Ghazi Atallah, Managing Director/Partner, neXgen Group
Ghazi Atallah is the MD of neXgen, a company focused on helping Telecom and real estate developers extract business value out of next generation communications infrastructures. neXgen is filling the MENA expertise gap of advisory services that converge Business, Services and Next Generation Technology to help customer acquisition and retention. He has worked on projects with leading real estate developers to develop Smart City business models. In the Service Provider area he has advised the largest telecommunications operator in the MENA region on their Triple Play and Go-To-Market strategy, developed a Digital strategy for leading regional government and expanded the IT strategy of a government organization that has a responsibility to administer all other departments. Ghazi has successfully led the team to advise a major real estate developer on information communication technologies and also designed and integrated smart services and related technology infrastructure for a major developer in Saudi Arabia.
Ghazi has over 20 years experience in the IT and Telecommunications industry. He was the MD/VP for Cisco’s Service Provider (SP) business in the Emerging Markets theatre that covered Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as Russia and CIS countries, a $1.1B business for Cisco. He was also GM of Cisco’s MENA operations for 3 years, as well as being GM of Cisco Saudi Arabia for 2 years. Prior to that he was based in Canada and was Chief Network Architect in the network planning group with Teleglobe Canada, Canada’s International carrier.
- Ghazi received the Telecom leadership award at the 8th Arab Internet and Telecom conference in May 2006.
- He was also named among most influential ME IT leaders in Al Idari magazine’s special issue of TOP 100 ME business leaders in February 2006.
- Ghazi is a member of the Board of Advisors of SAMENA telecommunications council.
- Ghazi is a founding member and board advisor in the ME IT forum and Arab IT Council.
- He also sits on advisory boards for several Educational institutions including the UAE University IT College.
- Ghazi is also a member of the board of directors of the Young Arab Leaders in the UAE.