Why ROCCO IOO
Why ROCCO 100
Roaming and Interconnect wasn’t built in a day. It’s existed over 30 years and for the first time we would like to recognise the people who have made our industry what it is today, the 100 most influential people in Roaming and Interconnect.
What’s really special about this community is the many outstanding people. Some who have been on astonishing journeys in their careers, moving around the industry but always staying part of it. We have a rich culture of people helping and supporting each other and making a difference. People whose ideas and actions have made a significant contribution to the industry.
We all have people who teach us, some we know intimately, others who speak to us in conferences or whose wisdom appears only on our device screens. Many of them we admire for their commitment and for inspiring us, but we don’t always have an opportunity to share this feedback.
ROCCO 100 is a time to pay tribute
We want to generate a culture of appreciation by recognising people known and unknown who have played a part in shaping it. The ones in spotlight at conferences and the ones who quietly make a difference from their cubicle or corner desk. From Andorra to Zimbabwe there’s people in every organisation, male or female, young or old, who often get forgotten under the pressure of our day to day work.
We are therefore building a community of leaders, who will be at the forefront of sharing ideas, who will challenge each other and from whom we can all learn. When you can connect exceptional people, who knows what exceptional things our industry can produce.
The History of ROCCO 100
2019 marked the start of ROCCO 100, but the idea was on our minds for a few years already.
In 2017 a number of significant voices were crying out for more equality in telecoms. Panel sessions filled with white men, seemed to be more and more common and to a great degree the unconscious bias and traditions of our industry were not enabling women to be recognised or visible as men. The people who use the products and services we make are diverse, so it only made sense that the people who designed them so also bring diverse opinions on how they should be made. This is when we had the idea to create a survey were the most influential women in telecoms could become more visible. However, on sharing the ideas it became clear women didn’t want to be treated differently to men on any level. What we really needed was inclusion.
Some years ago the team at ROCCO also recognised that many significant people in our industry were not active on social media, they had other platforms and what they were saying and sharing was often lost, much of which was great wisdom and learnings about our industry we felt needed to be more remembered and made more visible. ROCCO Radio’s “Well Connected”, “Big Interviews” and “Mastermind” podcasts started the journey to bring visibility to people in a small way but there was still some way to go.
In April 2019 the team at ROCCO decided that as well as the other industry wide initiatives we were doing such as “The Innovators”, there was also need to uncover who were the people behind the best companies in our industry and what were they doing.
We knew that great companies usually had great leaders, but leaders weren’t always the ones at the top or in the spotlight. We knew by identifying the progress of individuals in the industry, we could also spot their progress and encourage learning, mentorship and inspire a new generation of people to be part of our roaming and interconnect world.
However, then came the difficult part. We didn’t want the selection of these people only to be based on the number of people who voted for them (wouldn’t everyone just vote for their boss? and would the boss ask them to do that?) it needed to have more integrity.
There needed to be reasons why the people were selected and our methodology needed as with all our projects to have integrity. Different to all other 130+ research projects we have conducted, this was not about or product or service this was about people. People, with all their complexity, personality and characteristics, we would be recognising individuals which whomever they worked for had an influence on the industry.
A complex task lay ahead for the team. Months of debate ensued, calling in confidants from the industry to test theories. This was our most important research project of all time and the first time any organisation in our industry had even attempted to do this.
In October 2019 we came to our conclusions on our scope and methodology:
- The scope is Roaming and Interconnect people in any kind of company, role and at any level, anywhere in the world
- Who have done influential things in the last year.
- Who were necessarily “influencers” in the social media sense, they could be known or simple unknown to the industry.
- They would be rated based on several factors, number of votes, characteristics and examples of influential things they had done
- We would have two stages, nominations first, then voting, to ensure we had generated enough awareness of the programme and ensure inclusion.
- We decided at the analysis stage to have a panel of people who were known for identifying leadership in people, analytical and who would be able to judge what was influential and what wasn’t
- Above all we wanted to be sure we identified extra-ordinary people whomever and where ever they were and we gave them some visibility and a chance to be heard
Our methodology is documented and our dates are set and we have now started the most interesting study of our history which we believe will change the course of the industry and lead us all into a new chapter. ROCCO 100 connects the most influential people in our sector to see what our industry can do next.
Nominations are closed, now it’s time to vote!
This is the final list of nominees for ROCCO IOO 2024:
Name | Company | Role |
Adeep Maharaj | Bayobab Africa | Manager International Roaming |
Alaa Abouelmagd | Etisalat Egypt | Digital Finance & Fintech |
Alex Pereira | Infobip | Operator partnership |
Alexander Zeren | 3 Scandinavia | Manager, Operations |
Alexandros Gonidis | RDCOM | Head Of Global Sales & SMS Procurement |
Alexandros Mygdalias | iBASIS | Carrier Relations |
Ali Syed | GMS | Chief Operational Officer |
Amer Fares | WAYVZ | Head Of Sales |
Amer Siraj | GMS | Chief Revenue Officer |
Amna Mukhayer | Bayobab Africa | Senior Manager Wholesale Mobility Sales |
André Nunes | Vodafone Group | IPX Engineering & Carriers |
Andreas Mann | Vodafone Business | Principal Product Manager |
Andrés Sánchez | Identidad Technologies | CEO |
Andrew Munene Muriithi | Bayobab Africa | Wholesale Mobility Sales- Manager IOT |
Asha Mary Thomas | Etisalat | Director |
Assem Medani | Zain Sudan | Wholesale |
Astou Diallo | Mattel | Head of Roaming |
Awatif Al Mandhari | Zain Omantel International | Roaming |
Bonnie Kimmel | Cellusys | PR & Marketing Director |
Brendan Cleary | Cellusys | CEO |
Brian D'Arcy | Infobip | Director of Telecom Business Development |
Bruno De Abreu Cortezi Moura | Telefónica Global Roaming | Roaming - Commercial Manager |
Bruno Lima | Vodafone Group | IPX Engineering & Carriers |
Carlos Da Silva | PCCW Global | Product Management |
Carlos Losada | Mitto | Regional Director for Latin America |
Charles Bernard | ZARIOT | CTO |
Chris Lennartz | Cellusys | product management |
David Bishay | Nextgen | Manager of IOTRON Clearing Support |
David Mansisidor | AT&T | Intercarrier Services and Development |
David Vigar | TruSense | VP & GM |
Dawood Ghalaieny | Zariot | CEO |
Daxesh Parikh | Pinnacle Teleservices | Sr. Vice President |
Derek Moser | Comfone AG | VP Business Development, 5G Project Leader |
Ellen Velickovska | GMS | Managing Director GMS CPaaS |
Eric Nadalin | tru.id | CTO |
Fabrizio Salanitri | Horisen | CEO |
Fatih Turan | Qoolize | CEO |
Francesco Ferrero | Vodafone Group | Senior Consultant Roaming |
Fredrik N Nilsson | Télé2 AB | Head of International Roaming & Interconnect |
Gehad Hamdoun | MTN Sudan | Manager B2B partnership & GTM |
Gery Verwimp | BICS | Principal Network Architect |
Ghada Khalil | EDCH | Sales - Data Clearing House |
Gregory Gundelfinger | Telna | CEO |
Grzegorz Bartosik | Play Poland | Wholesale, Partnership Projects and MLE Sales Director |
Heba Abd Elghafaar | Rakuten | Roaming Wholesale Senior Manager |
Irfan Abubaid | HGC Global Communications | VP- Global Messaging & Digital Services |
Islam Abdel Azim | Orange Egypt | International, Roaming and Wholesale |
Janis Lietavietis | Messente | Business Developement Manager at A2P SMS Departement |
Jimmy Kassis | AT&T | Director of Global Connections |
Joanna Kuligowska | HAUD | Head of Global Market Intelligence & Managed Services |
Job Onsinyo | Safaricom | Core Network Engineer |
Jocelyne Paquete | Bayobab Africa | Roaming Business Operations |
John Sicilima | Tigo Tanzania | Chief Business Officer |
Jordi Martinez | Vodafone | Network Strategy & Engineering, IPX Manager |
Jose Manuel Rondon Rivero | Pacific Telecom Group | Procurement & Mobile Services Manager |
Juan Felipe Santos | Vox Solutions | VP of Strategic Parnership |
Khaled Sayed | Etisalat | Digital payment strategy |
Konstantinos Bitsanis | Info Telecom | Global Head of Sales Messaging |
Kyriaki Ioannidou | Primetel PLC | Senior Manager Customer & Sales |
Luc Lamoureux | Reliance Jio | Director of Roaming |
Luisa Sánchez | Identidad Technologies | VP of A2P Messaging Solutions |
Maissa Jamli | iBASIS | Roaming Product Management |
Manik Lal Das | Axiata Group | Head of Wholesale Roaming for Axiata Group |
Maria Hochreiter | CKH IOD | Senior Roaming specialist |
Maria Naumova | VEON | Senior Manager of Global Wholesale Roaming |
Mariam Shaer | SAMA Telecom | SMS & Voice, CEO |
Mario Muth | Syniverse | Global Telco, Business Development |
Mark Kellerhuis | T-Mobile | Director of IoT Roaming & Global IoT Connectivity |
Matija Ražem | Infobip | SVP Business Development |
Mattias Stillnerus | Telenor Linx | Roaming Negotiator |
Mauro Fondacaro | PCCW Global | VP Sales & Business Development |
Mehdi Triki | Roamsmart | VP Sales & Marketing |
Metin Şahin | Qoolize | Sales Director |
Michael Power | Engage Mobile | Founder & CEO |
Michelle Rachevsky Serebrenick | TIM Brazil | International Roaming & New Business Specialist |
Miguel Calvo Vervaet | Digicel Group | Group Director International Business & Wholesale |
Mihaela Ambrozie | Vodafone Roaming Services | Head of operations |
Mikael Schachne | BICS | VP Telco Market |
Mila Budylo | BSG | CCO |
Miriam Percan | Infobip | Telecom Business Director |
Miroslava Ivantsova | Intis Telecom | Account Manager at A2P SMS Departement |
Mohamed Adel | Open Valley | Head Solution Architect |
Mohamed Fawzy | stc Kuwait | Director - Roaming and Interconnection |
Mohammed Al-Rashdan | stc Kuwait | Manager - Service Assurance |
Mountasser Hachem | Monty Mobile | Founder & Chairman |
Murad Issa | Globitel | Regional Sales manager |
Nadir Patel | Omantel | General Manager Carrier & Roaming Services |
Nancy Elnaggar | Twilio | SMS Yield Management |
Nasreen Ibraheem | Zain Sudan | Carrier Relations |
Nataliya Kosyakova | LANCK Telecom | Head of Analytical Department |
Nathan Li | China Telecom Global | Deputy Director, CTG Europe |
Nermeen Sobhy | Cequens | VP Carrier Relations |
Nicholas Soo | Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison | SVP B2B Wholesale |
Nure Resulbegovic-Kurtolli | Telefónica Global Roaming | Commercial Roaming Manager |
Ori Sharon | Salt Switzerland | Wholesale Director |
Ornella Siciliano | CKH IOD | Key account manager |
Paul Johnson | Vodafone Business | Business Development |
Peter Morgan | Cellusys | Solution Engineering |
Prakash Kumta | Ooredoo Group | Director of Voice, Roaming & Messaging |
Rajdip Gupta | Route Mobile | CEO |
Rajiv Singla | Globe Teleservices | CEO - Global Messaging |
Raul García | Infobip | Operator partnerships |
Ravinder Singh | EITC - du | Senior Director Wholesale Voice, Roaming & Messaging |
Ravindra Ghulghule | KPN | Program Manager B2C |
Ricardo Martins | iBASIS | Global Messaging Sales & Business Development |
Richard Woolhouse | Communications Platforms - Messaging and Voice Infrastructure | |
Rob Koehler | Vinculum Communications Inc | Sales |
Ross Flynn | Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) | Project Manager |
Rubén Díaz | Vodafone | Voice & Roaming Services, Principal Technology Platform Manager |
Said Alli | Green Telecom | Chief Operating Officer |
Samuel Herring | Reloadly | Operations |
Samwel Waiyaki | Telkom Kenya | Telecommunication Wholesale Department |
Sandeep Kumar | GreenAds Global | CEO |
Sarah Barakat | Monty Mobile | Director - Operator Partnerships |
Sarah Keller | GMS | Chief Global Enterprise Officer |
Saurabh Manroy | KPN | Cloud and Infra Architect |
Scott Warner | S and BTS Global | Director of Emerging Services |
Shirley Dias | Zain Kuwait | Roaming |
Silvio Kutić | Infobip | CEO |
Suhail Syed | Vesper Telecom | Director |
Sunga Mkandawire | Bayobab Africa | Wholesale Mobility Sales-Partner Markets Manager |
Tamara Al Bakri | Vodafone Qatar | Interconnect and Roaming |
Tarek Zeid | Rakuten Mobile | VP of International Business |
Tarun Kalra | iGlobe | Director |
Thangaraj Durairaj | Vodafone | Voice & Roaming Services, Voice & IPX Product Owner |
Theodosis Theodosiou | Primetel PLC | CEO |
Theresa Adade | Bayobab Africa | Market Management |
Uku Tomikas | Messente | CEO |
Valeria Magoni | Kaleyra | Product Marketing |
Vitalii Chupakhin | Hansa Telecom | CEO |
Vlad Ellis | SPEEDFLOW | CEO |
Vladimir Smal | AVISO Messaging | Co-founder & CEO |
Walid Ben Chamekh | Roamsmart | CEO & Co-Founder |
Yanci Alvarado | Tigo Millicom | Regional Roaming Manager |
Yusuf Vahed | CellFind | Director of Messaging |
The ROCCO IOO Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can people from my company nominate/vote for me?: Yes
- Can I nominate/vote more than once?: Yes up to three times
- Can people outside of the industry nominate/vote for me?: No, we don’t believe they would have the perspective on the industry
- Can I see how many votes Nominees has received?: No
- Can I create my own promotional campaign?: Yes, If you want any materials (logo, etc) just contact hq@rocco.group
The nomination phase of ROCCO 100 is very simple. Anyone in the Industry can nominate anyone in the sector of Roaming and Interconnect for what they consider to be influential work within 2022-2023 (ROCCO employees including its directors are not eligible to nominate or be nominated).
Please note, that self-nominations are not considered valid.
The Nominations are now closed!
Here are the steps:
- The nominator enters the survey.
- They choose 3 characteristics from a list of 12 they consider are representative of an influential person.
- They then choose 3 people they would like to nominate.
- They provide their contact details incase ROCCO needs to check anything about the nominated people.
- The contact details will also be used to notify the nominators about when to vote.
On the 6th November 2023 the nominations close and all the nominated people will be listed here and voting will be begin.
On the 6th November 2023 until February 14th 2024 voting is open.
Voters will have seen the list of nominated people and can choose to vote for up to three people.
- They will enter the ROCCO 100 Voting survey.
- They will select a nominated person
- They will state which three characteristics represent that specific person
- They will state in a sentence why they think the nominated person is most influential from their perspective.
- They will have the opportunity to do this for three people.
Voting closes on the 14th February. Then it’s over to ROCCO to analyse the data.
The analysis stage runs between 14th February and March 4th 2024. The point of this stage is to rank the people according to the three elements of their votes which all hold equal importance in the overall ranking.
- The number of votes they have received. ROCCO will rank all the people according to the number of votes they have received.
- The Characteristics Score*. ROCCO will rank all the people according to the scores they have gained on their characteristics.
- The Panel Opinion. As part of this stage, on February 29th, we will have the Judges’ Day, where the votes will be evaluated by the ROCCO IOO judges. ROCCO will use a panel of experts who will rank the ROCCO 100 people according to the statements given by the voters as to why they are influential. The panel will not know the identity of the people who were voted for, only the statement why they were chosen.
- ROCCO will then bring these three ranking together into an overall score and final ROCCO 100 ranking.
*The Characteristics Score is calculated as follows.
- At nomination stage every nominator first states which 3 characteristics they feel best represents an influential person. ROCCO ranks the characteristics chosen by the industry by counting the number of times a nominator selected them. This is felt to be a fair way to judge what characteristics make up an influential person. ROCCO therefore does no prescribe which are the most important characteristics, the nominators choose that.
- ROCCO selects the top ten characteristics and gives them a score based on how important the industry feels they are. ROCCO does not disclose the scoring for each characteristic.
- At Voting stage, the voters choose three characteristics which they feel best represent the person they are voting for, the scores for the characteristics are calculated, creating an individual characteristic score for each and every vote.
- All the scores are added up for an individual and all ROCCO 100 are ranked according to characteristic score.
The communication of the ROCCO 100 will take place on March 4th 2024 online and through a report.
- The top twenty five people will be notified on Monday, March 4th 2024 in alphabetical order. The ranking will not be revealed.
- They will be invited to take part in interviews and a photoshoot at a location and date to be determined.
- They will be invited to speak at Genesis.
The final stage is that the ROCCO 100 top 25 will be invited to receive the ROCCO IOO awards at our Visionaries Gala on 21st May 2024.
- We have some slots in the Genesis agenda to hear from some of the ROCCO IOO.
- All Top 25 will receive an award at ROCCO’s Visionaries gala on the evening in rank order.
- On June 3rd the ROCCO IOO report will be revealed and the overall ranking of all ROCCO IOO people will be shared.
