About

Brigitte Zammit made the move from private practice in London to an in-house role with Emirates International Telecommunications (EIT) in 2008 and has not looked back, having been with the telecoms investment arm of sovereign conglomerate Dubai Holding ever since. Indicative of the considerable esteem in which she is held by the company is the fact that Zammit progressed to the position of general counsel rapidly, achieving this professional milestone in early 2010. Her role focuses on managing the significant telecoms operations that EIT has over the years had throughout EMEA: ‘EIT being an investment company, my primary role is that of a corporate/M&A lawyer, leading and managing negotiations in acquisitions, divestments and financing/refinancing transactions across multiple jurisdictions. This has required not only a familiarisation with cross-border legislation but also strong leadership and negotiation skills’. Zammit has played a leading role in a number of major transactions carried out by EIT during her tenure. Significant among these include EIT’s sale of 30 and 60% stakes in Interoute and GO respectively, and the successful spin-off and listing of GO’s real estate business into Malta Properties Company which was the first deal of its kind in Malta. Zammit is required to keep the company abreast of legislative and regulatory developments that may affect them as a whole. ‘Making a conscious effort to keep up-to-date with the fast-evolving business that EIT operates in is also an ongoing process’, she explains, ‘and I made it a priority from the outset to put into place and ensure compliance with a more rigorous corporate governance framework’. Zammit’s strategy for operating as a senior individual within a major international company is to lead from the front and get to know the business directly by regularly visiting various offices globally, some of which are located in turbulent geopolitical regions.