- Ismail Rasheed retired as Dhiraagu CEO and Managing Director after nearly 40 years, including 11 years leading the company.
- During his tenure, he oversaw national telecom infrastructure expansion, mobile rollout, submarine cables, and the transition to a fully digital network.
- Valdemar Ferradaz, with over 30 years of international telecom experience, will join as CEO Designate on 1 July 2026.
Ismail Rasheed has retired as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Dhiraagu after nearly 40 years of service at the company.
Rasheed concluded his tenure yesterday, marking the end of a four-decade career with Dhiraagu. The company announced his succession plan last month, with Valdemar (“Valde”) Ferradaz joining as CEO Designate on 1 July 2026.
In a LinkedIn post marking his retirement, Rasheed thanked Dhiraagu’s employees, successive Maldivian governments, parent company Beyon, the board of directors, customers and partners for their support throughout his tenure.
“As I conclude my tenure, I do so knowing that I leave behind a company that continues to lead the market, consistently delivers outstanding performance, and has made access to its services a reality for every inhabited island, every resort and every household across the Maldives,” he said.
Rasheed played a central role in Dhiraagu’s development, overseeing the expansion of the company’s national telecommunications infrastructure, the rollout of mobile services across the Maldives and the deployment of major submarine cable systems.
His tenure also saw Dhiraagu transition into a fully digital network provider, with its services expanding to all inhabited islands, resorts and households across the country.
Rasheed became Dhiraagu’s Managing Director and CEO in 2015, after spending nearly three decades in various roles at the company.
He expressed confidence in Dhiraagu’s future under Ferradaz, who brings more than 30 years of international experience in telecommunications and digital services across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
“I extend my very best wishes to our newly appointed CEO, Valdemar Ferradaz. Together with Dhiraagu’s outstanding executive team and exceptional people, I look forward to seeing Dhiraagu continue to reach new heights and build on the strong foundations we have created together,” Rasheed said.
Ferradaz has held senior leadership roles covering mobile network development, business transformation and operational turnaround across multiple international markets.
