BRUSSELS – Antonio Robalo de Almeida, Inspector General, Portugal Telecom, is the new Chairman of the Executive Board of ETNO for 2010. Mr Robalo, who has been member of ETNO’s Executive Board since 2007, succeeds to Alfredo Acebal, Director EU and Regulatory Affairs, Telefonica, who served in this position since May 2005. 

“I am delighted to take over this important role in ETNO at a key time for the sector marked by the transition to a new Commission and a new digital agenda for the five years to come. I am looking forward to further strengthen ETNO’s position as a key interlocutor on the telecoms scene and a constructive contributor to the Information Society debate in Europe and beyond”, said Antonio Robalo de Almeida, 2010 ETNO Executive Board Chairman.

Antonio Robalo de Almeida occupied several senior functions in economic and regulatory affairs at Portugal Telecom since 1998. In his current position, Mr Robalo de Almeida is a strategic adviser to Portugal Telecom Chief Executive Officer, Mr Zeinal Bava, and represents the Portuguese operator before national and international institutions. Prior to joining Portugal Telecom, Mr Robalo de Almeida worked among others for SONAE, the largest Portuguese industrial group, and the Portuguese PTT. He has also been a member of the Board of ANACOM, the Portuguese Communications Authority. 

Graduated in Economics from Lisbon Technical University, Antonio Robalo de Almeida is a Portuguese National and also fluent in English, French and Spanish.  

For more information, please contact: Thierry Dieu, ETNO Communications Manager Tel:    (32-2) 219 32 42 Fax:  (32-2) 219 64 12 E-mail: dieu@etno.be

ETNO’s 41 member companies from 35 European countries represent a significant part of total ICT activity in Europe. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than ?250 billion and employ over one million people across Europe. ETNO companies are the main drivers of broadband and are committed to its continual growth in Europe.