MEPCO appoints Talal Arkook as CHRO

Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO) has appointed Talal Faraj Arkook as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective immediately.

MEPCO announced the appointment, welcoming Arkook to the Group and highlighting his more than 24 years of leadership experience spanning human capital development, organisational transformation and talent management across multiple sectors.

“We are pleased to welcome Talal Arkook to MEPCO Group as Chief Human Resources Officer,” the company said in a statement.

In his new role, Arkook will focus on strengthening the Group’s people strategy, enhancing its performance culture and supporting MEPCO’s broader strategic objectives.

“Talal brings more than 24 years of leadership experience in human capital development, organisational transformation, and talent management across diverse sectors,” MEPCO said. 

“We wish him every success and look forward to his contributions in empowering our people, strengthening our performance culture, and supporting the Group’s strategic objectives.”

Arkook joins MEPCO following a career spanning senior HR leadership positions across Saudi Arabia. Before taking up the CHRO role, he was Human Resource Vice President and CHRO at NADEC Foods.

He previously spent five years as Group CHRO at Basamh Trading & Industries Group. Earlier, he held several senior HR positions at Nahdi Medical Company, including Senior Director of Human Resources and HR Director for organisational development, talent planning and sourcing.

During his tenure at Nahdi Medical, Arkook was involved in workforce planning, organisation design, compensation and benefits, employer branding and talent sourcing. His work included initiatives to reduce employee turnover, strengthen Saudisation and expand the recruitment of Saudi women and pharmacists.

Earlier in his career, Arkook held HR leadership roles at Panda Retail Company, part of Savola Group, where he worked across employee relations, administration, medical services, staffing, performance management and HR business partnering.

Arkook succeeds Maan Fatani, who previously served as Group CHRO and Vice President of HR & Shared Services at MEPCO before stepping down from the role last year.

The appointment comes as organisations across Saudi Arabia continue to place greater emphasis on workforce transformation, talent development and building performance-driven organisational cultures.