Founded close to 16 years ago by Jawad Abbassi in Jordan, Arab Advisors welcomes Mr. Hakam Kanafani as a strategic investor with a 40% stake purchased from the Arab Jordan Investment Bank in the third Quarter of 2016.
Arab Advisors Group, the leading research and events house in the Arab World, is delighted to announce the election of Mr. Hakam Kanafani as its Chairman. Mr. Kanafani, who acquired the stake of the Arab Jordan Investment Bank (AJIB) in Arab Advisors, brings a wealth of industry and market experience to the company, and his joining marks a new milestone in the history of Arab Advisors Group. Following the transaction, Arab Advisors Group’s owners are Mr. Hakam Kanafani and Mr. Jawad Abbassi & family.
Under the new leadership, Arab Advisors Group will continue to offer its inimitable services which cater to the needs of its growing clientele, and introduce new products that respond to the dynamically changing needs of the market. The company has moved to a new HQ location in the prime business district of Abdali in Amman and plans an expansion into Dubai in 2017.
Mr. Kanafani stated “Since its inception, I have been an admirer and a customer of Arab Advisors, and today I am thrilled to be part of this partnership. The ICT and Digital Media industry is at a crossroad that requires efficiency, change in values and creative thinking. Arab Advisors Group is here to support and assist wholeheartedly our Telecommunications industry to grow more and compete further”.
For his part, Mr. Jawad Abbassi, Arab Advisors Founder and majority shareholder, noted: “Hakam is a long and close friend and is an ideal chairman for the company. Since I left the active management of Arab Advisors over a year ago, the company has grown well which is a testimony to its capable and driven team. At the time, back in Sept 2015, leaving the management of the company I founded 15 years ago, was a bitter sweet occasion. Yet welcoming Hakam as a strategic partner and chairman is indeed a memorable and joyous event”.
Mr. Mohammed Al-Shawwa, General Manager of Arab Advisors Group commented: “We are delighted with the election of Mr. Kanafani as our new Chairman. I am confident that the future holds further growth and success for the Arab Advisors Group team. The new board adds broad experience to our extensive knowledgebase, and will definitely take us to new heights”. Al-Shawwa added: “Arab Advisors Group looks positively at the future, where it will build on the unprecedented success it has achieved during the past 16 years to drive business growth in the long term”.
Arab Advisors Group’s new headquarters is at the prestigious Abdali business district in Amman, Jordan. The prominent location comprises of open space areas for the team members to work closely together, and offers the team a modern and inspiring workplace.
Arab Advisors Group’s new head office is located in Suhaib bin Sinan Street – Al-Jalal Building. We can be reached via our new contact details:
Tel: +962 6 568 1608
Fax: +962 6 568 1530
Mr. Kanafani served as the Group Chief Executive Officer for Türk Telekomünikasyon A.S. from August 2010 to January 2014, and was voted the best CEO in Turkey for Investor Relations three consecutive years. He thereafter served as the Chief Adviser to the Chairman. Mr. Kanafani started his tenure at Oger Telecom Ltd. in January 2006 as the Chief Business Development and Synergy Officer.
Mr. Kanafani began his career at NASA (Goddard Space Flight Center) in the United States. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of DATUM (Egypt’s first ISP) and then as Chief Operating Officer of PalTel Group and the Chief Executive Officer of Jawwal, Palestine's first private cellular network. Mr. Kanafani Graduated with Beta Gamma Sigma honors from the United States and continued his Executive education in Harvard School of Business. He is a founding member of Young Global Leaders and Young Arab Leaders. He serves as the Vice-Chairman of Turk Telekom International Group and is a board member of Türk Telekomünikasyon A.S. and Oger Telecom, Dubai. Mr. Kanafani served as Director of GSMA for two years and is currently a director of SAMENA.
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