Mobilis continues to thrive under Chaouki Boukhazani’s leadership…sneak peek into this personality!

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS-  Chaouki Boukhazani, the current Chairman and CEO of Mobilis, has successfully navigated the complex world of modern management and telecommunications to bring the company back on track. His exceptional career and deep knowledge of the industry have enabled him to emerge victorious from this challenge, proving that knowledge, will, and patriotism work miracles.

Mr. Boukhazani’s journey began in the wilaya of Tipaza, where he excelled academically and earned his baccalaureate with honors and first place in the Exact Sciences branch at the level of the entire wilaya. He then chose to attend the National Preparatory School for Engineering Studies (ENPEI), which had just been created to receive the elite of baccalaureate holders in the field of science and technology. There, he ranked among the first on a promotion that included the best in science and mathematics, earning him the University Diploma of the 1st scientific cycle.

In 2003, Mr. Chaouki Boukhazani embarked on his academic journey at ENITA, where he chose to specialize in signal processing – a field widely regarded as one of the most challenging. In 2006, he obtained his state engineer diploma in this specialty, earning top honors for his exceptional performance.

Following this remarkable achievement, Mr. Boukhazani joined the national gendarmerie, drawn by the organization’s ambitious modernization and digitalization projects. He believed that his expertise in signal processing could make a valuable contribution to these initiatives.

Upon joining the IT department, Mr. Boukhazani’s interests shifted towards computer network administration and development. In 2009, he enrolled in the Polytechnic Military School, where he received post-graduate training in telecommunications and computer network security. Once again, he excelled, graduating as valedictorian  – a testament to his exceptional abilities and leadership potential.

Returning to the National Gendarmerie, Mr. Boukhazani spearheaded several modernization and digitalization projects, including the development of an e-training platform, an internal search engine, an internal YouTube, and the widely-used Tariki platform.

Mr. Boukhazani’s impressive academic achievements and professional accomplishments have established him as a leader in his field. His unwavering commitment to excellence and his ability to drive innovation make him a valuable asset to any organization.

A fervent advocate of Open Source

As a fervent advocate of Open Source, Mr. Boukhazani has always been a strong proponent of utilizing Open Source for the development of in-house applications, solutions, and platforms. He firmly believes that Open Source is of utmost importance for Algeria, as it provides solutions that can be acquired for symbolic amounts or even free of charge, while requiring an investment in local expertise. This approach allows for the modification of code to adapt to the country’s scientific, social, and security realities, making it a key factor in achieving digital sovereignty.

In addition to his advocacy for Open Source, Mr. Boukhazani has also focused on the security of information systems. In 2017, he obtained the ISO 27001 Provisional Lead Auditor certification, which qualifies him as an auditor of information systems security.

The whole digital chain

Mr. Boukhazani’s expertise in the digital chain is another major asset that he brings to his role as CEO of Mobilis. He has extensive experience in computer networks, systems, computer development, and the security of information systems and networks. These four pillars of digital are areas in which Mr. Boukhazani excels, making him a valuable asset to any organization.

Overall, Mr. Boukhazani’s passion for Open Source, coupled with his expertise in the digital chain and information systems security, make him a highly respected and sought-after professional in the industry. His dedication to advancing technology in Algeria and beyond is truly commendable.

Project Management trainer

Mr. Chaouki Boukhazani, a former Commander in the National Gendarmerie, has transitioned to the field of project management. He has obtained the International Certification of Professional Project Management (PMP) from the American Institute of Project Management, which has opened up numerous international opportunities for him. However, Mr. Boukhazani has chosen to focus on sharing his expertise with his fellow Algerian citizens.

With his extensive digital knowledge, Mr. Boukhazani has launched online training programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made face-to-face training impossible. While these programs were initially expensive, Mr. Boukhazani recognized that many project managers could not afford them. As a result, he decided to offer free sessions online and others at a symbolic price, making it possible for those with limited means to participate.

Thanks to these distance courses, and with the support of other trainers, Mr. Boukhazani has been able to certify twice the number of Project Managers in Algeria in 2020 than the country had been able to certify since its independence. In total, around fifty Project Managers were certified in 2020 alone.

The Mobilis Challenge

It is worth noting that Mr. Chawki Boukhazani joined the operator ‘Mobilis’ in October 2019. Upon his recruitment, he was appointed as the Director of Information Systems and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his new role. In February 2021, he was promoted to the position of Director of the Main Division of Engineering and Development, which was a critical structure responsible for handling all of the operator’s engineering activities.

On October 3, 2021, Mr. Boukhazani was appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mobilis. This marked the beginning of a new challenge for the incumbent telecom operator in Algeria. Mr. Boukhazani had to put the strategic company back on track and restore its rightful place in the market.

The challenge was met with resounding success, as Mobilis made a strong comeback in the Algerian telecommunications market. In a relatively short period of time, the company achieved many milestones under Mr. Boukhazani’s leadership.

In 2022, Mobilis experienced a double-digit jump in turnover, with an impressive 18% increase from the previous year. This brought the operator’s turnover to 144 billion dinars, which is the highest turnover the company has achieved since its inception. This places Mobilis at the forefront of the market, ahead of its competitors Djezzy and Ooredoo, who made 93.5 billion DA and 86.7 billion DA respectively.

Noting that at the 30th Algerian production fair, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune extended his congratulations to the team for their exceptional performance at the Mediterranean Games in Oran, the seamless telecom coverage of the Arab summit, and other notable achievements.

In the realm of company management, Mr. Boukhazani emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between expertise, experience, and seniority. He also stresses the significance of making difficult decisions and opting for unexpected choices, citing Albert Einstein’s famous quote: “Madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Mr. Boukhazani’s leadership and dedication have undoubtedly played a significant role in Mobilis’ success. His unwavering commitment to the company’s vision and mission has propelled Mobilis to new heights, and his strategic decisions have proven to be instrumental in the company’s growth. As Mobilis continues to thrive under his leadership, it is clear that Mr. Boukhazani is a force to be reckoned with in the telecommunications industry.

(Translated from: La Patrie News)