SAMI names Eng. Walid Abukhaled as the new CEO

The Board of Directors of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) has appointed Eng. Walid Abukhaled as CEO of the company. The resolution comes following his position as Acting chief executive officer and is based on his great ability and skill to manage the companys business efficiently during the past months.

The Board recognized Eng. Walid Abukhaleds almost 30-year-long global experience in security and military industries, during which he held numerous leadership positions, most prominently CEO for the Middle East at defence giant Northrop Grumman, Deputy Minister of Industrial Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry, President and CEO of General Electric in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and Chairman of the Operations Board and Director of Strategic Investments Group at BAE Systems in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

SAMIs Board wished Eng. Walid Abukhaled victory in his current role, showing their faith in his leadership of the company for the next stage. Launched in May 2017, SAMI is a state-owned military industries company that is mandated to develop and promote military activities in Saudi Arabia and improve its self-sufficiency.

Aiming to be among the top 25 military industries companies in the world by 2030, SAMI is playing a key role in supporting the localization of 50% of the Kingdoms total government military spending, working under the directives outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030.