Hatem Dowidar (born 1969) is an Egyptian business executive who serves as the Group CEO of e&, formerly known as Etisalat Group. He is known for driving e&'s transformation into a global digital and investment powerhouse with presence in over 38 countries.
Early life and education.
Dowidar was born in Cairo, Egypt. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Electronics Engineering from Cairo University, followed by a postgraduate diploma in Industrial Engineering and an MBA from the American University in Cairo.
He completed executive education programs at institutions such as the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, IMD, London Business School, and Kellogg School of Management.
Career.
Early career.
Dowidar began his career at AEG/Deutsche Aerospace in 1991 and later worked at Procter & Gamble in various marketing roles.
Vodafone Group.
He joined Vodafone Egypt in 1999 as Marketing Director and rose to CEO in 2009. He led the company to market leadership and profitability. Dowidar later held international roles, including CEO of Vodafone Malta, CEO of Partner Markets, and Regional Director for Emerging Markets.
e& Group.
Dowidar joined Etisalat in 2015 as Group COO, became CEO International in 2016, and Group CEO in 2020. Under his leadership, the company rebranded to e& in 2022, expanded globally, and diversified into fintech, AI, cybersecurity, and entertainment.
Transformation of e&.
Dowidar led e&’s repositioning from a telecom operator into a global technology brand. By 2024, e& was ranked the Most Valuable Brand Portfolio in the Middle East and Africa.
Board memberships.
Dowidar holds multiple board roles in technology and telecom sectors:
Philanthropy.
Dowidar advocates for digital inclusion and has supported governance forums such as the UN IGF, promoting responsible internet policy and access.
Personal life.
Dowidar was born into a family with media and aviation backgrounds. His father, Galal Dowidar, was editor of "Al Akhbar" newspaper and head of the Egyptian Travel Writers Association. His mother worked as head of publicity for EgyptAir.