NASSAU, Bahamas, Sept. 28, 2022 (BIS) – Sameer Bhatti, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis at the Office of the Prime Minister earlier this month.
Bhatti’s meeting with the nation’s chief was the first order of business for the new CEO, who officially came on board at the telecoms provider on September 20. Bhatti was accompanied by Inge Smidts, BTC’s Board Chair, and Attorney Valentine Grimes, BTC’s Deputy Chairman.
“I look forward to the direction that Bhatti takes in BTC towards improving telecommunications in The Bahamas,” said Prime Minister Davis. “Under his leadership, the Government of The Bahamas will remain a strong supporter and partner to BTC.”
Bhatti, a Bahamian national, joins the company from Comcast, where he spent the past 10 years as an executive in commercial and channel development roles. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Juniper Networks and Verizon in the United States. In his new role at BTC, Bhatti has overall responsibility for the company’s commercial operations across The Bahamas.
“BTC has always held strong ties with the Government, which is one of its major shareholders. It was very important for me as the new CEO to pay this courtesy call on the Prime Minister to find out how best we can support each other to improve the telecoms sector in The Bahamas,” Bhatti said. “Our talks were very meaningful and fruitful, and I look forward to strengthening the existing relationship that BTC has with the Government.”
Inge Smidts, BTC’s Board Chair, says Bhatti has a stellar career in the telecoms industry and will bring a wealth of experience to the BTC team.
“It was important for us to pay this courtesy call on the Prime Minister with Sameer because we wanted him to learn first-hand of some of the new plans to take BTC to the next level, and we were also open to receiving feedback from the government and how best we can lend our support,” Smidts said.
In his first week in office, Sameer met with union partners and has also held an all-team meeting with in-person attendance in New Providence and virtually for Family Island colleagues. In the coming weeks, Bhatti will visit the Family Islands.
