Ooredoo Maldives Plc has appointed Shadi Qawasmi as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 February 2026, marking a leadership transition at one of the Maldives’ most strategically significant telecommunications companies.
The appointment brings to the helm a senior executive with more than a decade of experience spanning telecommunications, commercial strategy, and brand leadership. Qawasmi joined the Ooredoo Group in 2015 and has since held several senior roles at Ooredoo Palestine, including Chief Commercial Officer, Sales Director, and Head of Brand and Communications. During his tenure, he played a key role in driving market expansion, leading technology rollouts, and steering organizational transformation initiatives.
Before entering the telecom sector, Qawasmi built experience in management consulting, business development, and integrated marketing communications, advising organizations on growth strategies and digital transformation. He holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Management from EDHEC Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications from Brigham Young University.
Ooredoo Maldives also paid tribute to the outgoing Managing Director and CEO, Khalid Hassan M A Al-Hamadi, acknowledging his leadership and contributions during a period of rapid technological expansion. Under his stewardship, the company launched pioneering digital platforms, including the AI-powered care assistant Evee, strengthened partnerships with global technology and payments leaders, and achieved full nationwide 4G+ coverage while expanding 5G services to reach 80 percent of the population.
His tenure also saw the deployment of the PEACE submarine cable, the establishment of the Tier-3-ready Ooredoo Maldives Data Centre, and the connection of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi through a dedicated subsea cable. Beyond infrastructure, the company recorded milestones such as a Guinness World Record for the largest underwater panel discussion, the inauguration of its new headquarters in Hulhumalé, and wide-reaching corporate social responsibility initiatives supporting healthcare and air ambulance services across the country.
Welcoming the new chief executive, Ooredoo Maldives expressed confidence that Qawasmi’s leadership will guide the company into its next phase of growth, with a continued focus on digitalisation, innovation, and community impact.
Ooredoo Maldives remains one of the country’s largest listed companies, reporting revenues of MVR 2.216 billion and a profit after tax of MVR 727 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2025, underscoring its central role in the Maldives’ digital economy.
