Sam Darwish is a U.S. entrepreneur active in the telecommunications industry.Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Nigerian Multi-Millionaire Tycoon Issam Darwish Raises $2.6 Billion For Telecom Towers", Forbes, 3 November 2014. Accessed 3 September 2015. He is the founder, Chairman and CEO of IHS Towers, which operates approximately 37,000 towers across Africa and Latin America, and was listed on the NYSE in October 2021.Smith, Matt. "Africa phone tower firm IHS raises $2.6 billion", Reuters, November 3, 2014. Accessed 27 July 2015.
Early life and education
Darwish was raised and educated in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.Darwish, Issam. Interviewed by Owolawi, Abisola. "Bus or Food? The First Crossroad on the Path to Being a Millionaire" [pdf], Forbes Africa, March 2014. Accessed 27 July 2015.
Business career
After leaving his executive position at MCI, he joined Libancell, now known as MTC Touch, where he helped establish the first Lebanese mobile network.Clémençot, Julien. "Issam Darwish a plus d’une tour dans son sac", Jeune Afrique, 24 September 2014. Accessed 3 September 2015. Subsequently, in 1998, he was appointed Deputy Managing Director of Motophone, Nigeria's first GSM operator.
Following the Nigerian government's 2001 plan to privatize its telecommunications industry, he set up a mobile infrastructure company, IHS Towers, which he has led since then.Rice, Xan. "IHS: Local knowledge is important in fulfilling towering ambitions", The Financial Times, 27 November 2012. Accessed 3 September 2015. The company has been identified one of the largest equity fundraisers in Africa, as well as one of the overall largest fundraisers of the past decade.Thomas, Daniel; Blas, Javier. "IHS in biggest African fund raising since crisis", Forbes, 2 November 2014. Accessed 4 September 2015."IHS CEO Issam Darwish talks towers", TMT Finance, 26 November 2015. Accessed 13 January 2016.
IHS Towers became a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2021, and regarded as the largest IPO of a firm of African heritage to list on the Exchange.
In 2016, he won the West Africa Business Leader of the Year the award for his founding and continued leadership of IHS Towers.
In October 2025, the company collaborated with Claro, Vivo and TIM, to bring connectivity to rural Ilha do Combu in Belém.
Other ventures Darwish has founded additional businesses in the US and is the founder and President of Dar Properties and Dar Telecom."Africa", Singularity Invest. Accessed 3 September 2015.
Darwish has been involved in setting up incubator programs for aspiring tech entrepreneurs in Lagos and oversees local community projects throughout the emerging markets.
In September 2015, he participated in an entrepreneur judging panel for She Leads Africa, a venture that invests in women entrepreneurs in Africa.Adebiyi, Deola. "Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Joins She Leads Africa for Live Entrepreneur Showcase", The Guardian, 21 September 2015. Accessed 14 October 2015."How two young West African women are creating Africa's next billionaires" , CNBC Africa, 9 March 2015. Accessed 14 October 2015.
Darwish is a Trustee of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation He is also a member of the Navy SEAL Legacy Foundation National Advisory Committee.
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