BEIJING, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The GSMA announced that it has appointed Dr. Wang Jianzhou, former Executive Chairman of China Mobile, as a senior advisor to the GSMA. In this role, Dr. Wang will work closely with GSMA Chairman Franco Bernabe and the GSMA Board to identify new opportunities in and advance key initiatives for the mobile industry.

Dr. Wang held executive roles at China Mobile from 2004 to 2012, most recently holding the position of Executive Chairman. Prior to China Mobile, Dr. Wang spent four years at China Unicom, holding the roles of President and Chairman. Before joining China Unicom, Dr. Wang held a number of public offices, including the Director General of the Department of General Planning of the Ministry of Information Industry. A professor-level senior engineer with extensive knowledge and more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Dr. Wang is widely hailed as visionary and has been recognised globally for his accomplishments. Dr. Wang was awarded the Chairman's Award from the GSMA in 2011 and was also the recipient of the 2010 ITU World Telecommunication and Information Society Award.

"During his tenure at China Mobile, Dr. Wang led the company in the introduction of many new and innovative business models, services and technologies, as well as corporate social responsibility initiatives, growing the company into the world's largest mobile operator," said Franco Bernabe, Chairman, GSMA and Chairman and CEO, Telecom Italia Group. "Throughout his career Dr. Wang has been a valuable and influential force in mobile and he continues to be a wonderful ambassador for our industry, and for China. We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to extend our successful collaboration with Dr. Wang, not only in China but globally."

"Mobile has changed the lives of people around the world, in small and also in very profound ways," commented Dr. Wang Jianzhou. "The development of mobile and the Internet has accelerated our everyday communications and provides access to information, entertainment and life-changing services to billions of people globally. I am excited by the opportunities that our industry creates every day, and I am honoured to be working with the GSMA to promote the power of mobile."

About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators with more than 230 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo. 

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com or Mobile World Live, the online portal for the mobile communications industry, at www.mobileworldlive.com.