Saad Mohseni

Saad Mohseni
Born	London, United Kingdom
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businessman
Known for	Chairman and CEO of MOBY Group

Saad Mohseni (سعد محسنی in Dari) is a prominent Afghan Australian entrepreneur and businessman. He serves as the chairman and CEO of MOBY Group, which was established in Afghanistan in 2002 and has since expanded its operations throughout South and Central Asia as well as the Middle East. Over more than twenty years, Mohseni has played a pivotal role in delivering premier news and media content to developing markets. Prior to founding MOBY Group, he held leadership roles in equities and corporate finance at an Australian investment bank.

Early life and family background

Mohseni was born in London, United Kingdom. His father, Yassin Mohseni, was an Afghan diplomat with a distinguished 25-year tenure serving in cities such as Kabul, Washington, London, Islamabad, and Tokyo. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Yassin resigned while stationed in Tokyo and sought asylum, leading the family to relocate to Australia in 1982. Saad has two younger brothers, Zaid and Jahid Mohseni, along with a sister named Wajma.

Mohseni began his professional journey in Australian funds management before transitioning into commodities and derivatives trading across Melbourne, Sydney, and London. Eventually, he managed a trading desk at an Australian investment bank.

Return to Afghanistan and establishment of media enterprise

Following the collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001, Mohseni returned to Afghanistan with his brothers to contribute to the country’s rebuilding efforts by founding MOBY Group with assistance from U.S. government funding. In 2003, they launched Arman FM, Afghanistan’s inaugural private radio station, pioneering the broadcast of Western and Afghan pop music after years of Taliban-imposed bans on music and independent media outlets.

In 2004, MOBY Group introduced TOLO TV, which aired international soap operas alongside popular local programs such as The Voice Afghanistan, Afghan Star, and original dramas. The group also owns TOLOnews and Lemar TV, a channel broadcasting in Pashto. By 2014, MOBY’s channels reached more than 60% of Afghan viewers. The Taliban have publicly accused Mohseni of being "an American agent."

Expansion of MOBY Group across regions

MOBY Group expanded its reach in 2009 by launching Farsi1, a satellite entertainment channel aimed at Persian-speaking audiences throughout the Middle East and West Asia. In 2012, 21st Century Fox invested as a minority shareholder to support further growth. Following The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the Mohseni family regained full ownership of MOBY Group.

In 2014, MOBY debuted LANA TV in Iraq, marking the first satellite channel to dub programming into the Iraqi dialect.

In 2019, MOBY Group introduced Darya, Afghanistan’s pioneering streaming service offering both live broadcasts and on-demand television shows and films. This platform is accessible via web browsers as well as devices including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Google TV, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store.

In response to entertainment restrictions imposed under Afghanistan’s new government, MOBY launched FAZA TV and Barbud Music in 2022. Operating from outside Afghanistan, these ventures aim to safeguard Afghan cultural heritage while ensuring access to content for audiences inside the country and within the diaspora despite local limitations on programming and advertising.

By early 2023, MOBY Group encompassed 17 enterprises operating across seven countries in South and Central Asia and the Middle East. Its portfolio spans television networks, radio stations, production companies, strategic communications firms, and digital platforms.

Reputation

Mohseni is often referred to as the "Rupert Murdoch of Afghanistan" and is recognized for maintaining a professional connection with Murdoch.