Rob Conway was a charismatic leader who extended the scope and scale of the GSMA, the organization representing the interests of mobile operators worldwide.
He joined the GSMA in 1999 and served as Chief Executive Officer until 2011. Under his leadership, the GSMA expanded rapidly, reflecting the growth and success of the wireless industry around the globe, and the diversity and promise of mobile technology.
Rob steered the organization through the transition from its formative structure as the GSM MOU Association to an international entity governed by a CEO-level Board with a broad vision of the future of the industry. Under his guidance, the GSMA also expanded and enhanced its event portfolio, anchored by the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the largest event in the global mobile industry.
He worked closely with senior executives of member companies and other industry leaders in pursuing an agenda that encompassed strategic, technical, public policy, and commercial initiatives focused on advancing the economic and social value of mobile services. He was influential in bringing together the two global digital standards GSM and CDMA, and driving complementary development through the consensus of operators.
Under Rob’s leadership, the Emerging Market Handset initiative was undertaken to “connect the unconnected,” delivering low-cost mobile handsets to developing markets. The success of this initiative led to the creation of the GSMA Mobile for Development, which brings together mobile operators, the wider mobile ecosystem and the development community to drive commercial mobile services for underserved people in emerging markets.
After leaving the GSMA, he joined Russian mobile operator Vimpelcom, serving as its Chief of International Affairs from 2011 to 2013. Rob Conway passed away in January 2014. He was posthumously inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2014, with his son Jason Conway accepting the award.