Grameenphone has named Yasir Azman as its new chief executive officer, effective February 1, making him the first Bangladeshi national to hold the position at the country’s leading mobile operator. Azman, currently deputy CEO, has been with Telenor since 2010 and has led one of the group’s top-performing commercial units.
His appointment comes amid an ongoing dispute with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) over unpaid dues amounting to Tk 12,579 crore following audits. Grameenphone contests the amount and has taken legal action, with the Supreme Court ordering a Tk 2,000 crore payment within three months. Meanwhile, BTRC has halted new package approvals and network equipment imports, impacting the operator and its customers.
Azman holds degrees from London Business School and INSEAD. Petter-Borre Furberg, Grameenphone board chairman, expressed confidence in Azman’s ability to continue delivering strong results.
He succeeds Michael Foley, who led Grameenphone through a significant digital transformation since 2017, overseeing record profits and subscriber growth to 76.1 million users as of November last year. Foley is relocating to Africa.
Azman affirmed his commitment to a Digital Bangladesh vision, emphasizing innovation and customer service for Grameenphone’s 75 million customers.
Following the announcement, Grameenphone’s shares closed 6.31% higher, contributing significantly to gains on the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
