Serco has announced the promotion of Hana Abu Kharmeh to the position of Chief Operations Officer for the Middle East region, with immediate effect.

Hana has been with the company since 2019 and most recently served as the Chief People and Culture Officer. Stepping into her new role as COO, she brings over 17 years of HR and business expertise across leading sectors of the Middle East region. She will spearhead the company's technology and transition teams, in addition to continuing to oversee the Middle East’s HR and workforce management (WFM) functions. She will also drive innovation and ensure high-quality, consistent delivery of people-focused services. Her appointment further bolsters the company’s DEI commitment. Over the last five years, Hana has been crucial in developing Serco’s people department. Her efforts have made Serco an employer of choice for nationals, focusing on local talent and fostering a culture of growth and well-being. The company has surpassed Emiratisation targets sevenfold and increased the number of female nationals by 133% in the past two years.

Before joining Serco, Hana worked with Damco as the Head of HR for the Middle East & Africa, overseeing Pakistan, Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. She also served as the HR Director for UAE and Oman at Kuehne + Nagel and as the General Manager of HR at A.P. Moller - Maersk. On the academic front, she holds a BSc in Computer Science from Princess Sumaya University of Technology, a Management Programme certificate from the University of Oxford, and a Six Sigma Belt in Process Excellence from Maersk.

She will report to Phil Malem, CEO for Serco - Middle East, and will be part of the company’s executive leadership team.

Phil welcomed Hana to her new role, stating, “I congratulate Hana on her promotion to Chief Operations Officer. Hana has been a pivotal part of our success story, expertly leading our people function with dedication and foresight. Her proven leadership skills are true assets to the business, and in her new role, I’m looking forward to Hana further embedding her innovative mindset and striving for continuous improvement into our culture. At Serco, we are committed to establishing a workplace where diversity thrives and career advancement, regardless of gender, is supported through internal policies and strategy. Hana’s journey is a prime example, and I hope her promotion is an inspiration to other women, both inside and outside Serco.”

Hana also expressed, “I’m privileged to be taking on this new position, working closely with Phil and the team to deliver exceptional service to our customers. As we continue to invest in our end-to-end capabilities and services, we are strengthening our offering in the region, cementing our role as a trusted partner to governmental organisations. Technology and innovation is at the heart of what we do – bringing together the right people, the right technology and the right partners to create innovative solutions that make a positive impact and address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the modern world.”