Mark Courtney Appointed General Counsel of Thuraya

Dubai, UAE, August 19, 2014--Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator Thuraya Telecommunications,today announced the appointment of Mark Courtney as General Counsel. Courtney leads the Legal Affairs Department where he is responsible for providing counsel on corporate strategy, key contract negotiation, regulatory affairs, policies and procedures as well as legal strategy and compliance. He reports to Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya and will serve as a member of the Company’s Leadership Team.

Mark Courtney

“We’ve just completed the first phase of Thuraya’s transformation and are growing revenues faster than the industry. The next phase of transformation for us is crucial as we expand our ecosystem of partnerships, grow our product portfolio and plan for our next-generation constellation. With over 17 years of experience, Mark will be a key member of our Executive Team to drive our strategy forward. He has been part of leadership teams that have grown their international telecommunications businesses significantly. communications and technology sectors, strength in strategic negotiations, IP and commercial agreements will be critical in supporting our continued growth and transformation,” said Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya. 

Prior to Thuraya, Courtney was the Chief Legal Officer for Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa based in Dubai, where he negotiated strategic agreements with mobile operators in the region and joint ventures with investors. He was also Head of Group Legal for Carphone Warehouse Group PLC, where he facilitated the company’s acquisition and integration of AOL Broadband UK and negotiated the joint venture with AOL. Mark is a qualified English Barrister and graduated from Leeds University in the United Kingdom with a LL B from the Inns of Court School of Law in London.