Dr Mohamed Ibrahim

Dr Mo Ibrahim is a global expert in mobile communications with a distinguished academic and business career.

In 2006 he set up the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to support great African leadership. The Foundation focuses on two major new initiatives to stimulate debate around, and improve the quality of, governance in Africa. The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership recognises and celebrates excellence; and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance provides citizens, civil society, parliaments and governments with a comprehensive and quantifiable tool to assess progress.

Dr Ibrahim is also founding chairman of Satya Capital, an investment company focused on opportunities in Africa.

Sudanese by birth, Dr Ibrahim is the founder and former chairman of Celtel International, one of Africa’s most successful companies.

The company now operates in 15 African countries, covering more than a third of the continent’s population. The company has invested more than US$ 750 million in Africa, helping to bring the benefits of mobile communications to millions of people across the continent. In 2005, Celtel International was sold to MTC Kuwait for $3.4 billion, making it one of Africa’s most successful commercial ventures.

In 2007, Dr Ibrahim was awarded the GSM Association Chairman’s Award, the telecommunication industry's highest accolade, for "helping the world to hear Africa's voice".

In 2008, Dr Ibrahim was presented with the BNP Paribas Prize for Philanthropy and listed by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has also been awarded The Economist’s Innovation award for Social and Economic Innovation, and been presented with a number of honorary doctorates.