Rizwan Afshar is a senior resource with over 14 years of diverse experience in Telecom & IT industry’s commercial management. A detailed oriented professional and an excellent and natural Manager with great people management skills. His 14 years association with Telecom market has made him mature and expert professional in functions like Business Development, Channel Business and Enterprise Solutions. His recent exposure in last 4 years with BlackBerry and smart phones product development with Operators as well vendors has been very successful. Rizwan is a senior resource in managing and operating new products and services in emerging markets and is a good project manager. A pleasant and positive personality and an expert in bridging alliances with extensive industry contacts and relations. Rizwan has worked with strong and reputed corporations including Motorola, Orascom Telecom, Etisalat, Iridium Satellite, Tyco Electronics and BlackBerry (RIM).

He has expert clarity and full knowledge of latest technologies in Telecom industry including; GSM, GMPCS, CDMA, LMR [(land mobile radio systems) P25IP, TETRA], BlackBerry, VAS, STK, SIM cards, Submarine Fiber Optic Cable Systems, DWDM technology, Smart Phones and Mobile devices. He successfully developed channels and distribution business of GSM services, devices etc with Mobile Operators like Mobilink GSM during his tenure from 1997 to 2001. Rizwan gained mature experience in Business Development while working on Iridium Satellite Service Project and Tyco Electronics product line in from 2003 to 2007 working with their partner SAIF GROUP holdings in Pakistan.  The efforts ranging from identifying, researching, analyzing and bringing to market new businesses and new products, with extensive study and working on implementation of the strategic business plan through functions including equity financing, acquisition/divestiture of technologies, products, and companies, plus the establishment of strategic partnerships where appropriate.
In 2007/2008 in UAE, He has been instrumental in developing and leading Channel and Retail Business of BlackBerry in UAE, GCC and African regions. In the area of VAS, solutions and data services while working at Cellucom Group in Dubai, Responsible for managing new business development division in VAS, Mobile Devices & Operator services for ME&A region. Responsible for building up the department including hiring of operational, call centre, CRM system, MIS and BD staff. Developed and prepared full business and project plan for a new VAS including financials, budgeting, projections and P&L dully approved by the management.  While at Etisalat in Africa in 2009, he was heading the Business Unit of Mobile Devices, data products, SIM cards & Numbering. There he was responsible for Product Development lifecycle, Roadmap development, product scoping and planning for Terminals- for Mobile & Fixed Services, Numbering, SIM and Recharge vouchers as well SIM (STK, USSD)applications. Monitor and evaluate existing partners, portfolio performance, and analyze Customer Feedback. Define contractual and service level agreements with third party vendors, and managing contracts throughout the lifecycle. Operate in conjunction with Sales Managers, Marketing Managers, and technical teams to understand market and customer needs and to ensure product suitability. Work with Marketing Communications to develop appropriate support materials and communication items necessary for a successful Portfolio launch into the market.

A people’s manager with influential and effective management skills. Having natural interpersonal and communication abilities, he has acquired a solid reputation for effective networking and bridging alliances among critical industry resources. Rizwan has a pleasant and friendly personality with very good social and industry contacts.