Mal Gurian with Roman Kikta
A Conversation with Mal Gurian on the 25th The Anniversary of the Launch of The First Commercial Cellular The U.S.
Mal Gurian is a pioneer of the wireless industry, who launched OKI Telecom in the U.S., serving as President & CEO of OKI Telecom’s Cellular Telephone Division, the world’s first manufacturer of a cellular telephone. Mal was responsible for OKI receiving the first FCC type certification for a cellular telephone. Under Mal’s leadership, OKI Telecom became the premier provider of cellular phones to the U.S. market in the early and mid 1980s and was instrumental in ushering the wireless age.
Following the divestiture of AT&T, Mal was instrumental in negotiating for OKI, the only private label contracts with all Regional Bell Operating Companies. After leaving OKI, Mal served as President of Cellcom Cellular Corporation; Chief Executive Officer and Director of Universal Cellular Corporation and also Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GlobalLink Communications, Inc.
Mal has served as a corporate and strategic advisor to major corporations like OKI, Sony, TRW, and the Communications Division of Murata. He was also an advisor to venture capital firm Genesis Campus Funds. Mal is President Emeritus of the Radio Club of America and the recipient of the club’s Sarnoff Citation, the Special Service Award and the Fred Link Mobile Award. He is also the recipient of the National Association of Business and Educational Radio’s (now PCIA) highest honor, the Chairman’s Award. He was previously on the Boards of Northeast Digital Network and RangeStar International. Mal is a 1995 recipient of the Popov Scientific Society Medal from the St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University in St. Petersburg, Russia. Mal was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in May 2003.