There can’t be many carrier CEOs who are likened to fathers by their staff. Saad Al Barrak, the talismanic managing director and deputy chairman of Middle East and African regional operator Zain, seems to be one of them, though. So there were some distraught Zainers out there this week as Al Barrak handed in his resignation. The move fuelled speculation on what analysts are calling a “divergence of vision” between Al Barrak as the company’s owners, Zain’s board of directors promptly accepted the notice, which will become effective on March 1.