Saudi Media Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Khalid Alkhudair, has stepped down from his position after three years of service, with immediate effect.  

He joined Engineer Holding Group’s advertising services company in 2022 and has been overseeing its growth across Riyadh, Dubai, and Cairo, as well as its global expansion.  

Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Khalid posted: “After three years of assuming the role at SMC (Alwasail), today I bid farewell to my colleagues as CEO. It's been fun; I have made good colleagues at SMC, and we will remain forever friends. I joined SMC as an ambitious media entity that was striding in the market and with a dream to be. I leave SMC as a multibillion-dollar media, sports, and entertainment company operating in Dubai, Riyadh, and Cairo, with over 120 employees. With the vision that’s embedded, I am sure it will continue to grow to new and exceptional heights. I wish the very best to my colleagues and to the chairman, Abu Abdulelah, and his father, Engineer Abdulelah, who will undoubtedly lead this company to new heights.”  

While a successor for the CEO position has not yet been announced, Khalid said, “I continue to be a part of the Executive Committee and hope to continue supporting the success…”  

Khalid is set to embark on a new leadership journey, which he will be sharing soon. “On to the next adventure,” he added.  

Khalid brings over 15 years of leadership experience across the finance, management consulting, media, and advertising sectors. He currently serves as the Chairman of the NRC Committee and a Board Member of the General Entertainment Authority. He has also been recognised as a Young Global Leader by Her Majesty Queen Rania for the World Economic Forum and is a member of WEF’s Global Agenda Council on the Middle East and North Africa, chaired by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.  

In the past, he worked with Saudi Banks as the Acting Secretary General for the Saudi Banks Committee/Advisor, with Riyad Bank as the Chief Experience Officer, and with KSA’s Ministry of Labor as a Steering Committee Member. Additionally, he served at KPMG as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Marketing, CSR, and Communications. He began his career with Deutsche Gulf Finance Bank as the Head of Marketing.  

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On the academic front, Khalid holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from Saint Mary's University, a Master’s degree in Leadership from Yale University, and has completed an executive education course in Global Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a qualified Chartered Marketer from The Chartered Institute of Marketing, becoming the 26th Saudi national to hold this qualification. Additionally, he holds several certifications in Advanced HR Management from the Institute of International Research and a Certificate in Marketing Communication and Journalism from West Herts College.