Telecom Egypt has announced changes to its board of directors, with Lobna Helal appointed as the new chair of the board.

 She succeeds Dr. Magdy Osman, who held the position for nine years, from 2016.

Helal, who has been an independent board member since March 2019, is the first woman to chair Egypt Telecom’s board.

Lobna Helal was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the American University in Cairo and began her career in the banking sector, where she worked with various investment banks and financial institutions. She held numerous positions, gaining significant experience in the field.

In 2011, Helal became the first woman to be appointed to the Central Bank’s board of directors.

 She left this role in 2013 to manage the Egyptian Mortgage Refinance Company, where she worked until being appointed Deputy Governor of the Central Bank in November 2015.

In 2016, Lobna Helal ranked second on Forbes’ list of the 100 most powerful women in the Middle East.