Tag Archives: Acting CEO

Abeer Al Akel has been appointed acting CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla, local media reported. She has been assigned the duties of CEO, replacing Eng. Amr Al-Madani following his arrest over corruption charges. Abeer Al Akel joined the Royal Commission for AlUla in 2017, and served as head of the Private Initiatives and Partnerships Sector. She also held several leadership positions, most notably director of the Strategic Delivery Department at the Commission; director of the Information System Department; director of the Productivity Department at SABB, and senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PWC). Al Akel is holder of a bachelor’s degree in computer science from King Saud University and completed the leadership development program from Harvard University. It is noteworthy that the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) announced on Sunday the arrest of Amr Al-Madani for his alleged involvement in crimes of abuse of power and money laundering to the tune of SR206 million. The partners of Al-Madani in a company were also arrested after the Nazaha discovered that they managed, along with Al-Madani, to obtain contracts for the National Talents Company, owned by them, from King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy in an illegal manner.

Rotana has signed a hotel management agreement with Al Ibaa Company to operate a five-star property in Baghdad. It will operate the city’s famed Babylon Hotel under its new brand name Babylon Rotana Baghdad. With a prime location next to the high-security Green Zone, close to the banks of the famous Tigris River and just 30 minutes’ drive from Baghdad International Airport, Babylon Rotana will offer long and short-staying guests alike all the comfort required for a pleasant and memorable stay experience. Boasting avant-garde architecture, the hotel features 284 spacious and modern rooms and suites with stunning views of Baghdad’s skyline and the majestic Tigris River. Imad Al Yasri, Chairman, Al Ibaa Company, commented, “It gives us immense pleasure to partner with Rotana to operate our five-star property in Baghdad, and we are excited about the planned upgrade and refurbishment of the hotel. We are confident that the partnership with Rotana will present a compelling value proposition for our guests, employees, and stakeholders, and further drive our business growth. We look forward to working closely with Rotana to enhance the overall performance of the hotel, thereby contributing to the development of a thriving hospitality market in the capital city.” Guy Hutchinson, Acting CEO, Rotana, said, “At Rotana, we are delighted to have made a strong start to the New Year with the signing of the agreement to operate the Babylon Rotana Baghdad. This new milestone is closely aligned with our vision to further deepen our footprint in the region and cement our leadership position in the hospitality sector.”