The Daily Corporate Desk
Dhaka, September 3, 2026:
Robi Axiata PLC has appointed Muhammad Abdul Hai as Head of Cirkle Marketing, Market Operations, bringing a telecom professional with more than two decades of experience across commercial strategy, marketing, business transformation, B2B and B2C businesses, financial planning and new business development into a key role at the company.
Robi announced the appointment through its official communication, describing Hai as a seasoned leader with experience in shaping commercial portfolios, growth strategies, product and pricing decisions and go-to-market initiatives across competitive telecom markets.
The appointment comes shortly after Robi’s transformation of Airtel Bangladesh into Cirkle, a youth-focused, digital-first brand designed around stronger digital capabilities, new experiences and evolving forms of connectivity for Bangladesh’s young consumers. Existing Airtel customers retain their numbers and services under the transition.
A career spanning strategy, finance and telecom
Hai brings a career spanning more than two decades, with a significant portion of his professional journey spent at Banglalink, where he worked across several strategic functions.
He joined Banglalink in 2005 as a Senior Executive in Analysis and Planning under the Marketing function. During his early years with the operator, he worked across areas including postpaid market development, market research, roaming, new business development and commercial strategy.
His career subsequently expanded into financial planning, commercial strategy and marketing operations. He held senior leadership positions including Financial Planning & Analysis Director, Commercial Strategy & Planning Director and Marketing Operations Director, before moving into commercial transformation and B2B marketing leadership.
One of the notable chapters of his career came between 2013 and 2015, when he worked at VimpelCom’s group headquarters in Amsterdam in Group Commercial Planning. The international assignment gave him exposure to commercial planning and strategy across operating markets within the wider telecom group.
He later returned to Banglalink and most recently served as B2B Marketing & New Business Director, with responsibilities covering business growth, commercial transformation and new business development. His work at Banglalink also included involvement in strategic B2B initiatives and partnerships.
From commercial strategy to Cirkle
Hai’s move to Robi comes at an important stage in the evolution of Cirkle. Robi recently repositioned Airtel as Cirkle, describing the new brand as a platform built for Bangladesh’s always-connected young generation, with greater emphasis on digital services, content, gaming and future-ready experiences.
Against this backdrop, Hai’s experience across commercial planning, financial analysis, marketing operations, transformation, B2B and new business gives him a broad perspective on both the strategic and market-facing sides of the telecom business.
His professional profile also combines engineering and business education. He completed his BSc in Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2001 and subsequently earned an MBA in Finance from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at the University of Dhaka.
With his transition to Robi, Hai is expected to bring this cross-functional and international experience to Cirkle’s marketing and market operations as the brand seeks to establish its identity in Bangladesh’s increasingly digital and youth-driven telecom market.
Robi has welcomed Hai to the organisation and expressed confidence that his experience and perspective will contribute to the company’s next phase of growth under the Cirkle brand.
Sources: Robi Axiata PLC, Banglalink, The Business Standard, LinkedIn career profiles.
