Robi Axiata Limited (“Robi”), announces the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as part of its ongoing efforts towards developing and promoting talents from within. Accordingly, Mr Mahtab Uddin Ahmed will be taking over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Robi, in Bangladesh replacing Mr. Supun Weerasinghe to be effective from 01 November 2016. Going forward post succession, Mr. Supun Weerasinghe will return to Dialog Axiata Plc (Dialog), Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider as the successor to the incumbent Group CEO, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya to be effective from 01 January 2017.
Mr Mahtab, currently seconded to Axiata Group for a special assignment will return to Robi’s Leadership team from 01 September 2016 in the capacity of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, 
leading up to the completion of succession as CEO by 01 November 2016. The succession announcement by Robi Axiata marks the culmination of the succession program planned and executed over the past several years centered on the Accelerated Leadership Development Program of the Axiata Group.
Prior to his secondment to the Axiata Group Bhd., Mr. Mahtab held the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Robi from April 2014 to March 2016. Mr. Mahtab joined Robi in 2010 as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the position which he held till 2014. Prior to joining Robi, Mr. Mahtab had spent 17 years of his career with Unilever where he held various business and finance leadership positions including the post of Finance Director in various operating companies like Unilever Pakistan, Unilever Arabia and Unilever Bangladesh.
Mr. Mahtab holds a Bachelor of Honours and Masters in Accounting from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is also a Fellow member (FCMA) of Institute of Cost and Management Accountant of Bangladesh (CMAB), FCMA & CGMA of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK). He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (AMP 190).
ABOUT ROBI:
Robi Axiata Limited is a joint venture between Axiata Group Berhad, of Malaysia and NTT DoCoMo Inc., of Japan. Robi is one of the leading mobile phone operators in Bangladesh with 27.6 million subscribers, as of April 2016. Robi network provides nationwide coverage to 99% of the population with 13,475 BTS and 4,271 3.5G sites. Robi proudly claims to have widest international roaming service in the market, connecting about 385 operators across more than 140 countries. It is also the first operator to introduce GPRS and 3.5G services in Bangladesh. The Company has introduced many first of its kind digital services in the country and has invested heavily in taking mobile financial services to the underserved communities in the rural and semi-urban areas.
ABOUT AXIATA
As one of the largest Asian telecommunication companies, Axiata today operates in ten countries, servicing approximately 290 million subscribers. With a diverse portfolio in mobile network operations, communications infrastructure services and digital services, the Group pieces together the best in connectivity, technology and people in its vision of Advancing Asia.
Axiata has controlling stakes in market leading mobile operators in South East Asia and South Asia. Axiata Group of companies operate under the brand name of ‘Celcom’ in Malaysia, ‘XL’ in Indonesia, ‘Dialog’ in Sri Lanka, ‘Robi’ in Bangladesh, ‘Smart’ in Cambodia and ‘Ncell’ in Nepal. Further to this, the Group also holds strategic interests in ‘Idea’ in India and ‘M1’ in Singapore.
‘edotco’, the Group’s infrastructure company, operates in six countries to deliver telecommunications infrastructure services, amassing a portfolio of over 16,000 towers and 12,000 km of fibre. It aims to be one of the top regional tower companies and is committed to responsible and sustainable business operations.
Axiata Digital (AD), its digital services arm, captures the rapid growth in internet-based businesses through its portfolio of 24 digital brands, servicing growing demands in mobile money, mobile adverting, e-commerce, entertainment and education.
As a committed and long-term investor, Axiata provides employment to 25,000 people within its operations. In line with its sustainability goals, the Group actively supports and drives young talent development; disaster response and recovery; as well as green initiatives.
