Elzaher also holds the position of assistant minister for ecosystem development at the communications ministry, according to a press release from ITIDA.

ITIDA is a subsidiary agency of the communications ministry that was launched in 2004 to “stimulate, orchestrate and spearhead” development of the IT industry in Egypt, according to the agency’s website.

Ahmed Elzaher has over 27 years of IT experience across the Middle East and Africa.

His last position was as vice president of IBM’s cybersecurity business for the Middle East and Africa, and before that he served as the company’s director of sales for central, east and west Africa.

Elzaher also served with IBM Egypt, including as head of sales and the head of the global technology services where he oversaw the delivery of IT infrastructure.

He was also the chief commercial officer at the Abu Dhabi-based Digital14, the official cybersecurity provider for Expo 2020 Dubai.

Ahmed holds a BSc in electrical engineering, communications and electronics from Egypt’s Ain Shams University.