- A telecom professional with over 30 years’ experience, incoming CEO to work closely with Lebanon’s Telecom Ministry in advancing the country’s telecom sector

- Wassim Mansour returns to a senior management role within Zain Group

Beirut, Kuwait City – 30 June, 2015

Zain Group, the pioneer in mobile telecommunications across the Middle East and Africa, announces the appointment of telecom stalwart Peter Kaliaropoulos as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ‘touch’ in Lebanon the mobile operation Zain manages on behalf the Lebanese government. Mr. Kaliaropoulos’ appointment is effective immediately, and will see him continuing the healthy foundation of transformation undertaken by Wassim Mansour over the past twelve months he has held the position of CEO. Mr. Mansour will be returning to a senior management role within Zain Group.

Mr. Kaliaropoulos joins touch as a highly-accomplished telecom professional having enjoyed over 30 years of experience in the international ICT sector, and playing a key role in the transformation and growth of a number of companies operating across the Asia-Pacific and Gulf regions.

In his varied roles, Mr. Kaliaropoulos has been responsible for driving customer-centric operating cultures, optimization of productivity levels and implementing growth strategies. He has also served as a Director on the Board of various technology and telecommunication companies in Singapore, India, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

Commenting on the appointment, Zain Group CEO Scott Gegenheimer said: “With Peter Kaliaropoulos’ vast and impressive experience in technology and management, and with the committed support of all of Zain Group resources, I’m confident he will work closely with and support the Lebanon Telecom Ministry in its vision to take the country’s telecommunications sector to the next level.”

Gegenheimer continued: “I would also like to express my profound gratitude to Wassim Mansour for the excellent work he has done at touch over the past twelve months and look forward to his return to Zain Group.”

Touch CEO Mr. Kaliaropoulos said on his appointment: “Zain has considerable experience and reputation in the regional telecom sector, and the operation it manages in Lebanon is a key component of that. The domestic market in Lebanon is progressing rapidly and I look forward to working closely with the Ministry of Telecommunications to the benefit of all stakeholders.”

Zain has been managing touch since 1 June, 2004. The operation has a leading 53 per cent customer market share serving over two million customers and has rolled out 3G services nationwide and 4G services in parts of the country, offering customers the widest choice of mobile and data services in Lebanon. ENDS