18 February 2010

MEF elects new EMEA board

New & re-elected directors to build on momentum of EMEA regionalisation programme and drive competitive advantage for members.

Barcelona / London, 18 February 2010 – Representatives from Dolby, du, Mobile Interactive Group, Mira Networks, Sony Pictures and Telefonica were voted onto the MEF EMEA board at the general meeting held during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this week. Dozens of member companies based in more than 15 different countries gathered at the elections to cast their ballot. The new board subsequently voted to re-elect Gerrit Jan Konijnenberg, Comfone, as Chairman and BBC’s Mark Kortekaas and Qtel’s Colin Yeh as Co-Vice Chairmen.

Prior to the elections, attendees received a sneak preview of MEF’s latest Business Confidence Index, the quarterly membership survey providing a health check on the global $36bn mobile media industry. According to the results, market share in the Middle East and Africa has grown from 4-10% during 2009, largely at the expense of the Northern Hemisphere. While most regions are relatively cautious about revenue growth for 2010, the Middle East and Africa regions are predicting higher than previously expected revenue growth rates for the coming year.

Gerrit Jan Konijnenberg, MEF EMEA Chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome the new and re-elected representatives to the EMEA board who bring a wealth of insight from across the EMEA region and the mobile value chain. I look forward to us facilitating the next wave of mobile media innovation and information exchange with a particular focus on the Middle East and South Africa. I would also like to thank those stepping down from Sony Music, Telecom Italia and Turkcell for their commitment over the last two years in supporting our strategy for regional outreach.”

Andrew Bud, MEF Global Chairman, commented: “MEF EMEA has achieved some significant milestones in creating local value for MEF’s membership and supporting the creation of an open ecosystem of skilled partners. I have every confidence that MEF EMEA’s skilled board can help accelerate these achievements.”

MEF EMEA Board 2010
Chairman: Gerrit Jan Konijnenberg EVP Strategic Development, Comfone
Co-Vice Chairman: Mark Kortekaas FM Controller Audio & Mobile, BBC
Co-Vice Chairman: Colin Yeh Head of Group Product Development, Qtel Gp

Board Directors:
Jiella Esmat – Director Digital Expansion, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Barry Houlihan – CEO & Founder, Mobile Interactive Group
Jonathan Jowitt – Senior Technical Marketing Manager, Dolby
Emma Kaye – Director, Mira Networks
Javier Lorente – Global Project Manager, Telefonica
Mark Ollila – Director of Publishing, Games & Services, Nokia
Dominique Rougie – TV/Video Director, Next.com/Orange
Raghu Venkataraman – Executive VP, Chief Strategy & Investments Officer, du

Chairman Emeritus & Founder: Gerard Grech - Head of Content, Media and Games, Nokia

Editorial contacts
Kirstyn Langford
Public relations for MEF
kirstyn.langford@hotwirepr.com
+44 (0) 20 7608 4628

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