Alan Gow joins the Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa team as Group CEO

Dubai, 11 April 2017

Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (VMMEA) has announced the appointment of Alan Gow as the Group CEO, to further bolster the existing management team. He will be based at the Group’s regional HQ in Dubai, UAE.

Mr. Gow comes with an extensive Virgin senior leadership profile, having been a co-founder of the original Virgin Mobile in the UK alongside Sir Richard Branson, and an architect of the company’s ground-breaking economic model as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).

Speaking from Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa’s Dubai HQ, Mr. Gow said: “I am thrilled that my Virgin Mobile journey has brought me to the UAE to lead the dynamic Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa team. The Middle East and Africa region is entering an exciting phase in its evolution, and I look forward to working with this highly talented team as we pursue a strategy of digital transformation, and drive the launch of innovative products and services that put our people and customer experience at the heart of everything we do. “

Mr. Gow brings a wealth of experience in leading the Virgin Mobile brand into new markets, having been instrumental in growing Virgin Mobile in the UK from a start-up to a $1bn company in just under four years. He was also responsible for steering the company through a series of funding rounds and a highly successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2004. This was followed in 2006 with a $1.6bn sale transaction to create the ‘Virgin Media’ group in the UK, a world leader in converged communications technologies.

He has subsequently advised on Virgin Mobile’s Latin American roll-out, and led the company’s expansion in Central & Eastern Europe as Group Chief Executive Officer.

Speaking at a recent visit to the UAE, Sir Richard Branson commented on the appointment of Mr. Gow: “Alan has been a key member of the Virgin Mobile family from the very beginning of the company and has delivered stunning results for the Group time and time again. With such an experienced and proven pair of hands at the helm I have no doubt that there will be exciting times ahead as Alan and his team lead the way in innovation and continue to shake up the telecoms industry in the region.”

Mr. Gow has over 20 years of experience in mobile telecoms in both the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and MVNO sectors, having previously worked with the network operator T-Mobile in the UK. He holds an MBA with distinction from Manchester Business School and is a member of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Mr. Gow joins as Group CEO, while Mikkel Vinter remains in post as Founder & Director for Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa.

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About Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa
Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa is part of the Virgin family group of companies. Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa is responsible for all Virgin Mobile operations in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia region, and is headquartered in Dubai, UAE.

Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa has been in the region since 2007, and operates the two consumer brands of Virgin Mobile and FRiENDi Mobile across the region. Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa has established a leading MVNO position across South Africa, Oman, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, and has strong growth ambitions with more operations in the pipeline.

Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa is proud to bring digital transformation and innovative products and services to customers, and to change the industry in every country we operate in. We make mobile better for our customers, through the help of our people and our partners. We work closely with other Virgin companies across the world to make sure we can create experiences for our customers which surprise and delight them, and which can’t be matched.

Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa believes in having the best people on the team, and the management team is made up of senior level team members from a variety of successful regional and global mobile operators, as well as from MVNOs. The company has a strong financial foundation supported by well-respected and global and regional shareholders, including Virgin Group, GIC, ePlanet Capital, Dolphin International, NTEC, and members of the senior management team.

Media Contact:
For Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa 
Kate Fox
+971 52 104 3586 
kate.fox@grayling.com

© Press Release 2017