Mr. A. Reza Jafari is the Chairman and CEO of e-Development International. Based in Washington, DC, USA, e-Development International is an executive advisory group that promotes, facilitates and participates in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives worldwide.
Mr. Jafari has spent 35 years in the IT services, competitive telecoms, media and entertainment and education industries. His portfolio of business relationships and interests include advising established and start up companies and organizations in, mobile payment, mobile value added services, mobile tower outsourcing and infrastructure sharing, online and mobile entertainment, IT services and IP communications. He currently serves as the Non-Executive Director on the Board of several companies (Private and Public).
On the industry association front, currently Mr. Jafari is the Chairman of the Board of ITU TELECOM; a board member of GSMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of GSM Association; a member of the Board of the India, China and America Institute (ICAI); and a member of the Dean’s Council, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.
Mr. Jafari served as the Chairman and Managing Director of NeuStar International from March 2005 to January 2008. He joined NeuStar, Inc. prior to their IPO and established the company’s international business. He was responsible for overseeing service delivery to NeuStar’s international customers, maintaining and growing existing relationships, and developing new business opportunities for the company. He initiated and was a leading team member for the $139 million acquisition of Followap in the mobile messaging and IP services space. He expanded the business of NeuStar to Europe, Asia and Latin America. Under his leadership NeuStar International contributed to more than 10% of Neustar’s total 2007 revenue. As a member of NeuStar’s Senior Executive Team, Mr. Jafari contributed to 12 consecutive quarters of over 25% growth.
From August 2002 until March 2005, Mr. Jafari was Chairman and CEO of The Omega Partners, an executive advisory group based in Atlanta, GA, USA. The Omega Partners provided expertise and advice in areas such as business performance improvement, turnaround and restructuring, human capital management, mergers and acquisitions, executive coaching, and partnerships and alliances to clients in the telecommunications, information technology and high-tech, broadband, media, private equity and education industries. During this time period he also served as a Board member of several privately held companies.
From January 1990 to July 2002, Mr. Jafari held various senior executive positions at Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS), a global information technology services company that was acquired by HP in 2008, including Group President of EDS’s Global Communications, Media and Entertainment Industry Group; Managing Director of the Communications and Media Industry Group for Europe, Middle East and Africa; Managing Principal of the Consulting Division; VP of Business Development; and President of EDS’ Business Television Networks for the Communications Industry Group. As the Group President of EDS’s Global Communications, Media and Entertainment Industry Group he was responsible for directing EDS’ business and managing its relationship with senior executives in the Telecommunications, Wireless, Media, Broadband, High Tech, Entertainment and New Media industries throughout the world. He doubled the revenue of this Division from $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion in three years and established EDS as a global industry leader in the market. Mr. Jafari was a member of the Senior Leaders Operations Team (SLOT) of EDS. As a member of SLOT, he had an active role in $1 billion annual cost cutting and performance improvement of EDS from 1999-2002, and the creation of the Service Excellence Dashboard. He was the executive in charge of developing EDS’ Mobility Strategy. He also managed and led the acquisitions of Digital Audio and Radio Broadcasting Company in the Netherlands, EDS’ Digital Studios in California, and a Data Clearinghouse service in Brazil.
Mr. Jafari’s career also includes seven years as the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Satellite Conference Network and Bankers-TV Network in New York City. He founded this company in Chicago in 1981 under the name of META Group. In 1983 he sold it to the Primerica Corporation (currently the Citi Group), changed its name to SCN and continued as its President and CEO. He transformed his $500 initial investment into a company with $65 million annual revenue. Under his leadership, the company became a leader in creating, developing, producing and narrow-casting video-based interactive educational programs and industry news/information to the Banking, Public Accounting and Healthcare industries in the US via satellite. He bought back the company in 1989 and sold it to EDS in 1990.
While at Indiana University for his advanced studies, Mr. Jafari was the Associate Dean of Learning Resources and Director of Faculty Development Programs for the entire Indiana University system with about 4000 faculty and 80,000 students. (1979-1982).
Mr. Jafari spent 10 years (1969-1979) with the National Iranian Radio and Television (NIRT), where he held a variety of management and executive positions in programming, production, advertising and administration. He was a member of the senior management team who made NIRT the largest broadcasting and media company in Asia next to Japan’s NHK.
Mr. Jafari made NeuStar a founding member of Global Growth Companies of The World Economic Forum. He served a member of the Judging Panel of the GSM Association’s International Awards for 2004, 2005 and 2008. He is the winner of several Gold and Silver awards from the International Teleconferencing Association, American Society of Association Executives, the Council for Advancement of Schools and Education, and American Society for Training and Development. Mr. Jafari is a frequent speaker at Industry Forums and Conferences such as ITU Telecom World Event, GSMA, Comdex, SuperComm, ITU Telecom Asia, ITU Telecom Americas and ITU Telecom Africa, and Center for Telecommunications Management, Cable and Broadcasting Magazine and CIO Magazine. He has written several articles for the Connect World, Leaders and the ITU News magazines. Mr. Jafari received his MBA in 1976, his post graduate Specialist Degree in Education and Innovation (Ed. S) in 1980, and his ABD (PhD) in Instructional Systems Technology and International Business in 1981 from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
