e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar to step down after record 2025 performance

e& on recently announced that Group Chief Executive Officer Hatem Dowidar will step down at the end of March, closing a six-year chapter that reshaped the company from a regional telecom operator into a global technology and digital services player.

The board has appointed Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, currently Chief Executive Officer of e& UAE, as Group CEO effective April 1, 2026. Mahmood will assume the dual role of Group CEO and CEO of e& UAE, as the company prepares for its next phase of growth.

Dowidar’s final day in office will be March 31, 2026, the company said in a statement, adding that the transition follows a record-breaking financial year.

The leadership change comes as e& posted its strongest performance to date in 2025, reporting consolidated revenue of AED 72.9 billion and net profit of AED 14.4 billion. The group also recorded double-digit growth across revenue, profit and subscriber numbers, with its international operations and digital verticals contributing significantly to overall performance.

Under Dowidar’s leadership since 2020, e& accelerated its strategic pivot beyond traditional telecommunications. The group deepened its footprint across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, while expanding into fintech, enterprise solutions, digital infrastructure and lifestyle platforms.

In a LinkedIn post announcing his decision, Dowidar said 2025 marked a defining milestone for the company. “With 2025 marking a record year for e&, I have decided to conclude my six-year tenure as Group CEO,” he wrote.

“I am honoured to have led e& during a defining chapter, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished together.” He noted that while the financial results were historic, the broader impact was more significant. 

“What’s most critical isn’t the record performance. It’s that our technology empowers upwards of 244 million subscribers with the integrated digital and financial ecosystems they need to build better futures,” he added. 

Dowidar added that after more than a decade with the company, he and the board agreed the timing was right for a leadership transition.

Next phase under Mahmood

Mahmood, who currently leads the group’s UAE operations, will take charge at a time when e& is scaling its international portfolio and strengthening its position in high-growth markets. His appointment signals continuity in strategy, particularly as the company continues to build out its digital and technology ecosystem.

Dowidar said he would remain fully engaged through the transition period. “While this news is a big change, it’s all hands on deck for the next five weeks as we ensure a smooth handover,” he wrote, adding that he would formally bid farewell at the end of March.

The transition marks the end of a transformative era for e&, as it shifts from consolidation and expansion under Dowidar to a new chapter focused on sustaining momentum and deepening its global technology ambitions under Mahmood’s leadership.