Alshaya Group, a leading retail company, has appointed Hossam Jameel as the Head of People Services in KSA, effective immediately.  

Jameel shared the news on LinkedIn, stating, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Head of People Services at Alshaya Group!”  

In his new role, Jameel brings over a decade of HR experience across the IT consulting and retail sectors in the Middle East. Most recently, he served as the Human Resources Manager at Smart National Solutions for over three years. Previously, he held roles including HR Manager for KSA at Apparel Group, Group Director of HR at NOMD Holding, Director of HR and Support Services at Inteshaar Commercial Ventures, and HR Specialist at Tabadul.  

On the academic front, Jameel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from King Faisal University. He brings expertise in people management, organisational development, HR strategy, employee relations, recruitment, employee benefits, payroll, and strategic HR to his new role.  

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Recently, the retail group promoted Antranik Agopian to Head of People Services in the UAE. Agopian, who joined the company in 2008, has held key HR positions for the UAE and Qatar regions. Reflecting on the transition, he shared on LinkedIn, “I cherish every moment I spent in Qatar, where I grew both personally and professionally. It’s where I met my wife, built a beautiful family, and formed bonds with colleagues who became like family, creating connections deeper than I could have imagined. But that chapter has now come to an end, and my return to the UAE, after 15 years, feels less like a fresh start and more like continuing unfinished business. My return has already been met with an incredible welcome, and I feel fortunate to be part of a fantastic team ready to write the next chapter of this story together…”

The retail group owns over 70 global consumer brands across the Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye, and Europe, employs more than 50,000 people worldwide. Despite announcing layoffs earlier this year due to geopolitical challenges, the company is doubling down on its commitment to building strong, diverse teams across the region. 

In Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Faisal, Regional HR Director, shared the group’s dedication to empowering local talent. “We’re committed to equipping Saudi talent with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving market,” he said, highlighting Alshaya’s extensive training and mentorship initiatives. Over half of Alshaya’s workforce in Saudi Arabia are Saudi nationals, including 4,000 women, employed across iconic brands like Starbucks, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, and Bath & Body Works. Similarly, the group is making strides in the UAE, aligning with the nation’s Emiratisation goals. Mahdi Hasan, Recruitment Business Partner, emphasised, “Empowering national talent is at the heart of our Emiratisation program. We’re dedicated to providing Emiratis with exceptional job and training opportunities to help them grow in roles across stores and our Head Office.” Emiratis are contributing to global brands like Starbucks, H&M, MAC, and The Cheesecake Factory, with many more set to join, underlining its vision to create meaningful opportunities and drive growth across its operations in the region.