Qualcomm has appointed longtime executive Wassim Chourbaji as Senior Vice President and President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), placing him at the helm of the semiconductor giant’s regional strategy as the company looks to strengthen its presence across key technology markets.
The appointment is effective immediately and marks a significant leadership transition for Qualcomm’s EMEA operations. In his new role, Chourbaji will be responsible for executing Qualcomm’s strategy across Europe, the Middle East and Africa while advancing the company’s broader business priorities throughout the region.
The leadership change also comes as Qualcomm continues to expand its footprint beyond traditional mobile chipsets, with growing opportunities across automotive, edge computing, artificial intelligence, connectivity and other technology segments.
Two Decades of Qualcomm Experience
Chourbaji brings more than 20 years of experience at Qualcomm to the position, giving him extensive knowledge of the company, its technology ecosystem and the regulatory environments shaping the EMEA region.
Over the course of his career, he has held several senior positions spanning government affairs, public policy and regional leadership. His previous roles include Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy for EMEA, Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy for Europe and MENA, and Senior Director of Government Affairs for EMEA.
Most recently, Chourbaji served as President of Qualcomm’s Middle East and Africa (MEA) business while also leading the company’s government affairs organization across EMEA.
That combination of commercial leadership and government-relations experience is expected to play an important role in his new position. Qualcomm operates across markets where technology policy, digital infrastructure, connectivity standards and government partnerships can have a direct impact on business growth.
By bringing Chourbaji into the top EMEA leadership role, Qualcomm is effectively placing a veteran executive with deep regional relationships and institutional knowledge in charge of its next phase of development.
A Leadership Transition at a Critical Time
Chourbaji succeeds Enrico Salvatori, who is preparing to retire from Qualcomm in June 2027 after 25 years with the company.
Salvatori will not step away from the business immediately. Effective now, he will become Chairman and continue leading Qualcomm’s EMEA automotive business until his retirement.
The transition provides Qualcomm with continuity while allowing Salvatori to remain focused on one of the company’s increasingly important growth areas.
Automotive has become a major strategic opportunity for Qualcomm as vehicles evolve into increasingly connected, software-defined platforms. Qualcomm’s technologies are being used across areas such as digital cockpits, vehicle connectivity and advanced automotive computing.
Salvatori’s continued leadership of the EMEA automotive business therefore gives Qualcomm an experienced hand overseeing an important part of its regional strategy during the transition.
Qualcomm Reaffirms Commitment to EMEA
Commenting on the appointment, Qualcomm CFO and COO Akash Palkhiwala emphasized the strategic importance of the EMEA region and the company’s intention to continue investing in its long-term growth.
“EMEA is an important region for Qualcomm, and we remain committed to investing in its long-term growth and success,” Palkhiwala said.
He highlighted Chourbaji’s leadership experience, strategic vision and ability to develop strong relationships across industry and government as qualities that will remain instrumental to Qualcomm’s success.
Palkhiwala also recognized Salvatori’s quarter-century contribution to the company, crediting him with building a strong regional organization, expanding Qualcomm’s presence across important industries and developing long-standing relationships with customers, partners and governments.
Why the EMEA Role Matters for Qualcomm
The EMEA market represents a diverse technology landscape, spanning mature European economies, rapidly developing Middle Eastern technology hubs and emerging African markets.
For Qualcomm, the region presents opportunities across several technology categories. The company’s business increasingly extends across connected devices, automotive platforms, industrial applications, edge computing and artificial intelligence, making regional partnerships and ecosystem development increasingly important.
Europe is also playing a significant role in shaping global technology regulation and standards. Meanwhile, countries across the Middle East are investing heavily in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure and advanced connectivity. African markets, meanwhile, continue to present opportunities linked to mobile connectivity and expanding digital ecosystems.
Chourbaji’s background in both government affairs and regional business leadership could therefore be particularly relevant as Qualcomm navigates this increasingly complex environment.
His experience working with policymakers and industry stakeholders across EMEA gives him an understanding of both the commercial opportunities and regulatory considerations influencing the region’s technology sector.
From Government Affairs to Regional Leadership
Chourbaji’s career trajectory at Qualcomm reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of technology, policy and business strategy.
His earlier positions focused heavily on government affairs and public policy, areas that require close engagement with policymakers, regulators and industry organizations. Over time, his responsibilities expanded into broader regional leadership, culminating in his role as President of Qualcomm MEA.
That progression positions him to bring a wide-ranging perspective to the EMEA presidency.
Rather than entering the role as an outside executive, Chourbaji takes charge with more than two decades of experience inside Qualcomm. His familiarity with the company’s operations, technology portfolio and regional relationships could help support a relatively seamless leadership transition.
What Comes Next for Qualcomm EMEA
Under Chourbaji’s leadership, Qualcomm is expected to continue pursuing opportunities across its expanding technology portfolio while strengthening relationships with customers, partners and governments throughout the region.
The appointment also signals the importance Qualcomm places on experienced regional leadership as the technology industry moves into a period shaped by artificial intelligence, connected computing, automotive innovation and increasingly sophisticated digital infrastructure.
With Salvatori continuing to oversee the EMEA automotive business until his retirement, Qualcomm will have an opportunity to combine leadership continuity with a broader regional strategy under Chourbaji.
For Chourbaji, the appointment represents the next chapter of a more than two-decade journey with Qualcomm. For the company, it puts a seasoned executive with extensive EMEA experience in charge of a region that is becoming increasingly important to its long-term growth ambitions.
As Qualcomm continues to diversify its technology business, the EMEA presidency will be central to turning those opportunities into sustainable regional growth and deeper industry partnerships.
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