User:Tala Tawil/sandbox

Moh Damush

Moh Damush is an entrepreneur recognized for his significant achievements in the international business landscape. As a visionary in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, and disruption, he has made notable contributions to the telecommunications and Information Technology sectors and to the startups’ ecosystem in Africa. His expertise in business has allowed him to establish vital partnerships with significant market players, International Banks and Private Equity firms across Africa, the US, and Europe.

Business Career

Moh spent most of his childhood in Kenya. He started at the very young age of 15 (while still in high school) a computer accessories retail shop which he branded as “Santoury Tankery” a name of his childhood imaginary character and expanded it to several shops and at a later stage to a wholesale company in his hometown, Beirut. Moh was inspired by the Lebanese entrepreneurial mindset. Moh showed an entrepreneurial spirit that set him apart from the very start. He sold his computer shop chain stores at the age of 19, moved to Dubai in 2004, and started a successful wholesale trading company for tech equipment and a service provider for IT solutions in a fast-emerging country. Due to the world economic crises in 2008, Moh faced a big challenge in sustaining the value of his businesses, but never gave up. He later found his way in the rise of the telecommunication services and tech industries establishing his startup known as Exxon Telecom as his first telecom company in 2009. This innate drive led him to immerse himself in various sectors, including medical, education, and technology. His commitment to innovation and business growth drove him to join VC funds both in Europe and Africa, a testament to his leadership skills. In 2017, Moh partnered with the business tycoons Hugues Mulliez and Nicolas Bourg to create Telecel Group where he contributed Exxon Telecom to it and rebranded it to Telecel Global Services and took over the leadership of this new organization in the aim to expand it to be one of the main disruptive players in the telecom and tech industries in Africa.

Telecel Group

Having held the position of Group CEO for Telecel for the last five years, Moh continues to be instrumental in guiding the company's expansion through acquisitions across Africa. Under his leadership, Telecel Group has made several key acquisitions and lately acquired Vodafone Ghana, marking a significant step in its ongoing expansion. His strategic leadership has enabled the group to venture into promising countries, as well as merge with or acquire new businesses. As a leader, he has championed board and M&A effectiveness, and under his stewardship, the Telecel team has reached unprecedented levels of efficiency and professionalism. This has set the stage for Telecel's various entities, including Telecel Mobile, Telecel Global Services, and Telecel Play, to excel in their respective domains.

The Foundation of ASIP

Central to Moh's vision and dedication is being the founder of the Africa Startup Initiative Program (“ASIP”). This initiative is more than just a series of incubator and accelerator programs and startup sponsorship endeavors across the African continent, it stands as evidence to Moh's deep-rooted belief in the potential of Africa's young entrepreneurs and to give them confidence to dream big, and tools to scale their ventures. Through ASIP, the startups receive access to resources they need with ASIP corporate partners such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and many more.

His commitment to ASIP is a clear reflection of his eagerness and passion to elevate the next generation of African innovators and business leaders.