GSMA Announces Departure of CEO Rob Conway

LONDON, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The GSMA today announced that Rob Conway, the Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of the GSMA, will step down as CEO effective September 1, 2011 after leading the organisation for 12 years to become the preeminent global body for the mobile industry.

"I am very proud of the many industry-leading initiatives and contributions that the GSMA has made during my leadership, including the growth of the premier industry event in the Mobile World Congress, through to initiatives such as the Development Fund which has driven innovative approaches to connecting people at the bottom of the economic pyramid," said Conway. "After 12 years I feel very good that I am leaving the GSMA in the best possible position to address the challenges and opportunities ahead."  

"On behalf of the GSMA, I want to thank Rob for his many years of service and leadership in the mobile industry," said Franco Bernabe, Chairman of the GSMA Board and CEO and Chairman of Telecom Italia Group. "Rob has led the GSMA during a period of tremendous growth as we have moved from 500 million mobile connections to nearly 6 billion connections today, and has nurtured the Mobile World Congress into an extraordinary yearly event where the mobile industry convenes to do business. We wish Rob well as he looks to the future."

The GSMA Board will commence a search process to identify a new CEO.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Congress.  

For more information, please visit Mobile World Live, the online portal for the mobile communications industry, at www.mobileworldlive.com or the GSMA corporate website at http://www.gsmworld.com.

SOURCE GSMA