The GSMA has elected Franco Bernabè, Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Italia, as its new Chairman for a two-year term, from January 2011 through December 2012. As Chairman, he will help oversee the strategic direction of the GSMA, which represents nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President and CEO, Telenor Group, was elected as Deputy Chairman.
Mr. Bernabè has served as CEO of Telecom Italia since December 2007. Previously, he held a number of executive positions, including a previous mandate as CEO of Telecom Italia; Chairman and Founder of FB Group, an investment company active in the areas of financial advisory and ICT; Vice Chairman of Rothschild Europe; and CEO of ENI. He has served on the Board of several major international companies, and is currently a member of the Board of PetroChina; he is also Co-Chairman of the Italy Brasil Business Council and Vice Chairman of the Rome Industrialist and Enterprises Association with special duties for innovation and broadband. Mr. Bernabè earned a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Turin, and started his professional career in 1976 as senior economist in the Economics and Statistics Department of OCSE in Paris.
The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. 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 is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications industry.
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