Khalid Abdullah Almolhem

Company: Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia)
Position: Director general

Biography: Since taking over in 2006, Almolhem has prioritised the privatisation of Saudi Arabia’s national airline and has been credited with achieving a turnaround in its commercial viability.

Within his first six months, he divided the maintenance, catering, cargo, training and ground handling operations into individual units with a view to selling them off. A 49 per cent stake in the group’s catering unit and a 30 per cent holding in its cargo operation have now been sold. He is also directing an overhaul of the carrier’s fleet.

Almolhem has served as president of telecoms operator Saudi Telecom from 1998 to 2003, where he oversaw the firm’s successful flotation and restructuring of the business.

Almolhem was also CEO of the Al-Marai Dairy Company, one of the country’s largest listed firms, and held various positions over nine years at the local bank Sabb.

Contact: (+966) 2686 2203
Company website: www.saudiairlines.com