Board and Executives

Al-Sarhan has extensive experience in management, energy, nutrition, and logistics sector for over 45 years in both the public and private sectors. Al-Sarhan worked at the beginning of his career in various activities in the sectors of the petroleum industry and the distribution of his products. He also participated in many conferences, training courses, seminars, and economic forums in various areas of management within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in many countries of the world. He also worked in the nutrition sector, professional services, transportation and logistics services. He held several leadership positions at Al Faisaliah Holding Group and Al Safi Danone Ltd., the most recent of which was Vice President of Al Faisaliah Group. He currently chairs the Board of Directors of National Shipping (Al Bahri) Company and Al Muzaini Real Estate Development Company.

Diversified Engineering & Managerial experience covering more than 35 years in both public and private sectors. In the beginning of his career Raed worked in diversified engineering activities within power and water sectors, then moved to the private sector and acquired vast experience in building materials (trading and manufacturing), namely steel, cement, timber, gypsum, pre-cast and electrical transformers manufacturing. He participated in tens of conferences, training courses, seminars, economic forums in Management, Finance, Strategy and Leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in many countries in the world.

Al Betari has more than 25 years of experience. He started his career at Saudi American bank’s (Citibank), he also worked at The Family Office Co BSc, a leading multi-family office based in the Kingdom of Bahrain where he was one of the founders of the firm. His background includes serving on numerous non-profit organization committees such as the National Young businessmen committee, part of the National chamber of commerce in Saudi Arabia, and currently heads the Saudi Chapter for the alumni of London Business School and is a YPO member for both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Chapters. In addition, Abdulwahab sits in the board of many local companies. holds An MBA degree from, and an undergraduate degree in finance. He also holds CME-1 & CME4 certification from the Capital Market Authority.

CEO, CCO, MD, EVP, Executive Board Director and Management Consultant leadership expertise with 40 + years’ experience in leading Global Airline Catering units, Inflight services, Food Services & Retail Operations, Airline Onboard Services & Amenities, Airport lounges, Event Operations Frozen meal facility, Laundry facilities and 5-star Hotels and Hospitality companies globally. Track record of transforming companies via strategic leadership and implementing lean management principles such as Kaizen, Six Sigma, TPM, Kanban etc.; exponentially increasing Sales, Net Profits while spearheading operational excellence with enhanced employee productivity, retention and reduced costs. Led companies to yield over USD 900 million in annual revenue whilst simultaneously overseeing expansion projects of over USD 350 million.

Fadi has more than 25 years of experience in the consulting and private equity sectors focusing on the transportation, logistics and real estate industries. Since 2018, Fadi Majdalani has been the Managing Partner of Excelsa, an asset management and private equity firm focusing mainly on income generating real estate investments in the United States. Prior to this, Fadi was a senior partner with Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company), a leading global management consulting firm where he served some of the largest Middle East private and publicly owned corporations. Over a 20-year period, he led the firm’s practices covering the transportation, logistics, real estate and construction industries.

Al-Yousefi has extensive experience in the field of energy and investment spanning more than 15 years, during which he served as the Director of Investments and the founder of the Riyadh Fund for Technology, the Saudi Company for Development and Technical Investment (TAQNIA), Analyst at Passport Capital, California, USA, adviser to the King Abdullah Center for Petroleum Studies and Research, Co-official in the ownership department of Jadwa Investment Company, Adviser at Strategy & Co. previously known as CO & BOOZ in the USA, Oilfield Engineer at Schlumberger, USA. Communications Engineer at Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco). Al-Yousefi also participates in the membership of several companies, such us member of the risk committee in the Saudi Fransi Capital Company, a member of the nominations committee and a member of the investment committee of Medgulf Insurance Company, a member of the board of directors of Sada Investment Company.

Olivier Harnisch is a hospitality veteran. He began his career in Nice, France, in 1986 and has worked across the globe since. He spent 14 years at Hilton Hotels where he was Managing Director for Northern and Central Europe. From 2012 until 2016 he was Chief Operating Officer of the Radisson Hotel Group. In 2016 he was appointed CEO of Emaar Hospitality Group in Dubai. From 2019 until 2021 Olivier Harnisch was Head of Hospitality of the Public Investment Fund and CEO of the PIF Hotel Management Company in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Mousa has more than 22 years of experience in which he held several positions, including EVP, Investment – Saudia Arabian Airlines, EVP, Head of Financial Institutions Department - National Commercial Bank, Several positions at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Several positions at the Samba Financial Group (SAMBA).

Joza has over ten years of experience in law, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, competition law, and international trade (WTO). Joza holds Master’s degree in law from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She currently holds the position of Managing Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills (International law firm), while also serving as a board member at Georgetown University MENA Law Alumni Advisory Board, and Arab Regional Forum Liaison Officer, International Bar Association (IBA). She was previously a Senior Legal Counsel at Air Products, Dhahran, In addition to other functional and consulting positions at White & Case, Riyadh and Baker & McKenzie (Dubai/Riyadh).

Wajdy Al-Ghabban is an accomplished professional in the aviation industry, specializing in airline catering and related services. Since 2015, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering.

With a career spanning over 35 years, Wajdy has made significant contributions to the development and implementation of software solutions for airline catering, production operations and catering unit establishment. He has held key positions within Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering, including Deputy CEO; Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice President; General Manager of the Riyadh region; and Head of the Catering Unit in Cairo.

Wajdy holds a master's degree in business administration, which he obtained in 2013 from the University of Wales, Robert Kennedy College in Switzerland. His knowledge and expertise have played a crucial role in enhancing the services provided by CATRION to both the aviation and non-aviation sectors.

In addition to his role at CATRION, Wajdy is actively involved in various professional and advisory committees. He is a member of the Supreme Committee of the Saudi Professional House Program and the Advisory Board of the Tourism College at King Abdulaziz University. Furthermore, he is affiliated with organizations such as the International Flights Services Association/ International Association of Travel Catering. Wajdy also holds positions as a board member of the Saudi French Company for Duty-Free and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Saudi Emirati Business Council.

Mahmoud has an impressive professional history with over 25 years of international executive experience in logistics and travel. He has held the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in organizations including CWT for Europe, the Middle East & Africa at Carlson; Wagonlit Travel in the United Kingdom; Mannai Corporation in Doha; and DHL United Kingdom. Additionally, he served as the Vice President Global Controller of DHL in Brussels and CFO of DHL Nordics in Helsinki. Masoud holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and financial management from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Throughout his career, Mahmoud has proven his capabilities in driving growth, orchestrating turnarounds, restructuring and spearheading various responsibilities such as M&A, divestment and financial transformation.

A renowned expert in his field, Dr Rashed has a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of Reading. With a focus on food safety and risk analysis, Dr Rashed has held significant roles such as Vice President of Health, Security and Standards Control at Catrion and Executive Director of Monitoring and Risk Assessment at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). His membership of esteemed national and international organizations reflects his specialization in food science and technology, risk analysis and quality management. His dynamic leadership and expertise contribute significantly to the success of CATRION in the in-flight catering industry.

With over two decades of senior executive management experience, Frederic brings a wealth of expertise to his role. He holds a Superior Technical Degree in Hotel, Food and Catering from France Le Touquet Institutional. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated innovative thinking, resulting in enhanced services and improved operations. Previously, Frederic served as CEO at FMH-JOURNEY/FMH-HOLDING in Avignon. At CATRION, he is focused on enhancing profitability, upholding company values, managing operations across multiple locations and exploring business development opportunities.

One of the world's most decorated chefs, Master Chef Thomas Gugler brings to Catrion nearly four decades of culinary expertise. Throughout his impressive career, Thomas has cooked for royalty, heads of state and celebrities across the globe. He has worked in prestigious establishments such as five and seven-star hotels, restaurants, airlines and catering services. Thomas is not only a certified Category A Judge, but also a champion coach for young chefs, with multiple accolades in the Cooking Olympics and World Championships. He holds memberships in numerous Chef Associations worldwide and currently serves as the President of World Chefs.

Paul Summers brings 20+ years of M&A expertise to CATRION. An alumnus of Durham University with degrees in Finance and Corporate International Finance, and an MBA from London Business School. Formerly, he was the Group Director at Ali Zaid Al Quraishi & Brothers, where he secured contracts for global brands in the GCC markets. At Zubair Corporation, he identified and executed lucrative deals. At CATRION, Paul will focus on innovative M&A deals and divestitures, and play a critical role in executing a dynamic, growth-centric business strategy.

Obaidah is a highly accomplished professional with a passion for excellence in project management and supply chain operations across his 17-year career. With a degree from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, and an MBA from Maastricht School of Management, Obaidah has consistently enabled business growth by accelerating throughput, reducing costs and lead times and increasing overall capacity in both stable and unstable environments. Obaidah has a proven track record across various industries, including food and beverages, retail, FMCG and fashion.

Saeed brings more than 23 years of senior leadership experience in Human Resources across diverse sectors. Known for his exceptional management skills in all aspects of HR functions, from talent management to compensation design, he plays a vital role in developing and executing human resource strategies that align with the overall CATRION business plan. Saeed has been instrumental in restructuring the HR strategy at CATRION, focusing on optimizing service levels and driving cost reduction. He holds an MBA in Human Resources from the University of Business and Technology, In Jeddah.

With a strong academic background in Computer Engineering from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Ashraf brings 25 years of experience to his role. Throughout his career, Ashraf has specialized in various sectors, including banking and retail, demonstrating expertise in IT and digital transformation, robotics and automation and strategic planning. At Catrion, he has successfully modernized infrastructure and application landscapes, while introducing in-house digitization and automation technologies. Ashraf's strategic approach ensures the delivery of cost-effective and cutting-edge technology solutions.

Dr. Mohammed Alawi is one of the distinguished specialists in food health and safety sciences. He has local and international contributions in the field of food control and several national initiatives in the field of control and operation. He has more than 22 years of experience in the field of business administration, city operation, quality control, auditing, and environmental health protection. He holds PhD and MSc in Food Safety from Heriot-Watt University, and Executive MBA from Northampton University in the United Kingdom. He participated in many local and international conferences and possesses practical and scientific skills that include building and motivating work teams, preparing and implementing business strategies and creating entrepreneurial businesses.

Roberto is a highly experienced and versatile professional construction engineer with acute commercial, financial and technical insight developed across a +30-year career in the construction industry within the Kingdom. With a degree of Civil Engineering from Tennessee Technological University, Roberto has extensive and prolific successes in leading and delivering a broad spectrum of diverse construction projects, incorporating large scale residential, commercial and industrial builds. Robust financial understanding, adhering towards strict budgets and schedules combined with delivery skills inclusive of design and project management. Vast experience in initial design workshops, estimating, contracts and team leadership.

Tarek is a highly experienced professional with over 32 years of expertise in internal control, inspection, operational and financial audit, as well as fraud investigation. As a registered Chartered Accountant and an MBA holder from the University of Liverpool, Tarek possesses extensive knowledge in his field. He also holds certifications such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Tarek has held senior positions at organizations including Deloitte & Touch Egypt, Rhodia, Abdul Latif Jameel, Orascom Construction Industries, and Saudi Binladin Group.