Azercell Telecom Joint Venture, a leading mobile operator in Azerbaijan, was awarded the Ugur Prize in two categories. Azercell General Manager, A. Halim Ates was awarded the prize in the category of Top Manager of the Year'. Furthermore, SimSim was announced as the most popular trade mark in Azerbaijan and won National Brand of the Year', Trend reports.
The Ugur national prize, founded by Consulting & Business magazine, is awarded to companies and people distinguished in business and economy.
Under the leadership of its new General Manager, A. Halim Ates, who arrived in Baku at the beginning of last year, Azercell has implemented many successful projects in 2006. Installation of 1,000 base radio stations, signing of roaming agreements with 300 operators from 135 countries and putting into operation the Simurq service, the only one of its kind in the Commonwealth of Independent States, are just some of the achievements of Azercell Telecom during the short period of management by A. Halim Ates.
In 1996-1997 Halim Ates worked for Akbank as a Human Resources Specialist. From 1997 to 1998 he took the role of human resources manager at Esbank, from 1998 to 2002 at Turkcell and from 2002 to 2004 at Fintur Holding BU. From 2004 to 2006 Moldova's Moldcell company climbed to its peak under his leadership.
The SimSim service, which was put into operation in 1998, is very popular in Azerbaijan. At present the number of SimSim subscribers exceeds 2.2 mln.