stock listed technology company, he and a group of investors ultimately re-acquired the business in late 2022. In the time in between he has been funding AnyMessage GmbH which provides CpaaS communication solutions to international customers.
Apart from being a subject matter expert of A2P and CpaaS/Omnichannel communication solutions he is working with enterprises and retail brands to facilitate their communication needs.
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Head of Roaming and Interconnect at Vodafone Qatar
Tamara Al Bakri is a Telecom professional of more than 18 years of experienc
Tamara Al Bakri is a Telecom professional of more than 19 years of experience in Roaming and interconnect, holding a Batchelor’s degree in Telecom Engineering and an MBA in Digital Marketing.
She’s the Head of Roaming & interconnect at Vodafone Qatar and worked before as the logistics manager for the GSMA ArabWorld in parallel to her job at Umniah Jordan (Batelco group).
Tamara was recognized as one of the top 100 influential people in our industry from ROCCO 100 2022 Report.
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CEO at Alaris Labs
With over 20 years of experience in telecom software development, Andrey has substantial expertise in a wide range of matters related to the international telecom business. Since 2010 he has been CCO and then CEO at Alaris Labs – a company providing a suite of software solutions for the voice and messaging industry.
He is currently managing a unique team of professionals that is helping carriers and aggregators in over 40 countries of the world run their businesses more efficiently.
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Chief Commercial Officer at BSG
Mila has got 16 years of experience in A2P SMS and other communication services that are used by businesses for better interaction with their clients.
She used to manage a local PSMS company in Kyiv, coordinated the project that launched the first direct carrier billing payment in Ukraine (World of Tanks via Kyivstar), and was thoroughly burned with her own SMS company but came back to the business as a Chief Commercial Officer at BSG.
For the last 5 years, she was involved in A2P SMS, Number Intelligence, and Enterprise Messaging projects.
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CEO at HORISEN AG
Fabrizio Salanitri has over 25 years of experience in the Telco sector, with messaging technology as his primary focus. Back in the 2000s, as a young man with Italian charisma and Swiss precision, he founded HORISEN with a simple, but powerful idea– to make it possible for users to send SMS via an application that they could access through a browser.
Following the passion for software engineering, striving for innovative and disruptive solutions, and sensing the new market that is coming, the company started the development of SMS trading solutions along with software development and marketing projects.
All those years brought a lot of adventures, marvellous growth and many changes, but above all, many messaging superheroes powered up with HORISEN technology today.
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Co-Founder & CEO at AVISO Messaging
Vladimir Smal is the co-founder & CEO at AVISO Messaging, a newcomer in the SMS industry with the highest commitment to providing trusted and cost-effective messaging solutions.
Vladimir has profound knowledge and vast experience in the Wholesale Telecom market, specializing in Voice, SMS, and antifraud solutions. Over the last 15 years, he has proved himself as a successful leader within LANCK Telecom and helped the company to reach new heights in the Messaging business. Under Vladimir’s management, LANCK Telecom was awarded as Best SMS Service provider at several leading Awards Ceremonies, including Antonio Meucci Global Telco Awards 2023.
Vladimir is a regular speaker and panelist at various Telecom conferences and summits, such as Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Carrier Community, Capacity Media, and SMS Forum.
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Director of Global Accounts & Partners at Cequens
Fouad Jazayeri is a Global Accounts & Partners Director at Cequens, where he is responsible for growth of carrier and enterprise services globally. Fouad has 15 years of experience in mobile messaging and telecom, prior to joining Cequens. He was the Head of Sales at Mitto AG in the UK, accountable for Enterprise and wholesale business internationally.
Before this he held number of senior roles at SAP and Syniverse in UAE and responsible for growth of mobile and telco services in Middle East and Africa. Fouad holds BA Degree in marketing management from Southampton University.
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Chief Executive Officer at CYMA
Danny Kattar is a Telco Professional with over 25 years of expertise in Telecommunications, Cybersecurity, Information Technologies & Digital Transformation that makes him one of the market leaders.
The last 17 years he is working as a C-level executive in multicultural environments.
Currently, he is working as a CEO at CYMA, a top-notch cybersecurity provider.
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Quality of Service and Customer Experience Manager at CKHIOD
Manuela holds over 30 years of experience in the Telecom business and over 13 years of experience in roaming QoS. As QoS and Customer experience manager in CKHIOD, implemented QoS program to fit CKHIOD market strategy and to provide Hutchinson affiliates with all possible technical solutions to monitor and improve quality.
Implemented a new solution to measure QoS that has been recognized as an innovative solution and awarded 3rd place at the Genesis Rocco event 2021. Participate in GSMA working group QoS standardization related.
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Founder & CEO at Airtime Tech
Global, a visionary leader transforming how the world connects through digital telecom innovation. With over 16 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, he has built scalable, cloud-native platforms for global connectivity — delivering services like eSIM in 190+ countries, 4Way Communication Services, AI-powered CPaaS automation, and hybrid cloud VoIP networks.
Known for his unique ability to blend bold strategy with deep technical expertise, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, platform integrations, and branding evolution — all while championing user experience, automation, and ethical innovation. His leadership has positioned Airtime Tech Global as a trusted telecom partner for enterprises, digital banks, and global platforms.
Beyond business, He has dedicated 12+ years to volunteering in rural communities in Nicaragua, working with international organizations to bring resources, education, and support to underserved areas. This commitment to service continues to shape his drive to create inclusive, accessible, and empowering technologies.
From Santiago to San Juan de Limay, Wilber leads with purpose — connecting people, businesses, and ideas across borders.
A technologist, strategist, entrepreneur, and brand-builder, he’s not just connecting devices — he’s connecting the world.
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The Customer Listener, CX Expert, Author
Frans Reichardt is a global expert on customer experience, also known as The Customer Listener.
In recent years he has delved into the hidden powers of listening. By listening to the voice of the customer companies will drive innovation, build exceptional customer experiences, and build lasting long-term customer relationships.
Frans is a global speaker and trainer. His topics are customer experience (CX), Voice of the Customer (VoC), customer feedback, and listening leadership. He is the author of Listen Your Way to Customer SuCXess.
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Entrepreneur, Resilience Expert, Author
Founder & Managing Partner at Focus Bari S.A.An entrepreneur, and a Market Research Specialist, with 35+ years of experience in human/consumer behavior studies and business consultancy.
A passionate mentor with a sharp business perspective and a deep human understanding, Xenia has recently launched her personal brand as a Resilience Expert in life and business. Her vision is a society with more happy, creative and accountable people, and a business community that is authentically human and planet centric.
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Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) | Growth Leader at GMS
With more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Amer, as an open, progressive, and visionary leader, is among the few professionals who can change the game's rules and push the industry forward.
Highly skilled in Commercial, Operations, Technology, Products & Platforms, and Negotiations, he is working as the CRO at GMS.
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Senior Messaging Specialist at Arelion
Fabio Bottan brings more than 20 years of telecom experience divided among different positions within Mobile Operators, Platform Vendors, and International Carriers.
In the past 13 years, Fabio has helped international telecom groups to develop and implement special advanced messaging solutions mainly focused on the combat of different types of telecom frauds and empowering Mobile Operators to improve revenues and customer experience.
Fabio was named one of the 25 most influential messaging, roaming, and interconnect visionaries in the biannual 2022 ROCCO 100 report: “Fabio is committed to evolving the way A2P is working to help businesses communicate more efficiently and fight the cybersecurity issues.”
Fabio holds a degree in Telecom Engineering and MBA in Business Administration.
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Group CEO, SAMA Telecom
Mariam Shaer is the Group CEO at SAMA Telecom with over 16 years of progressive experience in helping the telecom industry with its communications requirements, including Voice and SMS solutions. Specializing in technology, customer operations, product development, and business development, Mariam utilizes her experience to contribute the best to the telecom industry.
She is determined to bring the best customer experience for clients associated with SAMA Telecom and truly believes in growing together with our professional clients. In her previous role, she was able to solve several complex network challenges faced by mobile operators, helping them monetize their assets. She has also developed the best commercial models, enabling SAMA Telecom and its clients to make more while staying risk-free.
Mariam has been recognized with an excellence award as the ‘Leading Female Telco Professional’ in the Antonio Meucci Awards 2023.
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CEO at NGN Corp
Ibrahim Choueiry is currently the co-owner and CEO of NGN CORP SAL and Director of VAYACOM LTD, two retail and wholesale telecom providers based in Lebanon, Cyprus and Canada.
He previously served for seven years as the VP of Retail Sales of the New York based Fusion Telecommunications Inc. Prior to Fusion, Mr. Choueiry served for five years as the Director of Sales of DOT LB, a telecom and online trading company.
Before joining DOT LB, Mr. Choueiry was the founder and General Manager of Informa Inc., an advertising and publishing company.
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CEO at FSE Consulting
Based in Paris, France, Florence is the consummate New Business Development Professional and Relationship Broker with broad experience in the telecommunications industry.
After completing her Masters Degree in International Trade (Paris II Pantheon Assas), she joined Telecom Italia (TI) and played a critical role in growing TI’s market share. After a decade at TI, she founded FSE Consulting in 2009 to help companies position themselves strategically to establish and grow impactful business relationships.
Florence is adept at assessing risks and benefits as companies pursue global telecom opportunities.
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Business Development Manager at Twilio
Martin Schuster is a Passionate Professional with 20+ years of international experience in the Telecom world.
Having helped a variety of organizations in the Telco ecosystem such as Operators, Vendors, and Aggregators in Commercial, Project Management, and Technical positions across the globe.
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Head of Sales (Wholesale) at Go4Mobility
A dynamic and results-oriented person with more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.
Carla’s background includes working on three of the most important telecommunications operators in Portugal where she has always been dedicated to sales in corporate and the Wholesale Data Services Market. For the last 4 years, she has been working in the mobile field, increasing sales, and managing carrier relationships in the wholesale business.
Leading now the Go4mobility Wholesale Sales Unit on messaging and voice side, her main objective is to lead and complete strategic and successful deals based on partnerships and always with the focus on the customer.
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Head of HR-HUB4TELCOS
With 15 years of experience in voice and SMS, Cristina is the ideal professional to understand the needs of every commercial or technical vacancy in the telecom industry. She has been a founding Tutor of the Business Messaging Academy since its inception.
With a deep knowledge and experience of the Telecom Industry, especially in the wholesale vertical, Cristina joined the MoreThan160 Team as the Head of HR-HUB4TELCOS, the most trusted HR Hub in Telcos globally.
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Senior Business Development Manager at LANCK Telecom
Igor has 7 years of experience in the telecom industry, being a member of the LANCK team since 2017. He is involved in revenue assurance & anti-fraud projects, value-added services, management and business development sectors, and presents LANCK Telecom global anti-fraud initiatives in GSMA, CFCA, GCCM, GLF and other mobile associations & events.
In LANCK Telecom, Igor works as a Senior Business Development Manager, Fraud Management System Manager and Rich Communication Services team leader. Communication Services team leader.
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Senior Product Manager at Vodafone Germany
Amira has 15 years of telecom experience, started with Research and development in the Telco VAS and moved to Product and Project management for Roaming services.
Currently, she is working as a Senior Product Manager at Vodafone Germany, supporting partners and spreading the word on RCS. Additionally, she contributes to the telecom community by being a member of the Board at Mobile Ecosystem Forum.
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Vice President, Global Sales at Linxa
With over 23 years of experience in telecoms globally working for carriers and vendors, Kunal is VP of Global Sales responsible for all commercial aspects at Linxa.
Kunal has worked in HR, finance, business transformations/migrations and senior C-level management at multiple carriers as well as consulting, product management, project management, account management, business development, and sales on the vendor side.
Privileged in working with the best people and companies within the telecoms industry, Kunal is passionate about innovation, collaboration, and helping the whole industry work better, faster, and smarter.
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CEO and Founder at Orbitalyx
Daniela is a passionate advocate for both space and telecommunications and has built her career at the intersection of these two industries.
For the last five years, she has focused on satellite development, launch procurement, and expanding global access to space, having played a key role in building and launching multiple satellites.
With over a decade in telecom, specializing in business development, carrier relations, and A2P messaging, Daniela has built a reputation for trust and reliability.
While space has become her primary focus, she remains deeply connected to the telecom world, following its trends and innovations closely.
Now, as a judge in this competition, she brings her expertise from both sectors, recognizing the increasing convergence of satellite communications, telecom networks, and next-generation space infrastructure.
The line between these industries is becoming more fluid, and she is excited to support ideas that push the boundaries of both.
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Vice Presidebt, Mobile at Marigold
Andy is a recognized mobile thought leader and strategist with more than 15 years of experience in managed environments with clients and partners ranging in size from SMBs to multinational tech firms.
He has experience operating in global businesses, leading go-to-market strategies, sales and strategic partnerships for companies such as Exact Target/Salesforce, Sinch (formerly CLX Communications), Vodafone and most recently, Marigold’s Cheetah Digital solution where he was recognized as one of the Top 25 most influential in Mobile in the industry.
Andy is also an ambassador of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum and has been an active contributor to the industry, on panels, podcasts, blogs and events, where he leverages his mobile experience within the context of modern enterprise needs.
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Director of Operator Partnerships for Latam at Infobip
Alex, brings over two decades of experience managing technical, operational, sales, and marketing environments within MNOs and vendors, primarily in Roaming, Messaging, and SaaS.
He has crafted professional services products for major global organizations and founded multiple successful small businesses, which enriched his expertise.Alex achieved significant success by expanding the Latin American market for a SaaS company, multiplying its revenues and gross profit, while also boosting the company’s brand visibility in the telecom sector. He has tackled complex, multicultural challenges in various international settings, making his career uniquely global and rewarding. He has spent the last 2 years helping foster what is now called the Open Gateway initiative, helping MNOs provide and monetize APIs in the market.
Through these experiences, Alex has continually adapted and learned, deepening his understanding of the business world’s diversity and his personal and professional capabilities.
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Chief Executive Officer at PrimeTel PLC
Theodosis Theodosiou has been serving as CEO of Primetel since September 2023. He joined Primetel at its inception and held the role of Chief Commercial Officer from 2014.With extensive experience in the telecommunications sector, Theodosis holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an MSc from the University of Surrey.
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Head of Apiro Data, IoT Expert
Nassia is a Digital Transformation Technologist with over 27 years of experience. Enabling growth in global organisations based in China, India, Europe, and North America to innovate in the IT, Telco and IoT sectors. Nassia has experience guiding diverse technical and commercial teams globally.
She is the founder of Apiro Data Ltd an End2End IoT platform and services company, the IoT Director for Mobile Ecosystem Forum, the VP of IoT at GTC and Chief Digital Transformation Officer at MConnected Ltd. Nassia is coaching businesses and executives to drive operational efficiency and increase revenue through thought-leading technology solutions with IoT, AI and Cloud services.
Lately, her contribution has been to highlight IoT and Telco synergy and innovation for the future. She is a sought-after speaker and panellist at world-class IoT and Telco events, and you can follow her ideas and opinions via her industry articles
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CEO at Messente Communications
Uku Tomikas is the CEO of Messente Communications. He is an advocate for honest entrepreneurship and an expert in telecommunications with extensive knowledge in fraud, global markets and business messaging.
Besides being the leader of Messente, he is also a father, a high-school teacher and a yoga instructor with a military background.He enjoys an active lifestyle filled with sports, literature and creative challenges.
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General Manager of Wholesale Mobility Sales BAYOBAB (formerly MTN)
Arne is the General Manager of Wholesale Mobility Sales at BAYOBAB, formerly MTN leading the Mobility Business external sales portfolio including International Voice, Messaging, Roaming, Signalling & Value-Added Services.
He is a seasoned professional in the Mobile Telecom Industry since 1998. He has lived and worked in Europe, Central and South America, India and the Middle East leading various teams and innovations.
Arne joined MTN GlobalConnect in 2018 in Dubai, UAE to head up the International Roaming space for the MTN Group. With his global team across Africa and Dubai, Arne substantially grew this business by entralizing all operations, improving both the quality and reach of delivered services.
Prior to MTN GlobalConnect, he served at Group Operators such as Vodafone Group and Digicel Group as Head of Roaming. He also got his was active with Roaming VAS suppliers as VP of Sales Africa and Europe. Arne’s career started at Ericsson in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and the Czech Republic delivering 2G/3G radio network and transmission, and eventually moved into Core Network and OSS sales a few years after. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Electromechanics with honors.
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Business Development Manager at PLUSMO / Plus Vox Corporation
Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Javier is an experienced Business Development Professional with long commercial experience in the Wholesale Business first for voice and later also for SMS Services. Along his career he also worked several years as Product Manager in the Telecommunications Industry. He completed his studies in Business Administration and also two Masters, one in Marketing and the second one in IT & Telecommunication Management.
His work experience includes several years in Telecom Argentina, Impsat Fiber Networks, Telemar / Oi in Brazil, IDT. More recently Javier has been working in PLUSMO, a regional mobile aggregator with focus on the Latin American market for SMS services, mobile payments, IOT / M2M and CPaaS projects.
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Founder & CEO at B'yond
With more than 20 years of experience, Ankit Agarwal is a Telecommunication executive with a deep knowledge of the Telco Asian Telco Ecosystem.
He is the founder and the CEO of B'yond, (previously Tel Q Global).
B’yond is a B2B communications platform that drives business transformation by delivering powerful, intuitive, and seamless API-enabled communication solutions to businesses globally.
The company stands out by offering a comprehensive range of Phone numbers, Messaging, CCaaS and UCaaS solutions under a single contract.
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Chief Executive Officer at Dove Soft Ltd
Muktesh is an accomplished marketing professional with over 35 years of expertise in sales and marketing, serving as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at a leading business messaging company in India. A Google-certified digital marketer, he dedicated 15 years to the brand promotion of the previous company, playing a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and establishing its prominence in the industry. Known for his strategic thinking and results-driven approach, Muktesh is passionate about customer-centric marketing.
Currently, Muktesh has transitioned to a new role as the independent director at Dove Soft Limited, a prominent business messaging company rapidly growing into the field of the customers engagement, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career.
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CEO at Globe Teleservices
Rajiv Singla is an exceptional CEO – Global Messaging, Globe Teleservices, with an experience of over 20 years in the telecom sector. Rajiv Singla has, over the years, emerged as a youth icon, becoming the subject of inspiration as an exceptional CEO to youngsters looking for a role model to emulate. His recent accolade as one of the Top 25 Most Influential People in the ROCCO 100 2024 serves as testament to his impact and influence. He was among the very first VOIP engineers in India and helped expand Aircel’s ILD network in his early days. Rajiv recently has been actively working as a mentor under the GLF Mentorship program.
GLF Accelerator. He dons many hats, including that of group CTO for Globe Teleservices and its affiliate companies. He is currently a board member of the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), sharing his expertise within the telecom industry with many others.
His analytical and forward-thinking mindset allowed the expansion of the organization in multiple regions (Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia) with products/solutions in VOIP, CPAAS, Firewall, Blockchain Technologies, Messaging, Data Privacy etc. He has served on multiple panels at Global Events as a speaker, and his views on subjects like Anti-Fraud solutions, Ethical Business Practices, Data Privacy, etc., are well-received and appreciated by industry followers.
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VP, Sales at Telesign
David is a seasoned professional with over 18+ years of experience, managing key leadership portfolios across the voice, messaging and identity sectors globally along the length of the value chain: within MNOs (Tele2, KPN); wholesale and CPaaS providers (iBasis, Nexmo and Twilio) and enterprise (Google).
Currently he holds the role of VP, Sales at Telesing. David holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with legal studies from Exeter University. He lives in the UK with his wife and his three boys.
In his spare time, David is a keen flautist with the Kew Wind Orchestra in addition to managing a local kids football team.
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Partner at SMSCloud Hub
High performing Senior Management professional with over 30 years of cross-cultural experience in diverse roles across P&L Management, Marketing, Commercial, Strategy, Business Development, Channel Sales, Enterprise Sales in A2P Messaging & Hubbing, VAS, Mobility, Telecom & Fintech Solutions.
Exhibited proficiency in driving businesses in diverse life-stages and competitive positions – Greenfield, Challenger, Growth, Expansion and Leadership Markets. Successfully drove positive ROI by maximizing revenue and optimizing costs through restructuring businesses, customer metrics, establishing appropriate selling models, digital marketing and a compelling incentive compensation plan.
Demonstrated skills and experience in P&L Management, Budget Planning and Forecasting Created strategic alliances and partnership ecosystem with major players within the industry in India and International Market including many Global Tier I, II & III carriers Initiated A2P Messaging Business Unit for previous 2 organizations which are in positive EBIDTA
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Growth Strategy Advisor at Cavero Quantum
With over 20 years of leadership experience spanning the earliest days of international A2P SMS through to the emergence of omnichannel enterprise messaging and network APIs, Kevin has worked with many of the foremost names in the mobile industry and has extensive experience across business messaging, identity and enterprise connectivity portfolios.
Having worked within mobile operator, CPAAS and aggregation businesses, his experience extends across the entire mobile ecosystem and all key geographic regions. Kevin is based in Malaga where he lives with his wife and two children.
Specialist in CPaaS & Rich Business Messaging, A2P/P2A customer engagement, Collaboration, UCaaS, IoT & Cloud.
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General Manager at Yuboto Ltd
Apostolos Ioakeim was born in Athens in 1978. Holding a Degree in Computer Engineering and being passionate about the evolution of technology, as a result, Apostolos has already defined a significant carrier in the Greek market as a co-founder and General Manager of Yuboto LTD, a leading Greek voice and SMS provider.
Being consistent, creative, organized and a teamwork player, Apostolos is a leader who moves, motivates and inspires his team, to achieve corporate goals.
Apostolos is one of the masterminds and implementers who built Octapush. This efficient and reliable enterprise messaging platform allows every marketeer to perform Business Messaging Campaigns such as SMS, Viber, and utilities like Calendar, Online Booking, Forms, Short URLs, OTP, etc.
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VP Global Messaging and Managing Director at LINK CH (Horisen Messaging), Switzerland
Michael started his messaging career in 2006 at Vodafone Germany, before he moved over to End2End Denmark, which was acquired by MACH Clearing House Luxembourg in 2007, and ultimately taken over by Syniverse, where he held various roles. In 2018 he went to LINK Mobility to run the Global Messaging activities worldwide and locally managing the Swiss operations of Horisen Messaging AG, which was split from Horisen AG in 2018 and became a part of LINK Mobility.
He is an expert in all related topics to messaging, not only A2P SMS but as well Omni Channel communication-strong in the wholesale area, handling OTTs and as well helping retail brands to boost their communication towards their clients using various messaging solutions like CPaaS and UCaaS.
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Founder & CEO at Click Mobile
Samuel Chiwanda, is a Founder and CEO of Click Mobile a company that focuses on Messaging, USSD, Voice, and Airtime. The company has established in 2012, is based in Malawi, and nowadays is an International firm with over 8 branches across Africa and the Middle East.
Sam has managed to grow Click Mobile from running Open Source Platforms to robust commercial platforms, and this transition and experience has led to depth knowledge of messaging protocols, connectivity, and business development, giving him a 360 view of the Telco industry.
In 2022 Samuel Chiwanda was listed as number 7 in the Rocco Awards, and a few months later, at November 2022, he won the CXO of the Year Award at Africa Tech Awards.
He is a great piano player, and his passion for music can transform a Telco Conference evening, into a huge, uplifted party!
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CTO at NGN CORP SAL
Gilbert Abboud is a senior Telecom engineer holding a Master’s degree with 15+ years of experience in the wholesale and enterprise VoIP and Messaging industries.
Gilbert’s expertise expands to NOC team management, Telecom infrastructure setup, and management, exploring and creating new service offerings, and business development.
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Co-Founder & CEO at Apeiron Insight
Working in telecoms for over 30 years. From military comms hardware to wholesale services.Playing striker in EU market liberalization to then switch to goalkeeper in LATAM.
Now focused on Big Data Analytics in the telecoms space.
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Global Customer Development Manager at Link Mobility
Leonidas started his career in the Messaging industry 12 years ago, as Country Manager of Spain.
Follows a sales method where he is constantly hunting new business, in combination with a dedicated social selling approach. Via his extensive network of 12k flowers on social media platforms, has built himself up as an advisor and expert on mobile communication services.
He has worked in the Wholesale & Retail business, managing large accounts and also handling the procurement process that includes a distinct focus on MO/MT connectivity & partnerships across a global partner network. For the last 6 years, he has been part of the Global Sales team of LINK Mobility group, with a main focus on global accounts, partner sales & interconnections, delivering CPaaS solutions, and supporting brands on their omnichannel strategy & Customer Experience process.
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CCO at TelQ Telecom
Oana is the CCO at TelQ Telecom, where she has been working since 2017.
During that time, she was a strong contributor to getting TelQ’s SMS testing platform as the first choice for most of the aggregators, hubs, and SMS enterprise customers.
She is managing the sales and account management teams and ensures the product is addressing the customers’ needs.
With 14 years of experience in telecommunications, Oana is passionate about innovating telco products in start-up environments, especially in the messaging industry.
The focus throughout her career is bringing the best messaging has to offer in a perfectly tailored solution for each customer.
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Head at Global Point View Ltd
Paul Ruppert is the President of Global Point View Ltd., specializing in strategic growth planning and leveraging technical innovation for global expansion.
With twenty years expertise in messaging, and conversational commerce, he has supported enterprise leaders like Facebook and Western Union, global service providers such as Syniverse, and Infobip; led investment due diligence for firms such as HIG Capital, and National Bank of Kuwait; and consulted on messaging innovation to the GSM Association.
He’s the co-author of two SMS interoperability patents and led the development of a GSMA award-wining cybersecurity product. LinkedIn recognizes him as a ‘Top Mobile Technology Voice.’ He’s always on the hunt to make the mobile world a better place, one strategy plan at a time.
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Voice Products Director at Odine
Taner Dundar is the Voice Products Director at Odine, for many years he has successfully led and overseen the development, delivery and deployment of sustainable voice solutions worldwide.
With two decades of experience in different markets and industries, he understands the importance of partnering with the best breed products, and knowing the markets hot topics, ensuring that Odine remains a market-leading Systems Integrator and an innovative Cloud PaaS/SaaS Service Provider to Communication Service Providers.
Taner is focused on delivering large global projects that seamlessly migrate, transform, and drive operational and cost efficiencies to provide the highest quality sustainable services to Odine
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Messaging Operations Manager at Monty Mobile
Ali Sabbagh, an IT specialist, consultant, and the head of operations at the leading communications innovator Monty Mobile, has driven the adoption of new technology, providing technical guidance for complex customer solutions.
An expert in exploring intensive specializations, he immerses himself in emerging technologies, comprehends diverse products and services, and taps into the wisdom of experienced professionals.
Through engaging projects, theoretical knowledge is transformed into practical competence, particularly in telecommunications and IT.
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Vice President Strategic Partnerships LATAM at VOX Solutions
Juan Felipe Santos is the VP of Strategic Partnerships for America at Vox Solutions. He has +10 years of experience in the telecommunications and technology industry.
Selected in the last ROCCO Genesis edition (2022) into the TOP 25 more influential people in the roaming, messaging, and interconnect industry.He has developed his career throughout the entire chain of our ecosystem, From MNO´s, aggregators, and technology providers. Devoting all his efforts to develop new strategies, alliances, and solutions, with the aim of defining the best solution for each case.
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Mgr. IPX Engineering and Carriers at VODAFONE
Jordi is an experienced telco executive who believes that big international firms should be committed to creating the right entrepreneurship environment and mindset to boost innovation.
He has experience working in a vendor, an operator, and a group and holds an Executive MBA degree and a Master in Telecommunications Engineering.
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Senior VP of Strategy at eSIM Go
Stuart Mitchell is Senior VP of Strategy at eSIM Go, where he is responsible for the core platform that empowers businesses of any size to offer their own digital mobile solutions to customers.
Having started his career in broadcast engineering, Stuart has held business development, product management and corporate strategy roles in a number of telecommunications service providers; most latterly at Sinch where he led Global Product and Business Development for Rich Messaging.
A strong advocate of customer-first, Lean startup methodology, Stuart brings an entrepreneurial and lateral problem-solving approach to all his projects.
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Telecom & A2P Messaging Expert, Business Development Director at Cellusys
With over 15 years of experience in telecommunications and A2P messaging, Diana Choufani is a highly accomplished Business Development Director at Cellusys, leading sales and business development efforts across the MENA region. She specializes in Signaling, Steering of Roaming, SMS, and Voice Firewall solutions, working closely with MNOs to drive revenue growth, optimize security, and establish long-term strategic partnerships.
Prior to joining Cellusys, Diana served as Messaging Director at Mada, spearheading A2P partnerships with major operators in the region. In this role, she also led account management and support teams, ensuring seamless operations and service excellence.
A recognized industry expert, Diana has built an extensive network within the telecom ecosystem, leveraging her deep knowledge of messaging, roaming, and security solutions to drive business success. Her strategic vision, negotiation expertise, and ability to foster strong partnerships make her a key player in the A2P messaging and telecom security landscape.
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Business Development Director at Arptel
After completing studies in Business, Civil Code and Company Law at Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf with VWA in Germany he started his career working for several years with one of Japan’s leading industrial Global Conglomerates, Sumitomo.
Keith has since obtained more than 20 Years’ experience in the Wholesale Sector of The Telecoms Industry in such areas as Voice, Data networks, SMS and more. Keith’s passion for Sales and Business Development has seen him create & manage success for various Organizations from Tier 1 Operators, Global Alternative Operators, as well as Software and BSS & OSS system Providers.
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CEO at UpcomMinds
Kostas is a distinguished IT professional with over 30 years of experience, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to innovation. While earning an Electrical Engineering degree and a PhD in Distributed Computing Systems from the National Technical University of Athens, he launched his first software development company in 1991 during his studies. His journey continued in Brussels, where he freelanced for notable entities like Mastercard International and the European Commission, showcasing his ability to lead and innovate.
In 1997, Kostas founded Upcom Bvba, the precursor to today’s UpcoMinds, demonstrating his foresight in recognising the transformative power of IT. Under his leadership, UpcoMinds expanded to Greece and Cyprus, focusing on empowering organisations across Europe with cutting-edge IT solutions. Today, UpcoMinds stands as a testament to Kostas’s vision, employing a dedicated team of over 250 professionals and freelancers, all driven by a shared passion for technology and a person-centric approach that values each individual’s contribution to collective success.
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Managing Director at WeFuse
Sissi Chlomisiou is a seasoned Public Relations and Communication Director with extensive experience in reputation management, event management, and fundraising. Her leadership qualities and communication skills have enabled her to efficiently plan, budget, and assess results in accomplished endeavors. As the Chief Executive Officer of the MDA Hellas Association, Sissi has a track record of success in managing teams, implementing strategies, and negotiating sponsorship deals.
Sissi’s expertise in communication and reputation management has also been instrumental in promoting events, exhibits, and shows, as well as building the public image of small brands and companies. She recently started her own communication company called WeFuse, where she combines the old physical world with the new digital one by creating phygital communication strategies for small brands to help them grow.
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CEO and Co-Founder at ANNECTO Telecom Ltd
Bringing 25 years of C-Level telecom experience, predominantly as a CTO, Franck Zaire is a tech enthusiast with a creative and open-minded approach. His technical expertise allows him to contribute to very diverse activities such as network infrastructure deployment or mobile application development.
Over the last decade, his primary focus has been on Voice and A2P messaging, addressing daily challenges created by new technologies, asset monetization, and fraud protection.
His mission is to position Annecto Telecom as a valuable technology partner to the telecom industry.
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Senior Principal at Zain Omantel International (ZOI)
Baha Allawati brings more than 20 years of local and international experience in the ICT, Telecom, Sales & Marketing, Project Management, Messaging & Mobile Services, Blockchain, Data Center, Voice and wholesale capacity business. He has held several Sr. management roles within Omantel spanning from VP Enterprise Unit, General Manager international & Carrier Wholesale business, Roaming and Mobile Service and managed portfolio of multimillion dollar telecom and ICT projects.
Recently he joined Zain Omantel International- ZOI (a newly established JVco between Omantel and Zain Group in the international wholesale business) as a principal adviser to the CEO and a member of the executive management team. He also serves in various boards from private and public listed companies.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Networking Security both from Vanderbilt University, USA, and a Master’s certification degree in Project Management from George Washington University. He is a graduate of the National CEO program with IMD and the Sr Executive program of London Business School.
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Chief Commercial Officer at HORISEN
With over 25 years in the IT and telecommunications industry, Sabina Majeric has built a career marked by deep expertise and a strategic approach to business growth.
As Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at HORISEN, she plays a significant role in shaping the company’s direction, leveraging her extensive experience in business development, sales leadership, and the implementation of advanced telecom solutions.
Sabina’s deep industry knowledge enables her to skillfully manage the complexities of the telecom market while fostering strong client relationships. Passionate about continuous learning, Sabina stays at the forefront of technological advancements. With a hands-on approach and decades of experience, she remains a recognized leader in the telecommunications sector today.
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COO at C3NTRO Telecom
Accomplished telecom executive with over 25 years of experience in telecommunications, possessing deep knowledge of the regulatory, players, and commercial dynamics across the CALA region. Currently holding the position of COO at C3ntro Global, overseeing ILD, SMS A2P, and DID.
Before this, he was Deputy Director at Telefonica Central America, responsible for wholesale services (Local Interconnections, SMS A2P/P2P, Roaming & ILD) across the five countries. Eduardo holds an MBA and an Industrial Engineering Degree and is eager to contribute strategic insights and leadership to the dynamic landscape of the telecommunications industry.
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Vice President of Business and Market Development at NetNumber
As Vice President of Business and Market Development, Dr. Marco Lafrentz is an industry leader known for driving innovation, strategy, and new product development. Over the course of his impactful career, he has transformed a wholesale SMS aggregator into an enterprise-focused Service Provider and created a new product suite around the WhatsApp Business Solution by Meta, following the global trend towards conversational commerce and customer care.
Prior to joining netnumber Global Data Services, he spent almost a decade as VP of Products for a leading global application-to-person messaging operator and cloud communications provider. Here, he relaunched number portability products to emphasize the value of phone number information for enterprises for user registrations, customer outreach and account security.
Marco lives in Dortmund, Germany, and holds a Ph.D. in Physics from TU Dortmund University. You will probably find him on a Beach Volleyball court or a sailing boat when he is not participating in telecom events or customer or sprint meetings.
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General Manager at Total SMS
Daniela is a German national living in London since 2005. She has been dealing with the Telecoms industry since 2005 working for a range of companies in broadcasting, media, and telecoms.
Her background are in alternative payment methods, mainly in the phone billing space such as Premium SMS, Direct Carrier billing as well as voice solutions. She has been with Mediatel since 2010 mainly looking after the alternative billing products.
In 2019 Total SMS was born, which Daniela has been looking after from day one driving our SMS business in the phone payment as well as traditional wholesale business.
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Partnership Manager at Mobile Arts
Rabih Jreish is a Partnership Manager with over 12 years of experience in the Mobile VAS ecosystem, with a strong focus on Direct Carrier Billing (DCB). He holds a Master of Research degree, specializing in Telecommunications Networks and Security.
Rabih’s expertise lies in enabling digital transformation for Mobile VAS, managing partnerships with mobile operators, payment providers, and digital merchants across the EMENA region. He has played a significant role in the business development of the MobiBox platform, a mobile payment and advertising solution.
Leveraging his expertise in DCB and Mobile VAS, Rabih has managed partnerships and collaborations that have driven the growth of the platform, establishing Mobile Arts as a key player in the mobile industry. His valuable contribution to the company is acknowledged with MobiBox’s win of the esteemed MEFFYS 2023 award for Content and Advertising.
Overall, Rabih Jreish is a skilled Business Development Manager with an exceptional track record of delivering results in the DCB and mobile payments sector.
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Head of Regional Business Development at Mitto
For nearly a decade, Dimitrije has demonstrated adept navigation within the A2P Mobile Messaging ecosystem, accumulating profound expertise in the dynamic and fiercely competitive mobile market industry. Throughout his professional journey, he has effectively collaborated with Enterprise clients in the LATAM region, facilitating direct sales of SMS, RCS, and WhatsApp solutions. Subsequently, he expanded his scope globally, engaging with A2P aggregators. Presently, he holds the responsibility for spearheading new business development initiatives in LATAM, MENA, and APAC at Mitto.
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Head of Voice, Roaming, & Messaging at A1 International Business
For more than 20 years on managerial positions in International Wholesale business in Orange and A1 Telekom Austria Group.
Experienced in Sales, Product and successful Business Development of Voice, Messaging, Roaming, incl. Sponsored Roaming and IoT/M2M business, Service Platforms and IT solutions for Voice, Messaging & Cloud Communication, Anti-Fraud, Firewalling, Roaming, IoT, MVNO and Connectivity related areas.
Interested in digital innovations, cross-connections of services and technologies, user security and role of AI in increasing the operational efficiency and improving the Customer Experience.
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Business Development Manager at Titan International Wholesale
Jovana started her telecom journey twelve years ago, she began her career as a technical science engineer. Soon realized she was in the perfect environment to grow.
Over the years, she worked with several Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), helping them expand and become more profitable through SMS and Voice services.
Her fluency in Arabic, along with her strong understanding of English, Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian, has allowed her to connect with many people and stay informed about key industry developments, particularly across the EMEA region.
Despite the complexity offered by the Telecom Industry back in her starting years, Jovana succed in making a marvelous Telco Career admitting nowadays that for her “It was impossible to imagine a better work environment as a technical science engineer”.
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Head of SMS Department Interconnect Ltd
Irina Bortova is a dynamic and results-driven telecommunications professional with over 13 years of experience in the industry.
She started her career in Voice and has spent the last 8 years specializing in SMS, currently leading a young and promising team in Interconnect Ltd.
Well-acquainted with the market and its key players, Irina combines deep industry expertise with a natural leadership style. She is known for her sociable nature, creative problem-solving approach, and ability to build strong partnerships.
Beyond her professional career, she has a passion for creating photo portraits, capturing the essence of people through her artistic vision. This helps to understand people better and build long-term mutually beneficial relationships with them both in business and in life.
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Founder & CEO at Pair Recruitment
Reuma Halal Shibi is a seasoned telecom professional with over 15 years of global experience. She's held influential roles in both Voice and Data wholesale segments, demonstrating a deep understanding of industry dynamics and innovation.
Armed with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Management, Reuma's commitment to excellence shines. Her leadership skills and discipline stem from her service as a former IDF Lieutenant, where she excelled in HR management and served as a United Nations Liaison Officer, showcasing her global diplomacy.
Beyond her thriving career, Reuma is a devoted mother of two and stepmother of three, exemplifying her skill at balancing family and professional life. Fluent in three languages, her multilingualism enhances her already impressive skill set, making her a versatile and well-rounded telecommunications professional.
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Sales Director at G729
With a Master’s in International Marketing and an MBA, Romina excelled in the telecom industry for over 12 years, initially focusing on voice and later venturing into SMS services. Specialized in driving sales strategies for A2P and P2P solutions, fostering international connectivity across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Skilled in negotiation and business development, she is passionate about leveraging technology to empower individuals globally.
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Senior Manager, Voice, Trading & Messaging Business Services – OTEGLOBE (OTE Group)
With over 20 years of experience in the international wholesale telecommunication market, Dimitris has been part of the industry’s most defining shifts. His in-depth expertise and strategic outlook have made him a driving force in shaping sustainable growth and global collaboration.
At OTEGLOBE, the international wholesale business unit of OTE Group, the Greek incumbent, he leads one of the top-performing teams.
Together, they manage over 3 billion minutes and maintain more than 200 interconnections annually — ensuring service excellence, long-term value for partners worldwide, and further fortifying OTEGLOBE’s position as one of Southeast Europe's most valued carriers. Dimitris is well-known and trusted across the international wholesale community.
Recognized by peers and partners alike, his strong network and longstanding presence in the industry have earned him a solid reputation as a respected and reliable figure in the global voice ecosystem.
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Senior Mobile Data & Roaming Sales Manager at Sparkle
Maria entered the telecommunications Wholesale market 24 years ago, having served until today the Voice, IP/Data, Messaging, and Mobile Data services and now entering the challenging field of Roaming with eSIM and Global IOT solutions.
Is a highly motivated person who seeks challenges in the field and carries a deep knowledge of wholesale telecom market.
Maria is a Senior Sales Manager for Mobile Data & Roaming in Sparkle handling big accounts in the field.
Maria holds a Bachelor's degree and Social Policy & Cultural Anthropology and an MBA in Telecoms from Athens University of Economics & Business.
As she says, she found herself on the telecommunications path by chance, but recognizing it's potential and dynamics, the constant challenge and changes that keep her in search of better strategies, better solutions, and self-improvement, she immediately knew that it's a path tailored for her and continues to be until today.
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Director Strategic Partnerships & Tismi VP Strategic Business at LINK Mobility.
Dario’s career in the messaging industry commenced in early 2003 with SMS-based personalization services, with a primary focus on optimizing cost of goods sold (COGS) through optimization of interworking fees. Subsequently, he specialized in bulk SMS services, collaborating with major national SMS aggregators in Italy and Europe, always dealing with mobile network operators (MNOs), regulatory bodies, and worldwide SMS providers.
Over the past four years, he holds the position of Director of Strategic Partnerships at LINK Mobility and Vice President of Strategic Business at Tismi, the MNVO branch of LINK Mobility Group, assisting global companies in meeting their communications strategies across the globe.
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Head of Innovation at Cellusys
Charles Bernard has 18 years of experience in the mobile industry. He made a career of helping mobile operators: expand their roaming footprints, enhance their customer’s roaming experiences, optimize roaming costs, and monetize A2P traffic.
He is driven by the quest for operational excellence and a passion for delivering a complex solution, simply.
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Head of Business Development - Wholesale SMS at Beem
With over nine years of experience in the SMS industry, Rasha leads Business Development for Wholesale SMS at Beem.
Beem is an established A2P SMS provider with a reputation for quality, reliability, and transparency, and the go-to provider for the Africa and Middle East markets. Beyond driving business growth, Rasha actively contributes to procurement and routing, ensuring operational excellence throughout the value chain.
Leveraging deep expertise in the African market, Rasha fosters a culture of transparency, reliability, and relationship-building within the team, which she believes are fundamental to sustained success. Passionate about delivering exceptional mobile customer experiences, Rasha remains dedicated to helping businesses connect with their audiences in the most impactful and meaningful ways.
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Telecoms Consultant
With more than 20 years of experience in the Telecommunication Industry, Zacharias remains as enthusiastic and passionate as he was back in his first day at work.
Having experience in operational and commercial roles in two continents, three countries and a wide range of companies varying from FNOs to MNO's and MVNOs, Wholesale Carriers and CPaaS startups, he continues his professional journey up until today.Based in Dubai, UAE his latest roles included a consultancy for a SIP trunking startup and a CPaaS unicorn .
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Director of Sales Operations at Bind Technologies
Iva is a professional with over 13 years of experience in the messaging industry. She began her career at Infobip, where she gained a strong foundation in SMS technology, omnichannel communication, sales processes and platform development.
Iva is passionate about building high-performing teams, mentoring new employees, and creating scalable business processes. She thrives in fast-paced environments where she can develop and implement innovative strategies that drive growth, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Her expertise extends beyond sales and business development to cross-functional collaboration—working closely with product, engineering, and marketing teams to enhance platform features and introduce new products and services that align with market needs.
However, her first love remains sales, where she excels at building strong client relationships, negotiating complex deals, and creating value-driven solutions.
After several years of working remotely for international companies, Iva has returned to an office environment, collaborating with a dynamic team of passionate professionals to drive new innovations and exciting projects. She is dedicated to staying ahead of industry trends, leveraging technology to enhance business operations, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
NextGen Judges Committee 2025
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Head of SMS - DireQ Srl
Emanuele Astolfi’s telecom journey began in October 2019, progressing from Support Team member to Account Management within a year, and now leading as Head of SMS Department at DireQ.
His leadership has been instrumental in growing and guiding a talented team to success, ensuring operational excellence in A2P messaging and traffic analysis.
Emanuele’s passion for learning new languages and cultures enables him to navigate conversations with empathy and precision, adjusting seamlessly to diverse individuals and scenarios.
This global mentality, along with his drive to innovation, defines his leadership and cooperation style.
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Lead Account Manager at TelQ Telecom
Jelena has been in the Telecom industry (SMS industry, to be more specific) for close to 4 years now.
She joined TelQ Telecom in 2021 as a Key Account Manager, and in 2024 she became a Team Lead. Jelena is passionate about learning and self-improvement; she took multiple courses from Business Messaging Academy, as well as courses in Leadership, PCM and successfully completed a mini-MBA.
Jelena has started learning more about the Voice industry recently as her company now offers Voice testing solutions. Jelena’s mission is to grow alongside TelQ and continue working closely with Telecom professionals on making the SMS industry better.
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Technical Account Manager at Monty Mobile
Raed Diab is an accomplished telecom and technology professional with a proven track record in AI innovation and technical project management. With expertise in AI-driven solutions, CPaaS integrations, and digital transformation.
He has led groundbreaking projects that include innovative approaches and telecom advancements.
A Huawei ICT global award winner, Raed is passionate about driving industry innovation, fostering creativity, and mentoring future talent to shape the future of telecommunications.
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Network Testing Engineer at GMS
Ahmed Hadi is a Network Testing Engineer with over 2 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Currently, he works at GMS, where he focuses on testing A2P services and safeguarding network security against fraudsters for MNOs. Hadi is known for optimizing network performance and leading automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency. He was honored with the Rockstar Newbie Award for his outstanding performance in his first year, as well as a Certificate of Appreciation for being the Best Performer in the Testing Unit. Hadi is a young and passionate professional, always seeking to expand his knowledge and contribute to the future of the telco industry.
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SMS Team Lead at Hayo
Ghazal is 28 years old and holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in business administration (MBA). She has been working at HAYO since September 2022. With 5 years of professional experience, she began her career as a NOC engineer in XICOMM, transitioned into Finance department, and eventually found her path in SMS Sales when she joined HAYO. In December 2024, she was promoted to Team Lead, reflecting her growth and dedication. Ghazal loves to set goals and working hard to achieve them—an attitude she continues to carry into her sales career.
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Sales & Procurment Manager at LANCK Telecom
Zipporah Kiarie is an accomplished Account Manager in the telecommunications industry with over 7 years of experience. Her expertise spans business development, A2P SMS, and customer relationship management. She has held key roles at Wavecrest in the UK, Telxira in Switzerland, and Beem in Tanzania, where she managed high-value corporate partnerships and devised long-term growth strategies. Currently serving as Sales & Procurement Manager, Africa/ME at Lanck Telecom, Zipporah excels in building strong, enduring relationships with partners. Her ability to identify growth opportunities and apply innovative solutions is complemented by her acute understanding of market trends.
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Marketing Manager at SAMA Telecom
As the driving force behind SAMA Telecom’s marketing success, Grace has been instrumental in shaping the company’s brand presence and industry recognition. With a keen eye for digital strategy and creative execution, she has spearheaded impactful campaigns that have positioned SAMA Telecom as a standout player in the telecom sector.
Bringing together her expertise in SEO, branding, multimedia, copywriting, and web analytics, Grace develops and implements strategies that not only enhance online visibility but also maximize ROI. Her background in Graphic and Multimedia Design, combined with multiple Google certifications in Analytics, Ads, and Search Ads 360, allows her to merge creativity with data-driven insights—ensuring every campaign is both visually compelling and strategically effective.
From brand storytelling to performance marketing, Grace has been the powerhouse behind SAMA Telecom’s exposure, continuously elevating its reach and engagement across digital platforms.
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Business Development Manager at VR Telecom
Nnamdi is a Telecommunications professional, a specialist in A2P messaging, his experience cuts across servicing Enterprises, working on projects with Aggregators and dealing with wholesale partners.
Before joining the telecoms industry, he worked briefly with a commercial bank in Nigeria then spent three years working at one of West Africa’s leading e-commerce and digital marketplace platforms (konga.com) as a Retention analyst.
Nnamdi’s introduction into the Telco industry was with Infobip after undergoing a rigorous selection exercise, at Infobip, he rose from SDR to sales associate before joining Monty Mobile as a senior account manager and later joining the wholesale space, working at BSG World and now VR Telecom.
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Carrier Relations Manager at Qoolize
Sueda is a passionate and ambitious Carrier Relations & Growth Manager who never backs down from a challenge.
Since the early days of Qoolize, she has been at the heart of its growth, building strong partnerships and driving business development in A2P messaging and voice services.
Known for her unstoppable energy and "let’s make it happen" attitude, she thrives in fast-paced environments and loves turning ideas into results. Always eager to learn and grow, Sueda is a firm believer in personal development and staying ahead of industry trends.
Whether it’s negotiating deals, expanding global carrier relations, or running from one goal to the next, she’s always on the move—literally and figuratively!