Abu Dhabi — Masood M. Sharif Mahmood will assume the role of Group Chief Executive Officer of e& effective April 1, ushering in a new chapter for one of the Middle East’s most valuable and globally ambitious technology groups. He succeeds Hatem Dowidar, who has led the company through a period of strategic transformation and international expansion.

Mahmood’s appointment marks a generational shift at the helm of the Abu Dhabi–headquartered powerhouse, formerly known as Etisalat, as it accelerates its evolution from a regional telecom operator into a diversified global technology and investment conglomerate.

At 48, Mahmood brings more than 25 years of experience spanning government, investments, and communications, a blend that reflects e&’s increasingly hybrid identity as both operator and strategic investor.

He began his career as part of the founding team of the Executive Office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2000, before moving into the investment sector in 2006 with Dubai Holding, focusing on financial services, real estate, and technology. His trajectory later took him to Mubadala Investment Company, where he served as Vice President of the Information and Communications Technology sector, overseeing key assets including Yahsat, du and Injazat.

Mahmood’s operational credentials were cemented at Yahsat, where he first served as Deputy CEO in 2012 before becoming CEO in 2013. During his tenure, he expanded the company’s footprint to more than 50 markets and led the acquisition and integration of Thuraya, a move that unlocked new revenue streams and strengthened Yahsat’s global satellite portfolio.

He later served as Director General of Financial and Strategic Affairs at the Department of Finance for the Government of Abu Dhabi, reinforcing his credentials at the intersection of public policy, capital allocation and long-term economic strategy.

In 2021, Mahmood joined e& UAE as Chief Executive Officer, steering the group’s domestic operations at a time when the broader organization was rebranding and repositioning itself as a technology investment group with stakes across digital infrastructure, fintech, enterprise solutions and emerging markets.

His elevation to Group CEO comes at a pivotal moment. In recent years, e& has sharpened its global ambitions, expanded its footprint across Asia, Africa and Europe, and deepened its focus on digital verticals beyond traditional connectivity. Industry analysts view Mahmood’s background, particularly his experience in asset management, M&A integration and government strategy, as aligned with the company’s next phase of disciplined international growth.

A graduate of McGill University with an MBA in Finance and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Boston University, Mahmood embodies the technocrat-investor profile increasingly common among leaders of state-backed global enterprises.

As he prepares to take the reins in April, the mandate is clear: consolidate e&’s transformation, strengthen shareholder value, and position the group at the forefront of digital innovation across emerging and developed markets alike.

For the region’s telecom and technology landscape, the leadership transition signals continuity in ambition, but also a recalibration toward sharper capital strategy and long-term global competitiveness.

With Mahmood at the helm, e& enters its next era not merely as a telecom operator, but as a technology investment platform with global intent.