Passionate Photographer
Khalid Hamed Al Kharousi, Branding and Marketing Communication Manager for Oman Mobile Telecommunications LLC talks about his profession and passion to OER

After finishing his secondary education from Muscat, Khalid Hamed Al Kharousi enrolled himself in Sultan Qaboos University, majoring in Physics and Computer Programming. He joined the Physics department as a technician after graduation. Khalid was encouraged to promote research initiated by the SQU. To hone his marketing skills, Khalid pursued a course on marketing as well. “After three years, at the end of 2000, the management asked me to move into the administration side and made me the Director of Administration and Finance.”

Khalid also brought out an in-house newsletter. Seeing the interest he showed in bringing out the newsletter, the President of the University gave him an additional offer of being a Director of PR and Information for the whole university. Khalid accepted the challenge and took up the job. Side by side he also did a PR and Media course to upgrade his skills further.

Moving on
It was not long before Oman Mobile Telecommunications Company gave him an offer of Branding & Market Communication Manager. When he moved in, the managing director asked Khalid to take care of his office as well, along with the demanding marketing job. In 2004, he was handling two positions: Office Manager of the Managing Director’s office and Branding & Market Communication Manager. It was only later that he was asked to focus on marketing, given its strategic importance for the company.

A voracious reader, Khalid reads whatever books he can lay his hands on. The subjects may range from public relations and photography to communications and marketing. The exposure gave him added impetus and confidence in building up contacts. Today, around 17 people work under him in three sections: Sales Promotion, PR and Event Management.

Exciting images
But, wait, there’s more to Khalid’s personality. He is a passionate photographer. He bought his first camera in 1990 and six years later he bought a professional camera. Khalid has travelled all parts of the Sultanate and photographed breathtaking and panoramic images. He has already scanned his entire collection of 18,000 images and archived it, hoping that one day he will be able to hold an exhibition. Khalid is fond of shooting landscapes. He has in fact brought out a calendar titled: ‘Discovery of Oman’. His first calendar was released in 2000. Khalid brought out calendars continuously till 2006 except for 2001. He plans to bring out a calendar in 2008.

While talking about Oman he says, “Oman is a beautiful place with mountains and green vegetation. I have been to all governorates and have shot a collection of images. In fact some of my photographs have won laurels.”

Trekking and mountaineering are his other hobbies. About his adventurous pursuits Khalid says, “I love Africa. I have been on African Safaris several times. Tanzania is the place I love to visit again and again, especially Serengeti Safari. I have already been twice for that. First, I went with my family and then camped there with my colleagues. My wife and me tried to scale the Kilimanjaro cliff also but could only finish the first half, as she was exhausted. We came down in three hours. That was a great experience for both of us.”

– Jayashankar Menon