Meet The Agents

Our agents are experts in their subject matters and regions and provide two key roles: identifying great new apps and developing new business opportunities for the agency's app developer clients.

The Nonvoice team of more than 60 Agents covers every continent of the world, including:

APAC:

Siriporn Nimtiparat

Region: Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos

Specialism: Retail and Distribution

Experienced in Telecommunication, Mobile handset, Consumer Electronics, Fintech industries, specializing in Distribution and Retail for markets in Thailand and emerging markets (IndoChina), including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Started from Siemens Information and Communication, Orange/True network operator in Thailand, Nokia exclusive distributor and other Top handset brands for Cambodia and Loas markets, Ingram Micro Mobility and Life cycle services in Thailand before enhancing new experiences in Fintech retail and distribution on mobile money, bill payment and remittance in Myanmar.

Polly Tsang

Region: Hong Kong

Specialism: FinTech

Polly has been a banker for 30 years, with experience spreading over consumer, corporate and private banking. For the last 20 years as a private banker she has managed investment portfolios and provided wealth planning for high net worth individuals. Polly was the Hong Kong country head for DBS private bank and UBS Wealth Management. Five years ago, Polly left the banking industry to become an Independent Financial Advisor.

Cici Feng

Region: APAC

Specialism: Consumer Apps

A world citizen, Cici Feng was born in Beijing China, lived for many years in Tokyo Japan and has lived in the U.S. for many years, after studying at Fordham University in New York. Fluent in many languages, Cici is most interested in bringing the very best consumer 5G applications from Asia to the Western world.

Alex Chu

Region: China

Specialism: Mobile and online content

Alex has almost 10 years of experience in the mobile Internet advertising industry including managing multinational teams. He is based in China and specialises in influencer and social media marketing. Alex also established and implemented Nanigans’ expansion plan for the Greater China Region, progressively growing Nanigans’ SaaS business within China.

Cristiano Garibaldi

Region: Australia

Specialism: Mobile gaming

Cristiano has now been in the mobile gaming industry for over 15 years with roles at the likes of Tasman Studios, Aristocrat and Empress Games. Cristiano has built various mobile gaming platforms for telcos around the world including: Telstra, Vodafone, Optus and AT&T.

Ninad Narvekar

Region: India

Specialism: Mobile Gaming and Communications

Ninad has now been in the Mobile Gaming Industry for Over 10 Years. Ninad has worked for various gaming companies including India Games/ Disney and Hungama.

Trevor Williams

Region: Singapore

Specialism: Talent and Career Services

Based in Singapore, Trevor Williams owns Asia Williams, a boutique Business Consultancy, mainly primarily provide Talent and Career Services for the Asia Pacific region. They engage in generalist mid to senior level Executive Search, excelling in positions from middle to senior executive/VP/CxO levels. Our unique sourcing methodology has proven effective in our search for active and passive candidates, for both generalist and especially niche industries and functions. Trevor brings to Nonvoice a history of high tech leadership positions in APAC in both media companies and equipment vendors.

Azani Arshad

Region: Malaysia

Specialism: Fintech

Based in Malaysia, Azani has built a carrier in IT and Telecoms over the last 20 years. He has headed up numerous important technical projects during his career including one that involved designing and building aa 24/7 contact centre in Malaysia. Later in his career, he moved to sales specialise in Telecoms, FI, Education and Government sector in ASEAN region.

Parag Modi

Region: India

Specialism: Telco

Based in Mumbai, India, Parag Modi is a dynamic professional with 20+ years including 15 years of rich & extensive experience in Telecom & Digital Domains working for the likes of Airtel; Enterprise Services, Reliance Communications and Idea Cellular. Most recently Parag was the Strategic Engagement Director at the GSMA.

An out-of-the-box thinker with a knack for identifying and adopting emerging trends and addressing industry requirements to achieve organizational objectives and norms. Deftness in handling overall functioning of processes and implementing processes in line with the pre-set guidelines. Possess interpersonal, communication, organizational skills with demonstrated abilities in team management and problem solving.

Alan Nanson

Region: New Zealand

Specialism: Telco

Alan is an accomplished senior business leader with extensive operational and logistics knowledge and experience within the telecommunications, technology, food, beverage, beauty and healthcare industries. Before launching his own business in 2018, Alan was the ANZ Managing Director for Ingram Micro CLS division, working closely with major telcos and technology players in both Australia and New Zealand.

North America:

Maria Pienaar

Region: United States

Specialism: Fintech

Maria co-founded Blue Label Ventures, a Corporate VC focussing on investments in Digital Health, IOT, Cyber Security, Fintech (incl. InsurTech). Prior she was CIO at Cell C, a challenger mobile carrier, and prior held various leadership roles in Business Development, Go-to-Market Strategy, Strategic Partner Management and Product Marketing for Lucent, Nokia, Vodafone, Globalstar and various startups. Maria holds a BSC in Engineering.

Chantal Aytes

Region: United States

Specialism: Start up innovation

My team and I visit conventions to discover smaller business owners/ creators of different products or ideas. I am constantly on the hunt for new concepts, art, knowledge because I firmly believe in daily self improvement.

Ville Penttila

Region: North America, Europe, SEAP

Specialism: Consumer Apps, Games, Ad Tech partners, Connected Cars, AI

Ville has over 20 years of experience in business development, product management, product marketing, GTM and general operations for Mobile and TV OEM App Stores, applications and services. He has a strong contact network with top USA based brands and platform providers. Current Advisor for Neverthink and Noodelist startups and sales agent for Unikie and Glispa. Past companies: Nokia, Samsung, Huawei, HP, Microsoft, Wiral, Tekes, Satama Interactive, TeliaSonera, etc.

Daryl Young

Region: North America

Specialism: Mobile and online content

Daryl is the Co-Founder and President of Cuba Entertainment Services (CES)-a firm providing complete production services for U.S. companies in Cuba. A former Marine and serial entrepreneur, Daryl got his start in the entertainment business as Vice President of Death Row Records in 1991. He then co-founded The Nickels Group, a consortium of film, music, and event producers creating/acquiring traditional, mobile, and online content for digital and theatrical distribution. In addition to CES, Daryl is CEO of Digital Box USA/UK, third party billing companies for mobile operators world-wide.

Brian Patterson

Region: North America

Specialism: Mobile Media Product Marketing

After an early foundation in M&A investment banking, Brian has applied the same strategic approach to creating partnerships between media companies and wireless Telcos. With 10 years of media licensing, business development, and marketing experience at Mobile Streams and Drop In Media, Brian has launched numerous record-breaking campaigns in sports and entertainment with clients including Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Telus, Rogers, and AT&T.

Gerry Christensen

Region: North America

Specialism: Network Signaling, SIP, VoIP, Network to Device Interactions, Edge Computing

Gerry has over 30 years of experience in planning, engineering, product management and business development for telecommunications networks, applications and services. He has a strong working knowledge in many ICT areas and is considered an expert and thought leader in emerging areas such as 5G, AI, and IoT.

John S. Krivulka

Region: United States

Specialism: Enterprise and Security Applications

John has over 25 years of law enforcement and private sector security experience in the United States. John has implemented and managed specialized technologies, both for the public and private sector, focusing on the safety and security of large-scale events, conferences, and conventions. John blends the use of technology and physical security demands in the private sector through business development.

Chris Hare

Region: United States

Specialism: Healthcare, mobile devices, IoT

Chris is an accomplished entrepreneur, strategic advisor and fundraiser. Following five years at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, he created a private consulting group supporting global companies (from large and mature to young and growing) with innovation strategy, IP development strategy, connected devices. licensing and market definition. Industries served include wireless, medical, cleantech, smartgrid, video architecture and energy.

Rosby Jones

Region: United States

Specialism: Security Management, Operations & Planning

Rosby is based in the US and is an experienced security manager with a foundational background in Corrections and Law Enforcement. Recognised as an adept and adaptable problem solver, Rosby also implements best practices and proactively undertakes decisive leadership in security management, operations and planning.

Chris Coyle

Region: United States

Specialism: Licensing and BlueTech

Chris has extensive experience licensing IP and content across multiple media platforms supported by various business models around the world (Comcast NBC Universal Music Group, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Walt Disney, Viacom/CBS, CNN, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Virgin, Telefonica, Telcel, Telstra, Facebook, and Google. His reach spans search engines, television/cable operators, mobile carriers and social media platforms. He prides himself on trying to stay ahead of the curve and is constantly pushing himself to learn about emerging technologies and new user behavior.

Martin Gaiss

Region: United States

Specialism: Content and Global Marketing

Martin Gaiss, the founder of MG Labs, is at the forefront of innovative storytelling and has made a career of looking at things differently. He founded an industry-first division at the Twentieth Century Fox Film Studios that revolutionized marketing, garnering numerous Awards along the way for his work on over 600 films, including "Avatar," “Life of Pi,” “X-Men,” “Deadpool,” and “Kingsmen.” He has a long list of “firsts” for the industry to his name: from producing bespoke filmic mobile content a year before the iphone came out, to pioneering the principles of social media marketing the year Facebook started, these are just two. He has also produced, written and directed commercial and feature film content, such as the Coke Zero TV Commercial for “Avatar” and “Jarred,” a short film that was the Venice Film Festival Short film competition closing film.

Latin America:

Verónica García Alchurrut

Region: Latin America

Specialism: Ecommerce and marketing

Verónica is an expert in online business administration on eCommerce platforms and has a talent for identifying niches and new business opportunities. With more than 9 years’ experience in the mobile industry Verónica is experienced in defining strategies together with mobile network operators, integrating apps onto different platforms as well as creating value and developing start-up campaigns.

Rosana Llinas

Region: Colombia

Specialism: Network and Telecommunications

Electronic Engineer, specialized as Network and Telecommunications Administrator, ITIL Certified. With more than 15 years of experience in IT area in the Telecommunications and Technology Industries, worked with companies like Siemens, Microsoft, BenQ-Siemens, Brightpoint. Strong Customer and service attitude.

Jose Carlos Tenreiro

Region: Latin America

Specialism: New business development

Jose Carlos has over 20 years’ experience in the commercial/new business, Key Account Management digital, retail and general administration areas within the mobile and telecommunications sector. Jose Carlos has a specialist knowledge of the Mexican market and Latin America in general and is experienced in negotiating, managing, developing and positioning products and services, whilst always exceeding expected results.

Fábio Moraes

Region: Brazil

Specialism: Business Development

Fábio Moraes has over 20 years of experience in business development, product strategy and executive management. He has worked closely with operators, vendors and service providers in market development in virtually every area of Telco. Skilled in Strategic engagement, Fabio has a keen eye for identifying gaps and bridging partners to bring forth innovative solutions. Past companies include Nokia, G&D and the GSMA.

Walter German

Region: Latin America

Specialism: Organizational systems, controls and procedures

Born in Lima Peru, Walter graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Indiana Tech and did some post graduate studies in St Gallen, Switzerland. He was hired and migrated to the US in early 1976 as part of the CALA (Caribbean Latin America) new office for Northern Telecom in Miami, FL. In 1983 Walter moved to TIE Communications, manufacturer of PBXs and small telecom systems, to take up the role of Director of Latam. Walter started his own Company in May 1990 distributing telecom systems and supplying equipment and parts to the network that developed them for TIE. Due to the evolution of the industry and Walter's business, he started providing consulting services to other companies in 1993 to help them to establish their presence in Latin America. Walter's customer network covers the US, Europe and Asia.

Osvaldo Torres

Region: Latin America

Specialism: Control of processes, operational risk, fraud control, and operational security

Osvaldo was born in Santiago, Chile. He holds several degrees: BA from Universidad de Chile, Master in international business from UNCTAD-GATT- U. Catolica de Cuyo, Master in General Management and Organization of International Business - Universitat de Lleida – Spain, Doctorate (C) in Advance Management of International Business, - Universitat de Lleida - Spain / IEDE – Chile. Led for more than 19 years at ENTEL Chile, functions related the control of processes, operational risk, fraud control, and operational security. When ENTEL introduce GSM in Latam, Osvaldo founded the GSMALA’s Fraud & Security Working group and support the risk management in Latam for TIM Italia, as TIM was owner of ENTEL. Osvaldo has been an independent consultant for more than 17 years for several major accounts at different industries. Osvaldo has also been involved in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate in Technology/Innovation, Business Policy etc. for local and foreign universities. Since 2011 Osvaldo is the CEO and Principal Consultant of Ti-Gestion, multilocal company that introduce innovations to reduce the risk for several industries in Latin America.

Edgardo Mendez-Soto

Region: The Americas

Specialism: Consumer trends

Eddie is an expert in Japanese anime and Korean Pop (K-Pop) and other emerging consumer trends. He has run a successful ecommerce and retail business for many years selling Japanese and Korean products in the U.S. market.

Europe:

Fred Thuard

Region: France & World

Specialism: Analytics, Gaming, AdTech & Retailtech

Fred is active in the mobile app space since the last century and is today focussed on Analytics, Gaming, AdTech & Retailtech. Deploying, advising and scaling up multiple startups in the app & data space like App Annie, Kochava, Tapad, Whally, Youboox on both side of the Atlantic, Fred helps to build the right partnership at the right moment on the right market.

Thomas Vits

Region: Germany

Specialism: Mobile Edge Computing

Active in the mobile industry for over 15 years. He worked for device manufacturers, application developers operators and cloud providers on the technology strategy, development and launch of mobile phones and services including VR and AR devices.

Jesse Bijl

Region: Netherlands

Specialism: XR / AR

Experienced (>10 years) Product Innovation Professional and consultant in the areas of Telco, Cloud & Apps. He is perfectly able to bridge between business and technology, with a strong focus on customer centricity and Go-to-Market.

Jac Currie

Region: EMEA

Specialism: Distribution, devices and retail

Jac is a consultant in the telecommunications industry and previously SVP of Lifecycle Services for Ingram Micro. Before this he was President of European Mobility responsible for the operations of the USD 3 billion turnover division after Ingram’s 2012 acquisition of BrightPoint. At BrightPoint, Jac was CIO responsible for development and execution of global IT strategy from 2006 until 2012. Jac joined BrightPoint in 1998 as Regional MD of the Middle East. In 2002, he did a management buy-out of BrightPoint's operations across MEA, sold back to BrightPoint in 2006. Prior to BrightPoint, Jac worked for Deutsche Telecom in Philippines and Millicom International Cellular in Europe, Asia and Latam.

Max Hagemann

Region: Luxembourg

Specialism: Mobile telco management

Max is a global executive management professional with extensive knowledge of the telecommunications, wireless and distribution/supply-chain industries across NA, EMEA, APAC and Russia. His proficiency and experience covers marketing and sales activities which are supported by strategic planning. Max also has an impressive record in sales combined with sound financial and technical understanding as well as business development and leadership experience in both developed and emerging markets.

Tommy Ljunggren

Region: Sweden

Specialism: Telcos

Tommy has over 30 years experience in the telecom industry, mainly at operators Telia Company and Veon (formerly known as VimpelCom). He was co-founder and senior manager of international strategy consulting firm Northstream (now part of Accenture) with offices in Europe and Asia. The company spun off into two companies, in the software product and venture capital business respectively.

Tommy is a certified director at the Swedish Academy of Board directors and served as director of the board in NGMN Ltd as well as in shared mobile network JVs in Sweden and Denmark. He is experienced in the development and implementation of network strategies and target architectures for fixed, mobile and carrier networks, including Network Virtualization and fixed mobile convergence (FMC) as well as integration of enterprise applications. Tommy is working as Senior Advisor and consultant at Ljunggren Consulting Team AB in Sweden with operator, vendor, investor, and start-up clients.

Daniel Dasic

Region: Denmark

Specialism: Fintech

During the last 26 years I have made 14 startups; 6 on my own and 8 with international investors including private business angels, venture funds and public fundings. All of them with focus on tech, fintech, Financial Payment & Remittance , Online Gaming , online social value adding services and/or mobile business.

Specialties: Networking, Business Development, Sales & Marketing, entrepeneurial execution, entertainment, Mobile software usage, Payment services, Escrow services

Raimondo Anello

Region: Italy

Specialism: 5G for industries and Digital transformation

Raimondo currently is member of “Italian Angels for Growth”, the largest Italian angel’s network and is co- founder of 2 start up in the energy and aerospace industries. He collaborates also with some consultant firms as Senior Advisor in 5G, Digital Transformation and Business Innovation.

After 20 years, he recently left Ericsson as Head of Innovation and responsible for the “5G for Industries” program. In 2016 he launched the “5G for Italy”, a very successful program to prepare the better condition from business and technological aspects to launch the 5G leveraging on the local and global ecosystem. Before Ericsson, he worked for national and multinational consultant firm as strategy and business creation consultant.

Armando Voets

Region: Netherlands

Specialism: Digital Disruption and Execution specialist

My name is Armando Voets, a 49 years young man. Being characterised as an authentic bridge creator between technique and commerce, but also connecting creativity, execution and vision. Based in the Netherlands I am a fast-paced, contemplative innovator, who gained extensive broad experience in the international telecom world, predominantly in the area of sales, product- and business development, outpaced by commercial management and M&A. He brings with him a network in adjacent industries like hospitality, travel, oil- and gas, SmartCity, and many more. With whom he has developed so to speak B2B2C services. His approach cumulates in acting as a Digital Orchestrating specialist with experience from a business and platform perspective.

Emmanuel Lambert

Region: France, EMEA

Specialism: Devices, enterprise and industrial usages, consumer apps, data, telecom

With more than 20 years of experience in the mobile industry, Emmanuel Lambert worked for device manufacturers launching mobile phones, tablets, wearables, CIoT, apps and services. Driven by consumer experience and bringing new innovative usages to all, he successfully built partnerships with tech companies, startups, scale-ups, developers and hardware makers addressing both consumer and business customers.

Peter Tomlinson

Region: Europe

Specialism: Smart factories and Supply Chain

Peter has worked in manufacturing and supply chain for over 40 years, many of which are in Asia, the hub of global manufacturing. Having started his business journey in Scotland, Peter has lived in many countries of the world executing manufacturing and supply chain solutions for companies including IBM, Nokia, Motorola, Jabil Circuit and Jabra.
Having established his own company in 2006 Peter has enjoyed many Board positions, consultant roles and as an Angel investor. Peter’s latest role on the Board of a Smart factory solutions provider uses his knowledge and experience to drive business forward through new mobile applications.

Shaun Braastad

Region: Europe

Specialism: IoT, Big Data, AI, Fintech & DLT/Blockchain

Based in Norway, Shaun has 15 years of global entrepreneurial tech-business experience & 20 years with TMT internationally, primarily Internet-Telecom convergence. Involved with 100+ tech-startups since 1997 & several global startup/tech/investment communities. Degree in E-Business 2001, Corporate Master of Tech Management, Entrepreneurship & Disruptive Innovation studies at NTNU, Uni. of Oxford, UC Berkeley, 2006-2008.

Entrepreneur, advisor, venture catalyst over the last decades, building tech-startup, investment communities by founding, co-initiating several grassroots industry initiatives. Involved as an industry connector in global tech since 2007, been part of several emerging tech-startup communities since inception: from Web to E-Business to SoMe to Mobile Internet to Apps to IoT to Big Data to AI to Fintech to DLT/Blockchain to Crowdfunding to 5G to Nano-Quantech. Involved with Nordic tech-VCs since 2001, global Tier 1 tech-VC community since 2007.

Alberto Ciarniello

Region: Italy

Specialism: Telco, Machine Learning

Alberto has a broad international background in the Telecom Industry where he covered various Executive and Director’s roles in Technology, Strategy/Innovation, Media and Digital services and products. He is Senior Advisor for investors, technology companies and startups on innovative products and services. He is also engaged as volunteering Mentor for startup incubators.

UK:

Andrew Mendoza

Region: UK

Specialism: Media, Tech, Telecoms and Digital

Andrew is a Seasoned Strategy and Business Development Executive with experience across MNC Corporates and early stage with particular emphasis on growth and technology led innovation and a focus on Media, Tech, Telecoms and Digital since the late 90s. Over twenty years of blue-chip consulting experience with 10 years as a partner preceded a more recent entrepreneurial emphasis - including co-founding and working with a number of early stage technology/content/digital businesses combined with some early stage investing and board positions.

Chris Dadd

Region: UK

Specialism: FinTech

Chris innovates for award winning FinTech and Telco products. For more than 20 years, he has launched firsts in mobile shopping, entertainment, banking and sports services for companies such as Visa, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, IMI Mobile, Paysafe, Vodafone and IBM. Chris is excited to be helping Nonvoice clients achieve new firsts with their 5G apps.

James Fryer

Region: UK

Specialism: Content services

James has specialised in the mobile technology for over 15 years. His experience includes building content services for mobile operators worldwide such as Ringtones.com whilst he was at Mobile Streams. Most recently, James been focusing on services and applications marketed direct to consumers.

Paul Johnson

Region: Europe, Eurasia, South East Asia

Specialism: Digital Innovation, Design & Growth

Paul is an award winning pioneer and innovator in digital product and service. He has pursued his passion for disruptive tech, behaviours and future trends within TV, entertainment, publishing, sports, gaming, ecommerce, telecoms and high tech. Paul now has over 20 years experience in corporate, SME and start-ups across Europe, Eurasia and South East Asia. On a mission to keep the online world a useful, fun, mindful and positive place for all generations.

Ivan Donn

Region: UK

Specialism: Business Development

Ivan is a seasoned wireless executive having worked in marketing, business development and devices at Vodafone in the UK for 20 years. He then worked for BlackBerry and then 10 years at PayPoint in mobile commerce Sevices. Ivan is an accomplished entrepreneur having advised and started several businesses, including most recently has been involved in the Micromobility electric vehicle industry.

David Pearce

Region: UK/EMEA

Specialism: Enterprise/IoT applications

David is a veteran of the mobile industry having joined what was the Racal Vodafone in the late 1980s, being involved in the development, sales and marketing of analogue cellular data transmission products and services before taking on the responsibility for the development and marketing of SMS. David then spent some time in Europe, involved in the creation, launch, marketing and commercial performance of value added services across Vodafone's expanding international network operators. Soon after returning to the UK, David joined what was then Cellnet, with responsibility for the marketing and commercial performance of all non-voice products and services. After a few years, being involved in turning Cellnet into what's now known as 02, David joined a small, US-based location-based services company, helping the company to establish a presence with network operators and partners across EMEA.

Following a successful sale of the company, David worked with various VCs and PE organisation's across Europe, producing commercial success in their investments, as well as providing interim & consulting commercial, marketing and transformation services to organisation's including Vodafone Group, Yell, EE, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia and Lloyds Banking Group.

Simon Earle

Region: UK

Specialism: Business Planning

Simon Earle (CEO)- Simon has worked extensively across the cellular telecommunications industry over the last 35 years. His career has covered both distribution and networks including holding senior positions as President of Cellstar UK, where he consolidated the company’s position as Europe's leading distributor and the world's largest Motorola distributor, and Vice President Brightpoint EMEA responsible for business development and M&A. Simon's extensive contacts and industry knowledge has been developed through close working at all levels with carriers, vendors and supply chain companies.

Gavin Thomas

Region: UK

Specialism: Devices, Mobile Edge Computing, RCS Business Messaging

Active in the mobile industry for 20 years, Gavin led Vodafone Group’s device requirements and roadmap team into the smartphone era, collaborated on several global initiatives to create mobile platforms and launched advanced communication services onto millions of phones across Europe. He designed and managed the world’s first international RCS campaign to engage Mobile World Congress attendees and provided thought leadership as a member of the GSM Association Strategy Team. Gavin has worked with many of the leading operators worldwide on Edge Computing and RCS Business Messaging, both of which are significant 5G services, delivering step changes in user experience.

Rest of World:

Victoria Tayler

Region: Global

Specialism: Marketing and communications

Victoria is a marketing and communications professional with over 20 years experience across multiple industries including mobile communications. She was heavily involved in the success of Mobile Streams and the IPO of the Company on the London Stock Exchange in 2014 as well as with the launches of popular services such as: Ringtones.com and Appitalism. Victoria is looking forward to helping Nonvoice clients achieve success with their own apps.

Simon Buckingham

Region: Global

Founder & CEO

Simon is a mobile industry expert who has specialized in launching nonvoice mobile internet services for over 25 years. Simon started his career at Vodafone in 1991 before founding Mobile Streams, the leading mobile content provider, in 1999 and working there for 20 years until 2020. Simon has launched many mobile services including SMS services; Ringtones.com; mobile games channels and Appitalism – a leading mobile app store.

Zunaid Bulbulia

Region: Africa

Specialism: Telco

Zunaid has more than 27 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry and was one of the founding members of the MTN team, where he held the position of Chief Executive Officer of MTN South Africa and Group Chief Operations Executive of MTN Group.

During his 22 years with the MTN Group, Zunaid played a pivotal role in building MTN Group into the giant that it is today. What started in 1994 as South African company providing mobile telephony services to South Africa in a two-operator market, MTN eventually became the leading mobile telecommunications group in Africa and the Middle East across 22 countries.

Marlin Nelson

Region: Global

Specialism: Business Development

Marlin Nelson is the CEO and President of International Business Expansion, LLC. His company provides consultancy for companies globally that are looking to expand their markets for their products and services.

He is a senior global sales executive, business expansion consultant and business development leader with more than 25 years of experience in building, coaching, and driving high performance sales organizations; delivering key relationships; and opening new markets for a range of companies.

He excels at rapidly building, coaching and leading highly successful sales teams and channel sales organizations to quickly penetrate new markets that drive results. He has a "hands on" approach to sales and business development leadership and a vast network of global contacts, a key behind his ability to build innovative sales strategies that consistently exceed business goals.

Shaheen Adam

Region: Africa

Specialism: Fintech

Shaheen Adam is the Managing Director of Whiz Biz. Whiz Biz is an advisory business focusing on the Telecommunications and Financial Services sectors. Whiz Biz supports a number of clients in developing their strategies or in commercialising their offerings, As the MD, he is responsible for business development activities, growing networks and providing advisory and marketing services to clients.

Shaheen was previously the Acting Managing Director for the largest State-Owned bank in South Africa. Under his leadership, the bank obtained an interim banking license and acquired the contract to distribute social grants to over 12 million beneficiaries.

Francois Hannouche

Region: Middle East

Specialism: Communications services

Francois Hannouche, is International Gateway Group’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, a multi-discipline delivery vehicle for advanced information and communications services based on partnerships with the best Technology Providers operating throughout the Middle East Region; CIS Countries; North, West and East Africa.

Francois Hannouche holds dual French and Lebanese nationality and is trilingual speaking English, French and Arabic allowing him to grasp and navigate through various cultures.

Visionary, results-driven executive with a demonstrated record of success in creating marketing and Business initiatives to develop and penetrate new markets, strengthen existing market presence. Well-developed interpersonal skills with proven ability to lead, motivate, and inspire cross-functional teams to meet and surpass objectives.

A problem solver with grass roots experience and essential business savvy needed to succeed in today's dynamic, fast-paced technology-driven environment.

Member of the Who’s Who International for Entrepreneurs and Professionals and a Telecom Expertise gained throughout the last thirty-five (35) years of experience with international exposure to multinational contract negotiations, senior technical, financial consultancy, merger and acquisitions consultancy.

Khawar Naeem

Region: Pakistan

Specialism: Fintech, services and content

Khawar is a former Telecom engineer turned successful consumer tech and interactive entertainment business builder. He has multi-faceted experience spanning live video streaming, games, telecoms, and software tech across multiple markets and roles ranging from product management, to corporate strategy. Currently Khawar is working with Startups in the field of Gaming, Social and Data in Pakistan. Khawar competed and represented Pakistan in 5G App competition held last year in Amsterdam under VEON, presenting his Esports & Entertainment 5G platform

Nicolas Bussard

Region: Africa

Specialism: Serial Tech Entrepreneur

Dr Nicolas Bussard is a serial tech entrepreneur, speaker and inventor. He started his career as a university e-commerce and mathematics lecturer at Coventry University, England, in 1998 at the age of 21. Parallel to teaching, Nicolas obtained his Ph.D. in IT and Mathematics applied to the aircraft industry at the age of 24. Since 2003, Nicolas has been the founder and CEO/CTO of many tech business ventures. Among others, he founded Feedzilla in 2004. This project was a personal news aggregator that Nicolas transformed into the world’s leading news aggregator and news widget platform. Since 2010, Nicolas has focused his entrepreneurial efforts on the African continent. In this pursuit, he has set up some of the first and most successful digital marketing, professional social network and mobile app development companies.

Rob Fleisher

Region: Israel

Specialism: Telecoms and Technology

Based in Israel, Rob is an accomplished telecoms and technology Sales, Marketing and Business Development Executive. After starting his career at Comverse, Rob was based in Australia for many years and worked for the likes of an MVNO as well as various telecoms equipment vendors and was Head of Innovation for the European Innovation Alliance. Rob is equally happy working for start ups and large corporates and adept at developing business models, sakes and relationships around the world.