RIYADH — Cisco, the worldwide leader in technology, announced the appointment of Haytham AlOhali as Managing Director for Cisco Saudi Arabia. Haytham succeeds Abdullah Alswaha, who has recently been appointed Saudi Minister of Communication and Information Technology.
AlOhali will lead Cisco’s business and operations in the Kingdom and drive the digitization agenda for organizations and businesses across industries, in line with objectives laid out in Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Plan. In his new capacity, he will work closely with Cisco’s partner ecosystem to support private and public sector customers in their efforts to digitize and transform their operations to drive business outcomes. Haytham will also continue to develop the organization to ensure it remains one of the most attractive places for top talent in the technology sector.
The appointment reaffirms Cisco Saudi Arabia’s commitment to investing in local talent and inspiring future leaders, who are able to contribute to the development of the technology ecosystem and to the national economy.
“Saudi Arabia’s commitment to leveraging technology to drive positive economic and social impact makes this a dynamic and exciting market. We are witnessing what is undoubtedly a pivotal phase in the Kingdom’s economic and development trajectory, and I am proud of the role Cisco is playing as the nation’s digitization partner,” commented Mike Weston, vice president of Cisco Middle East. “Haytham is a natural leader with exceptional business acumen and a strong grasp of local market dynamics. I have no doubt that this appointment will strengthen our market position and our ability to play an even more prominent role in accelerating digital transformation for businesses and organizations in Saudi Arabia.”
A Cisco veteran of over ten years, AlOhali has worked in multiple leadership capacities across the organization overseeing industries that include education, healthcare, national security and defense, in addition to a large number of public sector entities. Previously, Haytham was Deputy Managing Director, responsible for directing major initiatives and programs and developing strategic relationships with key customers, channel and ecosystem partners.
“Cisco’s global footprint, extensive portfolio and depth of expertise enables us to deliver the kind of support organizations need to realize the business potential of the biggest digital transition in history,” said AlOhali.
“I look forward to working with some of the most talented professionals in the industry, as we focus our efforts on harnessing the power of digitization towards shaping a prosperous, thriving future for the Kingdom. As a Saudi and a Cisco employee, I take great pride when I look at what we have achieved so far – but I also realize that this amazing journey has just begun,” added AlOhali.
Prior to joining Cisco, AlOhali held a number of senior roles in the industry, including systems engineer at Motorola. Previously, he helped setup an IT literacy program in the Kingdom as Deputy General Manager for the ECDL foundation, an international organization dedicated to raising digital competence standards in the workforce, education and society. Haytham holds an Electrical Engineer degree from the University of Seattle in the United States.
