RIYADH — The Board of Directors of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) has appointed Eng. Walid Abukhaled as CEO of the company. The decision comes following his role as Acting chief executive officer and is based on his proven ability and competence to manage the company’s business effectively during the past months.

The Board recognized Eng. Walid Abukhaled’s nearly 30-year-long global experience in defense and military industries, during which he held several leadership positions, most prominently CEO for the Middle East at defense giant Northrop Grumman, deputy minister of Industrial Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry, president and CEO of General Electric in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and chairman of the operations board and director of strategic investments group at BAE Systems in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

SAMI’s Board wished Eng. Walid Abukhaled success in his new role, expressing their confidence in his leadership of the company for the next stage.

Launched in May 2017, SAMI is a state-owned military industries company that is mandated to develop and support the military industries in Saudi Arabia and enhance its self-sufficiency.

Aiming to be among the top 25 military industries companies in the world by 2030, SAMI is playing a key role in supporting the localization of 50% of the Kingdom’s total government military spending, working under the directives outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030. — SG