Media Businessman of the Year 2009
Edward Borgerding
Chief Executive Officer - Abu Dhabi Media Company
biography
On behalf of the whole team at Abu Dhabi Media Company, I am honored to be awarded the MENA Cristal Festival 'Media Businessman of the Year' Award for 2009.
Since I moved to the region two years ago, I have been excited and energized by the opportunity we have in the media industry. We have some of the most talented, creative and energetic people in the world and we must work hard to achieve the global standards we are truly capable of. The challenge we face is a systemic one.
This is an opportunity and media in the region has the potential to leapfrog the legacy systems that exist not only here but around the world to become a global leader and innovator in media. Broadband delivery of content can revitalize our pay and subscription TV models as well as deliver a viable home video business. People meters will soon change the free TV business and bring this most dysfunctional of all our media into the 21st century. Digital cinemas and 3D movies have the chance to revolutionize the film business in the region. Mobile devices and digital platforms offer great potential for content owners and marketers alike. If we work hard and make good decisions, we can be global leaders of the next media generation.
At ADMC, we are growing fast. The challenges going forward are large but we are motivated by the potential for media businesses in the region and around the world. Leadership and risk-taking are at a premium but the right choices and world class execution can generate lucrative returns.
People are always the key and at ADMC we are lucky to have a wealth of outstanding executive talent. There has never been a better time for innovative executives to work at ADMC and to build the media businesses of the future. ADMC believes, however, that many of our challenges are common to all and we look forward to working with all of you in the coming year as we collectively drive our industry forward.
On behalf of the entire ADMC team, thank you for this honor and we wish all of you and your companies success in the years to come.
Media Businessman of the Year 2008
Osman Sultan
Chief Executive Officer - du
Osman Sultan, the CEO of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, du, has a wealth of experience having worked in telecommunications and information technology in several countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East.
The holder of a Degree in Engineering, Mr. Sultan was the Chairman of the Arab Working Group for the Private Sector in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) from 2003 to 2005. He began his professional career with the France Telecom Group in 1983, going on to receive the award for The Best Web Site-Legal Product from the American Information Association in 1996. He later received the Man of the Year award (1996) from the Professional Electronic Information Services Community in France. Mr. Sultan comes to du having completed an eight year stint at the helm of the Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (MobiNil), a company he helped set up in 1998 to operate a GSM licence in Egypt
Media Businessman of the Year 2007
Sheikh Waleed Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim
Chairman - MBC Group
Awarded the Arab Media Luminary Award in recognition of his 16 year contribution to the Arab media landscape, Sheikh Waleed Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim is one of the region’s most prominent entrepreneurs and media moguls.
Born and raised in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al Ibrahim completed his higher education in the United States and returned to the Middle East to establish ARA Productions and Television Studios; his first venture into the world of media.
Al Ibrahim’s 1991 launch of MBC as the first ever independent Arabic satellite TV station undoubtedly marks the most central turning point in Arab TV, and represents a huge personal and public milestone. MBC has since been joined by MBC 2, 3, 4 and MBC Action - stations creating a greater variety of programming with pan-Arab objectives. The success of MBC has been repeated with Al Ibrahim's launch of Al Arabiya in March 2003.
Today, MBC Group stands tall as the largest media and entertainment group in the Middle East, reaching more than 75 million Arab viewers and listeners across the world.
