Dr. Samir J. Serhan

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Samir J. Serhan is the Chief Executive Officer of Acwa and is responsible for the company’s global strategy and operations spanning 15 markets currently. Before his appointment as CEO, Dr. Serhan was Acwa’s President of Saudi Arabia and Middle East, where he was responsible for seven key markets, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Iraq.

Previously, Dr. Serhan was Chief Operating Officer of the US-based company Air Products where he had global responsibility for the company’s operational business and project execution with P&L accountability for the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. He also led functions including technology, global engineering, manufacturing, and equipment at Air Products.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Serhan was President, Hydrogen for Praxair. For 14 years prior, he worked for the Linde Group in leadership positions in the US and Germany, culminating in his role as Managing Director of Linde Engineering. He brings more than three decades of global leadership experience across large-scale industrial and infrastructure organizations, with a strong track record in driving operational transformation, strengthening institutional capability, and delivering disciplined and profitable growth in complex, capital-intensive environments.

Additionally, he served as an adjunct professor at Temple University and The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Serhan holds a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Active in research, he has presented and published more than 40 papers at conferences and in scientific journals around the world.

Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib

Chief Financial Officer

Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib is Chief Financial Officer of Acwa, overseeing the company’s financial strategy and performance. He brings more than 16 years of experience across business and finance roles within the group, including corporate finance and project governance.​

During his early years with Acwa, he worked on corporate finance activities and served on the boards and committees of several projects, including NOMAC (now Acwa Operations). He later focused on managing projects under execution in the UAE, such as Noor Energy 1, the world’s largest CSP project.​

Before joining Acwa, Abdulhameed worked in Global Investment Banking and Advisory at HSBC Middle East / Saudi Arabia, gaining exposure to complex financings and capital markets. He has also served as a board, audit committee, and risk committee member for institutions including HSBC Saudi Arabia, SABB, and various Acwa subsidiaries.​

He holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Miami and an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, and completed the KSA Leadership 2030 Program sponsored by the MISK Foundation.

Faisal Jadu

Chief People and Culture Officer

Faisal Jadu serves as Chief People and Culture Officer at Acwa, leading the company’s human resources strategy and people agenda. With over 20 years of experience in HR, he has helped shape workforce capabilities at several major Saudi institutions.​

His expertise spans strategic planning, change management, leadership development, governance, and organizational effectiveness. He has been responsible for designing and driving HR functions that support business growth and transformation.​

Faisal began his career at Alawwal Bank through its Future Managers Program before moving into HR, where he held a series of executive roles. In 2011, he joined Saudi British Bank (SABB), ultimately serving as Chief Human Resources Officer.​

Prior to joining Acwa, he was CEO of the Financial Skills Centre at the Ministry of Finance, a national initiative to build the financial skills of government employees across more than five hundred entities, and he also serves as an independent NRC member for several Saudi boards.

Ghassan Shawli

Chief Legal Officer

Ghassan H. Shawli is Chief Legal Officer of Acwa, bringing 19 years of senior legal leadership to the group. He oversees the company’s legal affairs and supports governance across complex projects and transactions.​

Before joining Acwa, Ghassan was Chief Legal Officer at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, where he built and led the legal function. He previously served as Vice President of Legal Affairs at Saudi Arabian Airlines and held senior positions at Saudi Aramco.​

His experience covers acting as lead counsel on large-scale projects, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, and major restructurings, often involving companies with multi-billion-dollar market capitalizations. This breadth gives him a strong foundation to support Acwa’s growth.​

Ghassan is admitted to the New York State Bar and holds a Juris Doctor in law from Northwestern School of Law, combining international legal training with deep experience in the Saudi market.

Simon Watson

Chief Health, Safety, Security & Environment Officer

Simon Watson serves as Chief Health, Safety, Security & Environment Officer of Acwa, guiding safety and sustainability across high-risk operations. International experience has shaped his approach to performance improvement and risk management.

His career began as a non-commissioned officer in the British Army, where he developed leadership and operational skills. Transitioning into industry, Simon designed and led HSSE strategies, including serving as Vice President of HSSES for Wood in the EMEA region.

Further roles at Siemens Mobility and Thames Water allowed him to reduce incidents and embed sustainable practices into business operations. A blend of strategic insight and practical execution has strengthened compliance and resilience.

Simon holds an MBA and a degree in Health and Safety, and he remains committed to continuous professional development. His leadership continues to advance Acwa’s safety culture.

Tahir Mahmood

Chief Risk Officer

Tahir Mahmood serves as Chief Risk Officer of Acwa, directing enterprise-wide risk management and governance frameworks. More than 20 years of experience in compliance and assurance underpin his approach to resilience.

His career spans leadership roles at National Grid Plc, Centrica Plc, and UK Power Networks, where he served as Director of Finance Assurance, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, and Chief Audit Executive. Most recently, Tahir held the same dual role at Saudi Electric Company, advancing risk maturity and compliance programs.

Expertise in enterprise risk frameworks, audit, and governance has defined his contributions across organizations. He has led post-acquisition reviews and group-wide governance processes while engaging regularly with boards and stakeholders.

Tahir is a qualified accountant with a BSc (Hons) from Aston University, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and a PRINCE2 Practitioner. His leadership strengthens Acwa’s risk management capabilities.

Furqan Kamlani

Chief Audit Officer

Furqan Kamlani serves as Chief Audit Officer of Acwa, reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board and the CEO. His remit covers independent assurance over governance, risk, and controls.

With more than 26 years in finance and audit, Furqan has built expertise in the aviation and energy sectors. Previous responsibilities at Acwa as Vice President – Internal Audit provided detailed insight into operations and compliance.

Earlier, Furqan held senior roles at Emirates Group, where he led finance and administration in Pakistan before becoming Head of Audit for Emirates Operations. At Saudia Technic, he established the audit and risk function as Chief Audit & Risk Officer, emphasizing Saudi talent development.

Furqan is a Chartered Accountant from Pakistan and a Certified Internal Auditor accredited by The Institute of Internal Auditors in the US. His leadership continues to strengthen Acwa’s governance framework.

Saleh Al Khabti

President, China

Saleh Al Khabti serves as President of Acwa China, leading strategy, and partnerships across the Chinese market. His work focuses on positioning Acwa as a trusted partner in the region.

Previously, Saleh was Deputy Minister of Investment Transactions at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, where he designed incentive frameworks and negotiated deals worth billions of US dollars. Earlier roles at Aramco Asia’s China office included Vice President of Business Origination and Vice President of Joint Venture Development, where he structured major downstream transactions.

Saleh holds an MBA with a specialization in marketing from Phoenix, United States, and a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Xiamen University in China. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Mandarin, he continues to strengthen Acwa’s presence in China.

Hashim Ghabashi

President, Africa

Hashim Ghabashi serves as President, MEASEA of Acwa, overseeing operations across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. More than 21 years of experience support his leadership.

His technical background spans project management, petrochemicals, energy, and water desalination. Working with international consulting firms has helped him lead initiatives in cost leadership, reliability, health and safety, and culture enhancement.

Experience in multicultural environments and collaboration with contractors from Europe, the Far East, and China have strengthened his ability to align teams toward common goals.

Since joining Acwa in 2015, Hashim has served as EMO of Bowarege and RABEC, then as EMD for the Hassyan Clean Coal Project, and currently as EMD of Noor Energy 1, the world’s largest CSP project under construction. His leadership continues to drive operational excellence.

Abid Malik

President, Central Asia

Abid Malik serves as President, Central Asia of Acwa, leading activities across key markets in the region. A background in mechanical engineering underpins more than 25 years in the power sector.

Early career roles at AES and Engro Power (formerly Exxon) covered business development, design, construction, and operations of power assets. Joining Acwa in 2009, Abid has since taken on senior leadership positions spanning project development and asset management.

Direct involvement in major power transactions worldwide has given him deep insight into both contracted projects and merchant market investments. Knowledge of development, design, operations, and commercial structures allows him to navigate the sector’s two core business models effectively.

Abid also serves on the boards of several power and utility companies owned and operated by Acwa. His leadership continues to advance the company’s growth in Central Asia.