Amwaj International Company, a leading trading and distribution company based in Saudi Arabia, has announced key leadership changes following the resignation of its Chief Executive Officer, Naif Al Zahrani.

In an official statement to Tadawul, the company posted: “...approval of the Board of Directors on 27/04/2025 AD for the resignation of Mr. Nayef Bakri Al-Zahrani from the position of CEO, effective 30/04/2025 AD."

Extending its wishes to the outgoing CEO, the company added: “The Board of Directors would like to thank Mr. Nayef Bakri Al-Zahrani for his efforts during his term as Chairman and wishes him continued success.”

To assume CEO responsibilities effective May 1, 2025, the company has named its Deputy CEO, Mehdi Khlifawi, as Naif’s successor.

In his new role, Mehdi brings over two decades of leadership experience. He has served as Deputy CEO since 2007, playing a pivotal role in the company’s strategic growth.

Previously, Mehdi held several managerial roles at Wattar Group, Al-Fadl & Al-Sultan Company, and Al-Barakah for Polystyrene in the Industrial Zone.

The outgoing CEO, Naif, holds over two decades of strategic leadership experience and has served key organisations, including Saudi Aramco, in leadership roles. At Amwaj, he played a key role in driving transformation, sustainable solutions, and the strategic growth of the company.

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While Naif has not disclosed a reason for his exit, the company cited "lack of availability" as the reason for his resignation. He has yet to announce his next career move. 

‘Lack of availability’ is one of the reasons recently highlighted in a study that analysed why CEOs exit and the evolving challenges in CEO responsibilities. Other key challenges of CEOs today include increased pressure from policymakers and investors, the growing role of artificial intelligence, heightened public scrutiny, rising strategic expectations, and ongoing political and economic crises. The challenges associated with the CEO role have forced many leaders to resign from their positions, and many are now reluctant to step into a CEO role again.

This does not suggest that leaders are unwilling or incapable of taking on these challenges. Rather, the study emphasizes that with the increasing pressures CEOs face, strategic succession planning, leadership development, and robust digital infrastructure — supported by AI-driven technologies — are crucial to enabling the success of today’s and tomorrow’s CEOs.