Thuraya on Monday announced the election of a new board of directors at its annual general meeting, or AGM. Serving a three-year term, the newly elected 2012 board of directors comprises: Mohammad Hassan Omran, chairman, etisalat; Khalid Ahmed Balkheyour, president and CEO, Arabsat; Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Munarak Saif Al Thani – Qtel; Nasser bin Obood, A/CEO – etisalat UAE; Yousuf Al Sayed, head of group Transformation Office, etisalat; Obaid Al Sharid, senior vice president, Financial Operations, etisalat; Abdulrahman Al Mubarak, Abu Dhabi Economic Council; Ahmed Mohamed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, Abu Dhabi Economic Council and Khalid bin Kalban, managing director, Dubai Investments. The companny also announced that for the first time two independent directors will join its board and they are: Michael Butler, former president and chief operating officer of Inmarsat, and Charles W. Moore, President of Lockheed Martin Global, ME and Africa. Omran, said: “We are pleased to announce Thuraya’s new board of directors, with strong representation from its majority shareholders, and global leaders in the telecommunications and investment sectors, who demonstrate their continued support and confidence.”