Movements: HR Leaders transforming Middle East workplaces

Leadership in Human Resources not only helps transform workplaces but also profoundly influences the trajectory of employees' careers. By crafting strategic HR initiatives encompassing areas like learning and development, employee engagement, and compensation and benefits, HR leaders cultivate a work environment that is both productive and prepared for the future. People Matters brings a curated list of newly appointed HR leaders in the Middle East region who are driving workplace transformation through their strategic emphasis on talent and culture management.

Ahmed El-Beheary

In November 2023, Faruk Investments Group appointed Ahmed El-Beheary as the Group Chief People and Culture Officer. He joined the group with over 31 years of experience across HR consulting, agribusiness, telecommunications, hospitality, construction, and real estate sectors.

Before his appointment, Ahmed served as the Founder of Ignition. He also worked with WADI Group, Asiacell Communications, Amer Group, VEON, Orascom, and CEMEX. His core competencies include recruitment, leadership development, organisational development, strategic leadership, executive coaching, payroll and benefits, recognition, employee relations, and employee engagement.

Based in Cairo Egypt, Ahmed oversees business planning, hiring initiatives, strategic HR, and leadership development for the group’s growth and expansion in the region.

Nelly Boustany

In October 2023, Network International appointed Nelly Boustany as the Chief Human Resources Officer. She joined the group with 20 years of core HR leadership experience across management consulting, telecommunications, and technology sectors. Her core competencies include strategic HR, talent management, compensation and benefits, leadership development, workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, employee engagement, and recruitment. 

Before her appointment, Nelly served SAP as the Senior Director of HXM Value Advisory for more than a decade. She also worked with Nokia Siemens Networks, and Siemens AG in key roles. Additionally, she is also a member of the Human Capital Advisory Council in UAE for over three years now. On the academic side, She holds a BSc degree in Computer Sciences from 

Haigazian University College, an MBA degree from Notre Dame University, and a certificate in Transforming Business with AI Automation from INSEAD. 

In her role at Network International, Nelly focuses on leading the HR functions, strategy, and programs across the Middle East and Africa region. Her priorities include cultivating and advancing a culture of innovation for the company's growth and expansion in the region. 

Sumit Neogi

In October 2023, FedEx Corporation welcomed Sumit Neogi as the new Regional Managing Director of Human Resources for the MEISA (Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa) region. He joined the express transport company with around 20 years of experience to lead people operations. Prior to his appointment, Sumit served The Lubrizol Corporation as the HR Director for the Middle East and South Asia for over four years. He also held key leadership roles at Reliance Industries, Cipla, and Hewitt Associates.

On the academic front, Sumit holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Counseling from TISS University, a PhD in Business Administration from S P Jain School of Global Management, and a PGD in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from XLRI Jamshedpur. His core competencies include HR strategy, HR management, HR policies, HR transformation, performance management, compensation, succession planning, personnel management, employee engagement, employee relations, human capital management, and employee benefits.

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Hein Dames

In September 2023, the luxury hotels and resorts group Shangri-La appointed Hein Dames as the Vice President of Human Resources for the Middle East, Europe, India, and the Americas. He joined the group with over 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Before his appointment, Dames worked with NagaWorld as the Chief Human Resources Officer, Jumeirah Group as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Sun International as the Group HR Manager. His core competencies include compensation and benefits, payroll, training and development, HR policies, strategic HR planning and leadership, talent management, performance management, succession planning, job evaluation, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), employee relations and engagement, and employee benefits.

On the academic front, Dames holds a BA degree in Psychology from the University of Pretoria, and an Honours degree in Employee and Labour Relations from the University of Johannesburg.

Fawaz Moumina and Marwan Fadel

In September 2023, the Hilton Group of Hotels and Resorts announced leadership changes with the appointments of Fawaz Moumina as the Country Manager and Senior Director of Operations for KSA, and Marwan Fadel as the Regional Director of Human Resources for KSA and Levant.

Fawaz, who joined the group in 2012, most recently served as the Senior Director of HR for KSA, Egypt, and Levant. He assumed responsibilities for overseeing operations for 16 trading hotels in the KSA region. On the other hand, Marwan took on his new role after working as a freelance HR management consultant and trainer for over a year. Previously, he worked with the Pure Group as the Group HR Director.

In his new role, Fawaz brings over 16 years of HR leadership experience, spending over five years with PepsiCo GCC. Meanwhile, Marwan has worked with several organisations over the last 15 years, including PepsiCo, Jotun, LogiPoint, Wataniya, and the University of Business and Technology.

Both leaders will be responsible for identifying and nurturing Saudi talent as the group plans to hire more than 5,000 regional employees by 2030 as part of its expansion strategy. 

Niharika Mohan 

In August 2023, Schneider Electric appointed Niharika Mohan as the Vice President of Human Resources for Secure Power International. She has served Schneider Electric for over 11 years, and its subsidiary, Luminous Power Technologies, for over 3 years, in key leadership roles. Earlier in her career, she worked with Hewitt Associates and TCS. Her core competencies include 360-degree feedback, HR consulting, employee engagement, and strategic HR.

With over two decades of HR leadership experience, Niharika is fostering a culture of growth characterised by agility, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability at Secure Power International. In assuming her new responsibilities, she relocated to Dubai to lead global HR teams across East Asia Japan, South America, Greater India, the Pacific, and the Middle East Africa regions.