Dr Ibrahim is the Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation which he established in 2006 to support good governance and exceptional leadership on the African continent.

Sudanese-born, Dr Ibrahim has a distinguished business career. In 1989 he founded Mobile Systems International (MSI), a world leading cellular consulting and software provider and in 1998, Celtel International, one of Africa’s leading mobile telephone companies which pioneered mobile services in Africa.

Dr Ibrahim is also Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited, a private equity fund focused on Africa and Chairman of TPG-Satya, a Joint African Investment Alliance.

​

Education:

The University of Alexandria, Egypt - BSc Electrical Engineering

University of Bradford, UK - MSc Mobile Communications

University of Birmingham, UK where he was a Senior Research Fellow and earned a PhD in Mobile
Communications

 

Honorary Degrees, Doctorates and Fellowships:

University of Pennsylvania

London Business School

SOAS - University of London 

Imperial College

Birmingham University

Bradford University               

De Montfort University, Leicester

Royal Academy of Engineering

Bartels Fellowship, Cornell University

Lancaster University

 

Awards

The GSM Association’s Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement (2007)

The Economist Innovation Award for Social & Economic Innovation (2007)

The FIRST International Award for Responsible Capitalism (2008)

BNP Paribas Prize for Philanthropy (2008)

Oslo Business for Peace Award (2009)

Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe (2010)

Clinton Global Citizen Award (2010)

The Millenium Excellence Award for Actions in Africa (2012)

The Africare Leadership Award (2013)

The Kiel Institute Global Economy Prize (2013)

​

The Witness ‘See it, Film it, Change it Award (2013)
The Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Leadership and Service (2014)

The Foreign Policy Association Medal (2014)

International Republic Institute (IRI) Freedom Award (2015)

Danish CSR Honor Prize (2015)

David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2012,2017)

Dr Ibrahim was made Commander of the Order of the Lion (Senegal) by President Macky Sall (February 2014)

Commandeur of the Wissam Arch by H.M. King Mohammed V1 of Morocco (July 2014)

 

Dr Ibrahim has featured in the following Influential Lists:

TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world (2008)

The New African: 2014 Most Influential Africans

Bloomberg Markets 50 Most Influential (2015)

Jeune Afrique 100 most influential Africans list (2019)

The Africa Report’s the 100 most influential Africans (2019)

 

Board, Advisory Committees and Council Memberships

American University in Cairo

B Team

21st Century Council

Council on Foreign Relations (Global Board of Advisors)

Global Commission on Business and Sustainable Development

International Crisis Group

Mandela Rhodes Foundation

Mercy Corps Global leadership Council

ONE

Open Government Partnership (International Expert Panel/Ambassadors)

Reuters (Editorial Advisory Board)

Trade out of Poverty (Advisory Board)

Honorary Chair of the World Justice Project

School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute

 

Dr Ibrahim is also a member of:

The Giving Pledge

Global Philanthropist Circle (Synergos)

UNCTAD’s panel of Eminent Persons