Movements in Middle East - HR Leaders in focus

As businesses soar to new heights of growth, Human Resources takes centre stage. HR stands at the heart of work culture transformation, driving the people's success that fuels business expansion. Companies now seek HR leaders who are not just skilled in managing HR processes but are also champions of a vibrant work culture. These HR professionals prioritise employee engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), high-performing teams, well-being, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. Below, we’ve highlighted key HR leadership movements from July and August. These leaders have emerged as torchbearers of transformational leadership, driving both business growth and people success simultaneously.

Ajman Bank: Hend Al Ali appointed as the Chief Human Resources Officer

Ajman Bank welcomed Hend Al Ali as its new Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

Hend brings over two decades of HR excellence in the Emirates banking industry to her new role. She has previously held significant positions, including Group CHRO at Network International, Executive Vice President and Human Capital Head at Dunia Finance, Recruitment and Emiratisation Manager at Citibank, and Assistant Manager of National Recruitment & Development at Mashreq Bank. 

Hend's expertise in startups, mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs positions her to oversee Ajman Bank's dynamic work environment, ensuring a high-performance culture and driving the bank’s continued success and growth.

entourage: Karen Beggs joined as Chief Human Resources Officer

Dubai-based marketing and events company has appointed Karen Beggs as Chief Human Resources Officer to lead the company's growth journey with a forward-looking vision.

Karen brings nearly two decades of HR leadership experience, encompassing strategic HR leadership, change management, organisational design, and culture transformation. She is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s culture and values. Before her appointment with entourage, Karen held key HR roles in several leading organisations across the Middle East, including as the CHRO at The Entertainer, Head of HR at Prisme, and Head of Talent Management at Knowledge Group.

Citadel Securities: Sarah Bauer appointed as the EMEA Head of People

The global capital markets company welcomed Sarah Bauer as the new Head of People for the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region.

With over a decade of HR expertise in global financial markets, Sarah is set to oversee the entire people strategy and initiatives for the EMEA teams. Before joining the company, she held key HR roles at JP Morgan Chase, including Head of Talent for Global Markets & Securities Services and HR Advisor for Corporate and Investment Banking.

AlFaisal Holding: Nader Othman joined as Chief Human Capital Officer

Qatar’s leading real estate company has appointed Nader Othman as its new Chief Human Capital Officer.

With over 20 years of HR expertise, Nader Othman brings a wealth of knowledge spanning performance management, HR policies, HR transformation, recruitment, training and development, benefits and compensation, employee engagement and retention, organisational development, change management, and human capital management.

Most recently, Nader served at Teeba as the Senior Director of Human Resources, Admin, Health, Safety, and Environment, and HR Director for over five years. His previous roles include HR Director at Dar Al Dawa Development & Investment Co., HR Manager at DADA Group, and HR Manager at FATTAL Group. He began his career as Associate Vice President and HR Manager at Jordinvest.

Al-Hilal Saudi Club: Sulaiman Alrafaa promoted to Head of Human Resources and Admin Affairs role

Al-Hilal SFC has elevated Sulaiman Alrafaa to the position of Head of Human Resources and Admin Affairs.

Sulaiman brings a wealth of HR experience to his new role, covering policy development, HR policies, labour and employment law, HR transformation, team leadership, employee engagement, employee relations, learning and development, and strategic HR planning.  In his previous roles, he served as Assistant Manager of People Operations at HungerStation, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at Holool Aloula, and Recruitment Specialist at Saudi Automotive Services Company.

Taif Al Emarat: Dr Sandra Antoury promoted as Chief People Officer

Taif Al Emarat elevated Dr. Sandra Antoury to the role of Chief People Officer, who has been serving as the Head of HR recently. She led HR operations across the GCC with a team of over 800 employees. She brings more than 10 years of HR leadership experience to her new role, to focus on continuous learning and professional development, ensuring that employees evolve with industry demands. Dr Sandra is committed to fostering a positive work environment that emphasises well-being, engagement, and career growth, while building a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and adaptability aligned with the brand's values.

Before joining the luxury perfume brand, Dr. Sandra served as HR Manager at KALLEGRA and held key positions at AlZan Building Materials Trading and Comptoir El Amaneh Real Estate. 

E3 Energy: Kumar Anurag joined as Global Head of HR

Dubai-based sustainable energy solutions firm, E3 Energy appointed Kumar Anurag as Global Head of HR. He brings over 17 years of HR leadership experience, with a strong background in the oil and gas and financial services sectors. His recent roles include Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Sing Fuels, Global Head of Human Resources at GP Global Group, Business HR Manager at Alfaraa Group, and Manager of HR Business Analytics at Essar.

Academically, Anurag holds an MBA in HR Management from the International Management Institute and is a Certified HR Professional through the American Certification Institute. His expertise spans total rewards strategies, global talent acquisition, employee learning and development, employee engagement, HR policies, employee relations, HRIS, and performance management, making him a key addition to E3 Energy's leadership team.

Memac Ogilvy: Maysoon Dababneh elevated as Chief People Officer - MENA 

Memac Ogilvy promoted Maysoon Dababneh to the position of Chief People Officer for the MENA region. She will drive the agency's People and Culture agenda across the region, continuing to embed the ‘Connected for Creativity’ culture while focusing on attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.

Maysoon has been with Memac Ogilvy since March 2022, initially serving as People Director for the MENA region, and brings over two decades of HR leadership experience to her new role. Before joining Memac Ogilvy, Maysoon held significant positions at VMLY&R, GTB, and J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, and also worked at Procter & Gamble, Agility, Ayla Aviation Academy, Umniah, and Aramex early in her career. Her extensive experience in talent management and HR makes her a key player in the firm’s ongoing success.

Strategic Gears: Ammar Madani joined as CHRO

Saudi Arabia’s management consultancy firm, Strategic Gears appointed Ammar Madani as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ammar brings nearly two decades of HR leadership experience. He will drive the firm’s ambitious human capital agenda, focusing on talent management, performance management, and learning & development. He will also oversee recruitment as the company strives to achieve a new headcount milestone this year.

Before joining Strategic Gears, Ammar served over nine years at Procter & Gamble in key HR roles, including HR Director and Senior HR Manager, where he led significant hiring campaigns and developed high-performing teams. His career also includes roles at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Tam Development, and Alsharq Newspaper, bringing a wealth of experience to his new position.

Alinma Bank: Dr Muath Jafaari joined as People Analyst & EX Advisor

Saudi Arabia’s Alinma Bank appointed Dr Muath Jafaari as the People Analyst & Employee Experience Advisor, effective July 2024. Dr Jafaari brings extensive experience in organisational culture, communication, people analytics, research, and workplace solutions. His diverse background includes recent work with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and roles such as Project Manager for the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, and Medical Doctor at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. Additionally, he has been involved in various projects, including founding the EX platform ICM.ai and serving as a Research Specialist for Healthy Place To Work - KSA and Amjad Watan. Dr Jafaari's broad expertise will be a valuable asset to Alinma Bank.

Takeda: Jala Ashraf promoted as Head of HR for EAMEA regions

Global pharmaceutical company, Takeda promoted Jala Ashraf to the role of Head of Human Resources for Eurasia, Middle East & Africa, effective immediately. This elevation reflects her strong leadership since she took on the role of Head of HR for Ukraine, Middle East & Africa in April 2023. Jala joined Takeda in 2017 and has held significant positions, including Head of HR for the Middle East and HR Business Partner for Egypt, during her seven-year tenure with the company. Her experience and dedication have been pivotal to her rise within the organisation.

GHC: Amin Halawani joined Director & Head of HR

Global Healthcare Company appointed Amin Halawani as Director and Head of Human Resources, effective immediately. Amin brings extensive HR leadership experience across the Middle East, having worked in diverse sectors including retail, telecommunications, and food & beverages. Prior to this appointment, he was the Manager and Head of HR for the KSA region at Aster Pharmacy. His career also includes key HR roles at Seera Group, stc, Al Safi Danone, and Binzagr Co. Amin's broad expertise makes him a strong addition to the company.

IGT Solutions: Rana Aslan joined as Head of HR in Egypt

IGT Solutions appointed Rana Aslan as the Head of Human Resources for the Egypt region, effective immediately. Rana brings with her nearly 15 years of HR expertise in the technology and communications sectors. Before joining IGT Solutions, she was the Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition and Employee Engagement at Webhelp Concentrix. Her previous experience includes over five years at Majorel Egypt in key HR roles, as well as seven years leading recruitment and RPO efforts at Ecco Consulting. Rana's extensive background in HR makes her a valuable addition to the team.

SEVEN: Shaimaa Alnufaily joined as Director of Talent Acquisition

Saudi Entertainment Ventures appointed Shaimaa Alnufaily as the Director of Talent Acquisition, effective immediately. Shaimaa brings nearly 15 years of HR leadership experience, having worked across retail, IT solutions, education, and business consulting sectors. Before joining SEVEN, she spent over a decade at Alshaya Group, where she most recently served as Head of Talent Acquisition. Her career also includes roles at Elm Company, Rowad Al Khaleej Int’l Schools, and TAFE Arabia, showcasing her diverse expertise in talent management.

Emirates NBD: Esra Jamal Alsamarra'i named Head of HR for Wealth Management & Business Banking

Emirates NBD appointed Esra Jamal Alsamarra'i as the new Head of Human Resources for Wealth Management, Priority Banking, and Business Banking. Esra brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience, having held key roles in the BFSI and real estate sectors. Before joining Emirates NBD, she spent 17 years at HSBC, where she served as the Regional Head of Learning for Wealth, Private & Personal Banking in the MENAT region, among other senior positions. Esra's extensive experience also includes roles at wasl group and Amlak Finance, making her a seasoned professional in her field.