Fagan is leaving his post as Chorus director of regulatory, legal & public affairs to start the three-year contract on 1 February.

Part of Fagan's remit will be to develop the telecoms regulatory structure in Qatar, which is one of the fastestgrowing economies in the world.

It is understood that the package includes an apartment in the plush Four Seasons Hotel in Doha, the country's capital, and an annual pay packet rumoured to be about 300,000.

Previously managing director of Chorus, Fagan has a track record in establishing regulatory structures.

Before holding the consumer affairs post, which he left to join Chorus, he was director of the Office of the Ombudsman. He was also involved in setting up the Consumer Credit Bureau.

Qatar has been known as the least regulated telecoms market in the Middle East, and is at the early stages of developing a regulatory structure. Fagan's office is part of a broader regulatory umbrella called ICT Qatar, the 'Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology', which was launched last year.