ExecutiveManagement
The company thrives under a highly effective Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) driven by the passion to realize the company's vision.
Alain Sainte-Marie - Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Alain Sainte-Marie assumed leadership of Zain Nigeria on September 18, 2009.
He holds an MBA majoring in Information Systems from University Saint Joseph, Beirut, and D.U.T Business Administration also from University Saint Joseph - Beirut
Prior to his appointment as CEO of Zain Nigeria, Sainte-Marie, who has over 24 years of working experience in Information Technology business, was the Managing Director of Zain Gabon, a position he took up in March 2009.
As Managing Director of Zain Gabon, he helped to sustain the company’smarket leadership position and maintain its streak as the operation with the highest ARPU amongst ZAIN Africa operations despite the entry of a fourth mobile operator and rise in the tide of competition in the African country.
He worked in Nigeria between November 2008 and February 2009 as Special Adviser to the former CEO, assisting him to implement a business transformation process including culture change, a key requirement for a successful turnaround of the operation.
Sainte-Marie has also previously occupied other strategic management positions within Zain including Director of Operations, Middle East and as CEO of IRAQNA (a Zain Group operation in Iraq), a position he occupied until June 2008.
He also held several senior positions in the leading telecom companies including the position of Chief Financial Officer of ORASCOM Telecom, Tunisia SA (OTT); Chief Financial Officer, ORASCOM Telecom Holding S.A.E, Head of Budgeting Controlling and Planning Department, France Telecom Mobile, Lebanon, S.A.L (FTML), and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, France Telecom Mobile, Lebanon, S.A.L (FTML).
The Chief Executive of Zain Nigeria started his career as a SALES ENGINEER in BULL SAL, the subsidiary of BULL SA – France, and manufacturer of IT solutions (Hardware, Software and Integration of Services). He worked in several positions including Finance and Administration department on budgeting and reporting functions and later rose to sales engineer on large accounts in the Banking and the Insurance sectors.
A French-Lebanese citizen, Alain is married and has two children. He is fluent in French, English and Arabic.
Khaled Khorshid - Chief Operating Officer
Khorshid brings to Zain Nigeria 18 years experience in the Information Technology and Telecommunications fields. He spent the first 10 years of his career in North America with leading consulting firms EDS and Accenture in systems integration and management consulting leading large consulting projects for Fortune 100 companies including giant telecom operators like AT&T, Cable & Wireless, and SBC Communications. In 2001 he moved to Africa to lead two GSM startups in Algeria with Orascom and Watania Telecom. In 2006, Khorshid joined Zain as Chief Information Officer in the company’s Sudan operation where he had the responsibility of leading the revamping of all technology infrastructures in support of the company’s aggressive growth. He joined Zain Nigeria in January 2009 as the head of operation with direct responsibilities for Network, Information Technology, Transformation, Customer Service and Project Management Office. Khorshid, an avid golfer and football fan, has a Bachelor of Science degree in MIS from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA and an MBA in Marketing from Wayne State University, Michigan, USA.
Shamel Mohammed Hanafi – Chief Commercial Officer
Shamel Mohammed Hanafi is an experienced telecom executive with specialization in commercial and operational management. He has over 15 years of professional experience split between customer-centric hospitality industry and the fast paced, competitive telecommunications industry. Prior to joining Zain Nigeria, Hanafi was the Chief Commercial Officer of Zain Iraq, where he was responsible for stringent management of distributors to attain quarterly and year-end sales targets, restructuring and integration of distribution channels of operations, re-engineering of an integrated commission scheme and re-branding of IraQna to Zain Iraq. Hanafi, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, has for over 15 years focus on progressive marketing, operations and executive level management in the marketing services of telecommunications and Internet domains as well as start-up operations and new business creation.
Ross Masterman –Chief Financial Officer
Ross joined Zain Nigeria in September 2008 on transfer from Zain Group Head Office and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK). Ross brings extensive worldwide experience gained over the past 30 years in a variety of industries both manufacturing and service orientated to Zain Nigeria with over 12 years in senior finance positions. Ross spent 10 years in a variety of Finance roles with a major UK plc. He has approaching 10 years experience in the telecoms industry in both operator and retail sectors and most recently spent a number of years before joining the Zain Group with Saudi Telecom and establishing a chain of retail outlets in Saudi Arabia which are now absorbed into the Zain Group.
Jubril Saba – Human Resources Director
Abdullahi Jubril Saba has varied experience in Customer Care Management and Training & Development. A graduate of Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Saba joined Zain Nigeria as Customer Care Representative and later rose to the position of Training & Development Manager before he was transferred to the Human Resource Group where he was given the responsibility of leading the Learning & Talent Management Division. He was later assigned to the Technical Group as Human Resource Manager, a position he held until his appointment as HR Director. He is currently pursuing an MBA in Business Administration at the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a certified Global Professional (Human Resources).