Corporate
Robi new CEO Rajeev Sethi
The board of directors of Robi Axiata Limited has made Rajeev Sethi as the company’s new CEO (chief executive officer).
Rajeev joins Robi following notable success in turning around Myanmar’s leading mobile operator, Ooredoo, as its CEO, reads an official press release issued in this regard.
Earlier, he successfully served as the CCO (chief commercial officer) of Airtel for Africa.
He will be replacing M Riyaaz Rasheed, who has been serving as Robi’s acting CEO since August 2021 where Rasheed will focus on his role as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.
Joint Acting Group CEOs of Axiata Group Berhad, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya and Vivek Sood told, “On behalf of the Axiata Group Management, we take great pleasure in welcoming Rajeev to the Robi family. With market leadership in 4G and digital innovation, Robi is now well poised for its upcoming wave of growth. At this point in Robi’s journey, we are grateful to have a widely regarded prolific growth driver like Rajeev Sethi taking on the leadership role of Robi.
“As the company prepares to celebrate its 25th year of operation, Rajeev’s leadership will certainly generate fresh momentum for Robi’s competitive strides in the Bangladesh market.”
Dr. Wijayasuriya also lauded Robi’s erstwhile Acting CEO and CFO, M. Riyaaz Rasheed’s accomplishments in delivering on business objectives despite a challenging macro-economic environment.
“He leaves in Rajeev’s hands an organization well positioned for the next wave of growth”, said Dr. Wijayasuriya.
Rajeev is an accomplished executive possessing a wealth of domestic and international experience in leading organizations in both startup and established stages with a strong track record of excelling in a dynamic and demanding environment.
On assuming the role of Robi’s CEO, Rajeev Sethi said, “I am very excited to have the privilege of working with the leading digital company of Bangladesh, Robi Axiata Limited. Over the years, it has truly evolved into a digital telco that thrives on innovation.
“The best part is that the culture of innovation is deeply entrenched in Robi which bodes well for future development. I am very confident that with the support of the team Robi, we can make significant gains in market share in the coming days.”
Rajeev has significant ICT industry experience, including executive engagements in companies such as Vodafone, HP, Hutchison Telecom and Asian Paints. Sethi received an MBA in marketing, finance and operations from the Indian Institute of Management in Lucknow.
Afsana Zarin has consistently demonstrated her strategic vision and dedication, developing and empowering women entrepreneurs through technology, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
Recently, she was recognized for her efforts at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Bangladesh Award in the Women in Innovation with Inclusion category. The award ceremony took place at Hotel Le Meridien in Dhaka on Friday, October 25, 2024.
The prestigious event was graced by notable guests, including Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Head of Anti-Corruption Reform Commission and Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, who attended as the Chief Guest. Md Mukhlesur Rahman Sarker, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, attended as the Special Guest, and Rasheda K Chowdhury, Executive Director (CEO) of CAMPE, delivered the keynote speech.
“I am humbled and thrilled to be recognized as a woman of inspiration. Being able to work for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh is a privilege. Thanks to ShopUp for allowing me to work with thousands of entrepreneurs across Bangladesh. This award inspired me even more towards this north star, and I plan to drive more inclusion through technology in Bangladesh in the coming years,” Afsana said.
Afsana extended her gratitude to the board members of JCI Bangladesh, Imran Kadir, the 2024 National President of JCI Bangladesh, Fahim Ahmed, the event director and the event organizers for selecting her for this honor.
JCI Bangladesh is a nonprofit global organisation that empowers and encourages the youth of the nation to take an active part in helping fellow entrepreneurs and professionals of their own communities to thrive and be successful.
The ceremony, which celebrated the achievements of women leaders in various fields, highlighted Afsana’s contributions to driving women’s economic empowerment through innovative programs and technology.
Her work has set an example for aspiring entrepreneurs, and her commitment to fostering inclusion through technology and creating opportunities for women continues to inspire many in Bangladesh.
Correspondent To witness the deep and diverse historical culture and the latest achievements of high-quality development, the seven-day “International Insights into China” event was held with the theme of “Towards Openness and Integration of the New Era”. The event was held in various cities in China’s autonomous region of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi Province between October 13 and 19. Media reporters and international students from different countries, including Bangladesh, participated in it.
This event is guided by the Cyberspace Administration of China’s Network Communication Bureau and jointly co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Cyberspace Administration of Shanxi Province, and China Daily Newspaper.
During the event, the delegation members visited the Inner Mongolia Museum, Yili Modern Smart Health Valley, Mengcao Seed Industry Center, Grassland Cloud Valley, Huawei Cloud Service Data Center, Qisumu Railway International Logistics Park, Huayan Temple, Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. They have immersed themselves in the profound and diverse historical and cultural charm of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi, and witnessed the latest achievements of high-quality development. During the activities, the delegation members used their unique “outside eyes” perspective, lenses, and pens to show the world the beautiful picture of cultural inheritance and innovative development in Inner Mongolia and Shanxi and tell the extraordinary story of the local practice of Chinese-style modernization.
The journey began on 13 Oct, and on Oct 14, they explored the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, where the city’s grassland culture and historical heritage. From Oct 15 to 16, the delegation visited Inner Mongolia’s Ulaanqab City, also known as the “Prairie Technology Valley”, where the Huawei Cloud Data Center, a core area of Inner Mongolia’s big data industry, left a lasting impression on the delegation. The second half of their journey was devoted to Shanxi province. From Oct 16 to 19, they visited iconic tourist sites, such as the Huayan Temple, Nine-Dragon Wall, Hanging Temple, Yungang Grottoes in Datong City, and the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda in Shuozhou City.
Bayasgalan Lkhagvadulam from Mongolia, after climbing the Hanging Temple, said it is marvelling. It’s hard to imagine how people built this temple on the cliff 1,500 years ago. It’s awe-inspiring. If you are interested in ancient architecture, I highly recommend visiting Shanxi to see it yourself.
A group of 20 foreign media journalists, experts, and international students from different countries and regions, including Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, participated in this event.
The bdapps community gathered for a momentous occasion at the “bdapps Connect: Engage & Innovate 2024 – Top Developers Meet & Greet,” held at the Robi Axiata Ltd. Head Office. The event united leading developers from the bdapps ecosystem for a day brimming with insightful discussions, interactive activities, and valuable networking opportunities.
The event was graced by prominent leaders from Robi Axiata Ltd., including Shihab Ahmad, Chief Commercial Officer; Shafiq Shamsur Razzaq, General Manager – Digital VAS & New Business; and Fatema Nashrah, Manager. Md. Altamis Nabil, Business & Engagement Lead at bdapps, along with key members of the bdapps admin team, were also present to engage with the developer community.
Adding star power to the gathering, renowned content creator and entrepreneur Rafayat Rakib, Founder of Digital Dropouts and Official Trainer & Mentor at Fiverr, attended as a special guest. He enthralled the audience by sharing his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, offering valuable industry insights, and motivating developers to expand their entrepreneurial horizons.
A key highlight of the event was the engaging activities, where the top developers were divided into teams to participate in interactive games and brainstorming sessions. The teams competed in an “App Idea Generation Competition,” where they showcased their creativity by pitching innovative app ideas aimed at solving real-world problems. The competition encouraged teamwork and highlighted the developers’ ingenuity. The best-performing team and standout individuals were recognized with exclusive prizes from bdapps, making the event a memorable experience for all participants.
The program concluded on a high note with an inspiring speech by Shihab Ahmad, who praised the developers for their pivotal role in transforming bdapps into a thriving hub of innovation. He acknowledged their contributions and encouraged them to continue driving forward. Additionally, Shafiq Shamsur Razzaq emphasized the importance of collaboration and ongoing learning to foster a future-ready digital community.
“bdapps Connect: Engage & Innovate 2024” successfully celebrated the achievements of the developer community while motivating them to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the digital space.
bdapps, a local app store and API hub, enables content providers and application developers to monetize their apps. With more than 50,000 developers working on the platform, bdapps is a flourishing ecosystem that continues to drive digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
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