30 Tech leaders driving digital transformation in the Middle East

Abdelhafid Mordi is the CEO of Thales UAE as well as of Thales Emarat Technologies.

Mordi boasts over two decades of professional experience, taking on various leadership roles in the industry. He began his career as a field marketing manager with Schlumberger and joined Gemalto in 2003, which later became part of Thales.

Prior to his current roles in Thales, he was the company’s country director for Oman, Iraq, and Jordan and managing director for Thales Oman. He also served as the digital identity and security sales director at Thales Middle East and North Africa.

A graduate of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne with a degree in International Business, Mordi continues to drive innovation and strengthen Thales’ strategic contributions to the region. His leadership is centered on advancing technology, fostering local talent, and enhancing industrial development across the UAE and beyond.

H.E. Engineer Abdullah Alswaha has more than two decades of leadership experience as well as expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, he has built successful, high-performing organizations in both the private and public sectors.

H.E. was appointed Saudi Arabia’s minister of Communications and Information Technology in April 2017. Previously, he was the chief digital officer of the Kingdom at the helm of leading key digitization efforts across the public sector, including the creation of a national digital identity scheme, promoting open data and the enablement of digital entrepreneurship.

Before H.E. joined the Vision 2030 team, he served in the private sector as the CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia. He also founded Ubieva, a social entrepreneurship incubator that launched the first mobile health app in the Middle East.

H.E. also chairs the board of the Saudi Space Commission, Research, Development and Innovation Authority, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Communications and Information Technology Commission, Saudi Post, and the National Digitization Committee.

Abdul Rahman’s sterling career features over 25 years of creating and delivering technologically innovative solutions for global enterprises. As the managing director for Middle East, Türkiye and Africa at Google Cloud, he leads the development and adoption of data-driven technologies and the latest enterprise data strategies to help unlock hidden potential for customers across various industries and markets.

A respected tech executive in the Middle East, he is recognized for his outstanding and innovative leadership. Abdul Rahman is passionate about developing top talents and supporting them in becoming influential technology leaders who will drive cutting-edge breakthroughs in the industry. He has a proven track record of growing the Oracle technology business in the region and facilitating the adoption of data strategies and innovative data-driven technologies for the benefit of key customers and audiences. He is a strong advocate of leveraging the power of data and cloud computing to transform businesses.

Amel Chadli is well known as a passionate, energetic and entrepreneurial leader with strong strategic vision and operational drive. She has over 15 years of experience in energy management, services and digital transformation.

As Gulf cluster president at Schneider Electric, Chadli is leading the organization’s innovation and growth initiatives in digital transformation, sustainability, and energy management as well as industrial automation with artificial intelligence technologies across the Gulf region.

Amal’s passion for Energy Management Digitization is fueled by her growth mindset as well as her determination to contribute to a sustainable future for our planet. She is proud of her involvement in sustainability issues in the region, driving the implementation of Schneider Electric’s commitment to deliver human, economic, and environmental goals (SDGs).

A passionate and accomplished learner, she holds a Master’s Degree in Law, Political Science and International Finance from the University of Sorbonne, France; and completed multiple Schneider Electric executive education programs at INSEAD.

As regional president for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Visa, Andrew Torre oversees all of Visa’s operations in more than 90 countries across the region and cultivates relationships with Visa’s clients and government authorities. Torre reports to Visa’s global president, Oliver Jenkyn and sits on Visa’s global Operating Committee.

Torre has been with Visa since 2002 and has held global roles in product, strategy, and pricing, as well as general manager roles in Russia and Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa.

An industry veteran, Torre’s experience includes stints at BankServ, where he was general manager of the Enterprise Payments Division; and Washington Mutual, where he served as vice president of New Product Development and Strategic Planning. He also worked with the World Bank in Kyiv, Moscow, and CIS territories.

Torre received his M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, and he holds a B.A. from the University of Vermont.

Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi is a well-known and accomplished leader in the financial and technology sectors in the region, with over two decades of experience in leadership positions in numerous local and international companies.

Presently, Al-Kharafi serves as the vice chairman and group CEO of Zain Group in Kuwait, vice chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia, and vice chairman of Gulf Cables & Electrical Industries Group Co. (K.S.C.P.). He is also the chairman of Gulf Bank and holds key positions in many other leading organizations in Kuwait. Furthermore, he serves as a board member on the Middle East Advisory Board at Coutts & Co. in the United Kingdom.

Al-Kharafi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kuwait University. He pursued further studies and completed his MBA from London Business School in the United Kingdom. Currently, he is enrolled in the Doctorate in Business Administration Program at IE Business School (Instituto de Empresa) in Madrid, Spain.

Al-Kharafi is a public supporter of youth empowerment and sits on the board of INJAZ Kuwait, a non-profit working on the development of future generations.

Dimitrios Dosis is president of Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard and a member of the company’s management committee.

He is responsible for driving the company’s global strategy across 80+ markets and leading Mastercard’s journey to bring new payment solutions and services to the region, spanning safety, security, data, artificial intelligence, as well as advancing social progress and inclusive growth.

Dimitrios was previously president of Mastercard Advisors, the company’s professional services arm, where he accelerated the use of predictive technologies to advance the company’s industry-proven problem-solving skills and leveraged data-driven insights and analytics to help retail and banking customers solve pressing business issues.

Dimitrios has more than 20 years of experience in technology, transaction banking and management consulting, and serves on the Board of Directors for ATHEX (The Athens Stock Exchange). He holds an MBA and PhD from the European Business School, as well as a Master of Economics from the University of Hagen.

Ertug Ayik has been at the forefront of building teams and developing strategies to adopt new technologies in the consumer and business sectors. In the span of his 25-year career at HP, Ertug Ayik has held several executive roles in sales and marketing across the company’s computing and printing divisions.

Previously, he served as general manager for HP in Türkiye before relocating to Dubai in 2015, where he led the Print Business in the EEMEA region (Eastern Europe, Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa).

Ertug holds a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, as well as an MBA, from Türkiye’s Bosphorus University.

Fadi Moubarak has been with Avaya for over a decade. He previously led the company’s channel business across the EMEA and APAC regions, where he played a pivotal role in evolving Avaya’s channel programs and strengthening partner relationships. These efforts enabled Avaya’s partners to better support customers’ experience transformation needs while simultaneously fostering their own business growth.

In September 2024, he assumed the role of vice president of Sales and Channels for the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia.

He aims to further strengthen Avaya’s relationships with its largest and most advanced global customers who are based in the region by finding innovative solutions to enhance customer and employee experiences without the need for major technology overhauls.

Moubarak has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, obtained from the American University of Beirut (AUB). He has an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University.

Fahad AI Hassawi has served as the CEO of du since June 2021. Throughout his career at du, he has held various leadership roles, including acting CEO from September 2020 to June 2021, CEO of Operations and Commercial Affairs, executive vice president, and head of Communications Services from October 2017 to August 2020.

He also briefly served as acting CEO in January 2020 and was chief commercial officer from 2013 to 2017. Earlier, he was director of Human Resources and Shared Services between 2010 and 2013, and executive vice president of Human Resources from 2006 to 2009.

AI Hassawi is a member of the Advisory Board for the Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy as of June 2021 and has been on the board of directors for Shabab Al Ahli Club Dubai since August 2023.

Before joining du, Al Hassawi held multiple positions at Emirates Airlines from 1999 to 2006. He also worked as a first lieutenant engineer at the Dubai Police General Command from 1998 to 1999.

He earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami in 1998 and completed the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development in 2004.

Hatem Dowidar is the group CEO of e& since May 2020. He joined the company in September 2015 as group chief operating officer and became chief executive officer, International in March 2016.

In February 2022, e& rebranded as a global technology and investment conglomerate, with Dowidar’s leadership playing a key role in strengthening the brand, improving employee experience, and delivering value to stakeholders.

With 32 years of experience in multinational companies, Dowidar has spent over 25 years in leadership roles across the telecommunications industry. He was named the top telecom leader globally in the Brand Guardianship Index 2024.

Dowidar currently serves on the boards of Vodafone Group, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), Maroc Telecom, and Etisalat Misr (Etisalat Egypt).

He is also a member of the GSMA and the leadership panel of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Helmut von Struve became the CEO of Siemens for the Middle East in May 2020 after 20 years with Siemens, working in the UAE, Libya, Germany, and Pakistan.

His current focus as an engineer and business leader is on integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, 5G, and automation into comprehensive solutions that deliver significant value to customers.

Throughout his career, von Struve has held senior management roles across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Von Struve started his career in 1997 as a process engineer at ThyssenKrupp Uhde in Germany. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University in Darmstadt, Germany, and is a certified director from the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance.

Hyther Nizam serves as the vice president of Product Management at Zoho, where he oversees a wide range of products, including the low-code platform Zoho Creator, e-commerce platform Zoho Commerce, online spreadsheet tool Zoho Sheet, website builder Zoho Sites, private social network Zoho Connect, survey builder Zoho Survey, online forms Zoho Forms, integration platform Zoho Flow, and website conversion tool Zoho PageSense, among others.

In addition to his product management responsibilities, Nizam heads Zoho’s operations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. He also leads several key technology initiatives, including Zoho’s proprietary scripting language, Deluge.

Before joining Zoho, Nizam was the director of Enterprise Products at AdventNet (now ManageEngine), where he held roles in both product management and technology.

He began his career as a software engineer at Multitech Systems, a manufacturer of networking products. Hyther holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Madras University in India.

Khaled Hashem serves as the president of Honeywell for the Middle East and Africa region, where he leads the company’s strategy focused on aligning with three major global trends: automation, the future of aviation, and the energy transition.

Hashem joined Honeywell in 2016 as president for Egypt and Libya, and in 2019, his responsibilities expanded to include North Africa. During this time, he played a key role in enhancing operational efficiency, boosting sales performance, and strengthening customer engagement.

He also serves as chairperson of the Energy Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and sits on the boards of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and the Egyptian Export Council of Engineering Industries.

Before joining Honeywell, Hashem served as the country manager for General Electric in the East Mediterranean region. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Engineering and an MBA from the American University in Cairo (AUC). In 2020, he received the “Distinguished Alumnus” award from AUC. Hashem also earned a Master’s degree in Business Studies from IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.

Loubna Imenchal is the head of Enterprise Business video collaboration for Logitech in Africa, Middle East, Türkiye and Central Asia region.

With over 24 years of experience leading teams in technology organizations across EMETAA (Europe, Middle East, Turkey, Asia, and Africa), Imenchal’s expertise spans various technologies, including telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and automation.

Before joining Logitech, Imenchal was vice president and general manager for EMEA at Johnson Controls. She has also held executive positions at companies like Honeywell and FedEx.

In addition to her corporate roles, Imenchal volunteers as a coach for startups and has taught at the American University of Al Akhawayn in Morocco. She also co-leads the Education Think Tank in Morocco, a non-profit organization that challenges traditional approaches to education policy.

Imenchal holds an MBA from École des Ponts Business School and an MPA in Public Affairs and Lobbying from the University of Oxford.

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti was appointed as the head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government by the Cabinet in 2020. In this role, he also serves as the chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council and managing director of the National Data Centre under the Supreme Council for National Security. His mandate includes overseeing all aspects of securing the UAE’s cyberspace, with legal authority across the nation. His efforts ensure that the country is well-equipped to navigate the digital era and position the Nation as a global leader in cyber security.

Under his leadership, the UAE has significantly advanced in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index, rising from 47th to 5th place. H.E. Dr. Al Kuwaiti has also spearheaded several groundbreaking initiatives, including setting Guinness World Records for the largest cyber capture the flag competition, bug bounty competition, and cyber drill, all aimed at enhancing the skills of cyber security professionals.

H.E. Dr. Al Kuwaiti holds a Doctorate in Computer Engineering and Network Security from George Washington University in the U.S., along with a master’s degree in Telecommunications and Computer Networks. He also holds a Master’s degree in International and Civil Security.

Mohammed Amin serves as the senior vice president for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa (CEEMETA) at Dell Technologies.

In this role, he focuses on driving business growth by enabling companies and communities to harness technology for progress. His primary objective is to support organizations in their transformation efforts through a comprehensive strategy encompassing Digital, IT, Security, and Workforce Transformation.

With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, particularly across emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, Amin has gained a deep understanding of the digital economy’s drivers, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities within these regions.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Cairo University.

Nick Redshaw was appointed senior vice president for the Middle East and Africa at Oracle Technology Cloud in 2022. In this role, he spearheads Oracle’s rapidly expanding cloud operations in the region, collaborating closely with customers to drive their digital transformation initiatives.

Redshaw joined Oracle after a long tenure at IBM, where his most recent role was vice president of Server Sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, a position he assumed in January 2000 after returning from the U.S. Prior to that, he served as general manager of IBM Systems Hardware North America and vice president of IBM Global Servers and Cognitive Systems.

With over 35 years of experience in the IT industry, Redshaw has held various leadership and sales roles globally, focusing on emerging markets and fostering business growth in diverse regions.

He earned a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics from Exeter University and also studied at the Retail Management Institutes at Oxford and Sterling Universities.

Olayan AlWetaid became the CEO of stc Group in March 2021. Throughout his career with the company, he has held several key positions, including senior vice president of the Consumer Business Unit and CEO of stc Bahrain. He has also chaired the boards of multiple stc subsidiaries.

Under AlWetaid’s leadership, stc Group has strengthened its position as a leading telecom operator in the MENA region and established itself as a dynamic player in the digital space. He continues to drive the company’s expansion into adjacent sectors, focusing on areas such as Fintech, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and data centers.

He also serves as chairman of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and is a board member of both the GSMA and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

AlWetaid holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Oliver Tuszik is the president of Cisco’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, overseeing the company’s growth, business, and operations across the area.

Under his leadership, and in close collaboration with a regional partner ecosystem, Cisco’s EMEA region generates over $13 billion annually, accounting for more than a quarter of the company’s global revenue.

Before his current position, Tuszik successfully led Cisco’s Global Partner Sales and was general manager of Routes to Market for five years.

Tuszik joined Cisco more than a decade ago as the Germany country leader, achieving five consecutive years of growth. Under his leadership, Cisco Germany became a model for the company’s Country Digitization Acceleration efforts and was recognized twice as the #1 Great Place to Work®.

Prior to joining Cisco, Tuszik was CEO of Computacenter in Germany. He also held international leadership roles at GE Capital IT Solutions and CompuNet.

He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and a Master of Science in Telecommunications and Computer Networks from RWTH Aachen University in Germany.

H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama was appointed minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in October 2017 and, in July 2020, his role was expanded to include Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. He is responsible for enhancing government performance by harnessing the latest AI technologies and tools across multiple sectors.

H.E. Al Olama is leading the UAE’s efforts to become a global leader in the digital economy, with a particular focus on increasing its contribution to the country’s GDP. He is also dedicated to strengthening the UAE’s reputation as a global hub for remote work applications.

In addition to his ministerial duties, H.E. Al Olama serves as the vice-chair of the World Government Summit, a member of the Board of Trustees, and deputy managing director of the Dubai Future Foundation, as well as chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. In November 2017, the UAE government announced his selection as a member of the Future of Digital Economy and Society Council at the World Economic Forum.

He holds a Diploma in Project Management and Excellence from the American University of Sharjah and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University of Dubai.

Patrick Johansson was appointed as the new head of Market Area Middle East & Africa and senior vice president of Ericsson in August 2024.

Before this role, Johansson served as head of Business Control & Operations at Ericsson’s Business Area Cloud Software & Services.

His career at Ericsson, which began in 1997, has taken him across multiple Business Areas and Market Areas, having worked in Sweden, Korea, India, Austria, China, and Vietnam. His previous roles include global head of Sales & Commercial Management for Business Area Networks, head of Customer Unit Korea, and several executive positions in Finance and Business.

Johansson holds an MBA from the School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg.

Peng Xiao serves as the group CEO of G42, where he is responsible for shaping the company’s business and product strategies and overseeing its operating companies across multiple industry sectors.

In addition, Xiao is a board member at MBZUAI, the world’s first graduate-level AI university dedicated to research, located in Abu Dhabi.

Before joining G42, he spent a decade in the enterprise software industry, holding key roles at MicroStrategy, including senior executive vice president, chief technology officer, and chief information officer, where he collaborated with leading tech companies.

Xiao holds a B.S. and B.A. in Computer Science and International Business from Hawaii Pacific University, as well as an M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University.

Saad Toma is the general manager of IBM Middle East and Africa. He leads IBM’s business, including technology and ecosystem sales organization, consulting practice, the technical community and the IBM Research organization for the region.

Saad is a highly sought-after advisor and thought leader in the field of Hybrid Cloud, AI for Business, Sustainability and Automation strategies. He has a proven track record for unlocking tangible business value for leading clients, working closely with governments on national agendas, empowering local talent with future-proof skills, and elevating ecosystem partnerships.

Saad holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Oxford Brookes University, and an MBA from the University of Southampton.

Eng. Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Badran is the CEO of Mobily where he has successfully driven transformative changes and steered the company toward new opportunities.

Recognized as one of the top 100 CEOs in the region by INSEAD Business School, he also serves on the Board of Directors for the “SAMENA” Telecommunications Council.

Eng. Al Badran brings over 24 years of leadership experience in the GCC region, with 22 years dedicated to the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) industry. He played a pivotal role in founding stc Kuwait (formerly Viva) and later served as its CEO.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, along with several professional certifications.

Samer Abu-Ltaif was appointed corporate vice president and president for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) region in February 2023.

With this appointment, Microsoft merged its Central and Eastern Europe operations with those in the Middle East and Africa to form the CEMA region, which spans 109 countries, with the goal of empowering customers, partners, and communities to achieve more.

Abu-Ltaif has held various leadership roles within Microsoft’s MEA structure for nearly two decades, leading multiple strategic initiatives aimed at helping governments, enterprises, startups, and communities leverage technology to overcome major challenges.

A key focus of Abu-Ltaif’s career has been empowering Africa. He was pivotal in driving Microsoft’s $100 million investment in the Africa Development Centers in Lagos, Nigeria, and Nairobi, Kenya, which aim to empower African software engineers, partners, academia, governments, and developers to innovate locally and scale globally.

Abu-Ltaif has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the American University of Beirut.

Sergio Maccotta is the senior vice president for SAP Middle East Africa – South, responsible for driving growth, building SAP’s presence, and overseeing sales, marketing, and operations across the MEA South region. Since January 2020, he has led the Middle East South Cluster, guiding strategic direction and managing operations in countries, including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Sudan, Palestine, and Yemen.

Maccotta served as SAP EMEA vice president for Partner Ecosystems in 2019, where he expanded partner contributions and created new growth channels for ISV/OEM and managed cloud businesses. He also held key roles as managing partner of the Global Platinum Customer Unit and head of the Strategic Customer Program for EMEA South, building strong partnerships with major clients.

Maccotta has played a crucial role in establishing SAP’s presence in the Middle East, previously serving as managing director of SAP MENA from 2007 to 2010.

With over 29 years of experience in the IT industry, he has held various senior roles across Southern Europe, Italy, Türkiye, the Middle East, and EMEA, consistently focusing on customer success, innovation, and partnerships.

Maccotta holds a master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy, and has been based in Dubai since 2006.

Steven Yi has served as president of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia since December 2022.

In this role, he is focused on accelerating Huawei’s digital transformation efforts in the region, utilizing advanced full-stack technology across connectivity, IT, and cloud services. With deep industry knowledge and strong partnerships, Steven is committed to positioning the Middle East and Central Asia as hubs of innovation and long-term success during this transformative period.

Yi has been with Huawei since 1998 and has held various leadership positions, including deputy CFO for the region, president of the Sales & Delivery Finance Management Department, president of Huawei’s Americas operations, and general manager of Huawei’s Pakistan Representative Office.

He is a graduate of Wuhan University.

Taha Khalifa is the country manager for Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and the GCC region at Intel Corporation. He is responsible for driving the company’s strategy and leading key engagements with governments, customers, and partners while achieving revenue and growth objectives.

Taha brings 28 years of experience in the multinational ICT industry, spanning hardware, software, and services. His career includes senior leadership roles in sales and marketing, business development, strategic planning, and engineering management across the US and EMEA.

Khalifa began his career at Intel Corp. in 1995 as a senior software engineer in California.

He earned a BSc in Computer Engineering from Alexandria University in 1991, followed by a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Dundee University in the UK in 1994. In 2005, he completed an MBA at Arizona State University.

Thierry Nicault is responsible for driving growth and customer success for Salesforce clients across the Middle East, bringing the business value of Data, AI, CRM and Trust.

Nicault is an industry veteran, with over 20 years of experience in the IT industry and in dealing with resellers, manufacturers and software editors. He has been managing Salesforce’s international business since 2013, including developing subsidiaries and international sales teams in emerging markets.

His expertise includes dealing with complex sales cycles and contexts, understanding of specific international business practices, and management of high-performing sales teams. He is known in the industry as an expert on expanding growth with particular specialities in international sales management, leveraging business intelligence for forecasting business growth as well as handling change management in operational teams.