Six executives overseeing the use of information technology (IT) in the sultanate
Gerry Mitchell
Position Chief information officer (CIO), Oman Air
Biography Gerry Mitchell has been CIO of Oman Air since November 2009. He leads the flag carrier’s information technology (IT) systems and processes. Mitchell has more than 20 years’ experience in the IT sector. He began his career in 1991, working as a senior analyst for Fiji-based Information Technology & Computing. In 1995, he became manager of applications for North Queensland Electricity in Australia, heading the IT applications and software development team. He joined Royal Brunei Airlines in 1998 as manager of applications before being appointed head of IT, a position he held until 2006. He left the airline to join Kazakhstan’s Air Astana as director of IT and e-commerce, where he worked for three years before joining Oman Air. Mitchell has a bachelor’s degree in business computing and information systems from the Northern Territory University in Australia.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2 453 1111
Abdulkarim Alhinai
Position Assistant general manager and head of IT, National Bank of Oman (NBO)
Biography Abdulkarim Alhinai has more than two decades of experience in the IT sector, particularly in resource management, systems development and project management. In his current role as the assistant general manager and head of IT at the NBO, he is responsible for developing and aligning IT strategy with the bank’s business objectives and plans. Alhinai has developed IT governance and control systems for NBO and information systems resources. Alhinai is currently working on introducing mobile banking at NBO and developing a data centre. He previously worked as technical project leader for Petroleum Development Oman from 1989 until 1999. He joined NBO in January 1999 as a manager of IT, before being promoted to his present role in 2002. Alhinai graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Fontbonne University in the US in 1989.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2 477 8000
Hilal al-Habsy
Position Manager of business information management systems, Oman Refineries & Petrochemicals Company (Orpic)
Biography Hilal al-Habsy is the manager of business information management systems at Orpic, a role he has held since 2008. He is responsible for the overall management of IT systems. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the IT sector, mainly in the oil and gas industry. In 1998, he was appointed IT manager of Oman Refinery Company. When the company merged with Sohar Refinery Company in 2008, Al-Habsy was tasked with overseeing the merger and integration of the two companies’ IT systems. Prior to this, he worked as network manager at Petroleum Development Oman in 1995-98. He also held a similar role at UK/Dutch Shell Group. Al-Habsy has a degree in computer technology from Teeside University in the UK. Orpic is a state firm that owns the only two oil refineries in Oman.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2 685 1000
Ravi Khanna
Position Assistant general manager of IT, Bank Dhofar
Biography Ravi Khanna is the assistant general manager of IT at Bank Dhofar, Oman’s third largest bank in terms of assets. He has been with Bank Dhofar since 1996 and in his current role, is responsible for the planning and strategy of the company’s information and communications systems. He oversees all activities relating to the bank’s processing operations, as well as the installation, maintenance and enhancement of the firm’s IT systems. During his time at the bank, he has supervised the implementation of a new core banking solution, migrating all the customers’ financial data onto the system. He also introduced internet banking services for the company. Khanna began his career as assistant manager at Escorts Tractors in India in 1985 and worked at the company for seven years. He has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kashmir in India.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2 479 0466
Rogeh Hajj
Position CIO, Zubair Corporation
Biography Rogeh Hajj is CIO of Zubair Corporation and is responsible for technology and systems across the whole group. Rogeh manages the group’s overall IT strategy, the planning and implementation of current and future IT needs and oversees operations. Hajj has more than 20 years of experience in IT management with multinational companies in the Middle East, mainly in retail, distribution, manufacturing, telecoms and IT, trading and investments. This includes overseeing the entire technology operations on a regional level. Rogeh completed a master’s degree in computer science, business and management studies from Beirut’s Lebanese University in 1990. Zubair Corporation is one of the largest private business groups in Oman. It owns more than 60 companies, subsidiaries and associates across the Middle East, India, the Far East, Europe and the US.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2 452 7777
Hilal al-Shukri
Position Head of IT, Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC)
Biography Hilal al-Shukri is the head of IT at OETC, where he manages IT systems and implements IT strategy, which has included moving the company’s database into cloud computing. He joined OETC in November 2004. Prior to this, Al-Shukri worked for a year at the Ministry of Housing, Electricity and Water as a computer engineer, before becoming head of technical support in 2002. Al-Shukri graduated with a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt in 2001. He is currently studying for his master’s degree in business administration at the Middle East College of Information Technology in Oman and is due to finish in 2012. OETC is a listed firm and is currently undertaking a major expansion of its power transmission infrastructure worth OR116m ($301m).
Contact Tel: (+968) 2 457 3221
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