April 26, 2010

Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, informed the TRA staff on Friday, April 23, 2010, about his decision to resign from his position of Chairman and CEO. Dr. Shehadi submitted his resignation to the President of the Council of Ministers for personal and professional reasons and is taking an unpaid leave as of May 1st, 2010 until such time as his resignation is accepted by the Council of Ministers.

In his address to the TRA staff, Dr. Shehadi reviewed the TRA’s achievements over the last three years and emphasized the importance of establishing a best in-class regulatory framework to enable competition in telecommunications and to encourage private investments. He also expressed his satisfaction with the success in building an independent regulatory authority, staffed with very talented professionals, and operating in a very transparent and fair manner. These achievements came despite the difficulties and the challenges faced by the TRA since its inception.

Dr. Shehadi clarified that, as per the regulations, he has submitted his resignation to the President of the Council of Minister, H.E. Mr Saad Hariri. He also reminded them that the governance and smooth functioning of the TRA is ensured inTelecom Law 431/2002 (a Art 8) which provides that, in the absence of the chairman, the oldest member of the board, in this case Dr. Imad Hoballah, assumes the role of TRA interim chairman until a new chairman is appointed by the Council of Ministers.

Mrs. Mahassen Ajam, Board Member and Head of the Information and Consumer Affairs Unit, thanked the Chairman on behalf of the TRA Board and the staff for his tremendous contributions to the TRA, a contribution which has benefited each and every colleague, and which has allowed the TRA to establish a clear vision and a detailed action plan for developing the telecommunications industry and for achieving better services at lower prices for Lebanese citizens in the shortest possible time.

Mrs. Ajam also praised Dr. Shehadi’s commitment to devote his knowledge and his regulatory experience and to put them at the disposal of his colleagues. Dr. Shehadi inspired his colleagues to live up to the TRA’s mission, no matter how difficult the conditions, and to strive to improve the telecommunications industry in Lebanon.

Dr. Shehadi concluded the meeting by reaffirming his full confidence in the Board members’ ability to continue the TRA’s work and mission and the staff’s commitment to the highest professional standards of fairness, equal treatment, transparency and objectivity. Dr. Imad Hoballah and Eng. Patrick Eid, board members, wished Dr. Shehadi the best in his next steps on behalf of their colleagues and of the Board.