Corporate Governance
Members of the Board & the Executive Management
Rule III: Recruit Highly Qualified Candidates for the Members of a Board of Directors and Executive Management
About the Board of Directors
Osamah Othman Al Furaih
CHAIRMAN
- A representative of Kuwait Investment Authority
- Member of the Board of Directors since 2023
- Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2023
DATE OF BIRTH: 1973
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tennessee State University
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Over 25 years of experience in investment, industrial, banking, aviation, tourism, hotel, and transportation sectors. A prosperous career in project management and development, investment, portfolio and asset management, investment valuation, project and corporate strategies financing, credit, securities analysis, and risk forecasting across Europe, America, and MENA.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Senior Investment Manager at Kuwait Investment Authority of the General Reserves fund. He is the Chairman of the Arab African International Bank (2024-till date). He was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company from (2018-2023). Previous Board Member at Kuwait Airways from (2018-2020.) Held the position of Chairman of the Board of the Kuwait Small Projects Development Company (2014-2017), previously the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Arab International Hotels Company (2004- 2011). He served as the Chairman of the Board of the Touristic Enterprises Company and was a Board member at Arab African International Bank, Industrial Bank of Kuwait, the Syrian Arab Company for Hotels and Tourism, Kuwait United Poultry Company.
Bader Nasser AlKharafi
VICE CHAIRMAN AND GROUP CEO
- Member of the Board of Directors since 2011
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2015
- CEO since 2017
DATE OF BIRTH: 1977
EDUCATION:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) from London Business School, a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kuwait University, and currently pursuing a PhD at IE University in Madrid.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
He is one of the most active business leaders in the Middle East and Africa region. with an exceptional track record in leading business development and consulting projects for major corporations and international institutions. His activities span the finance, investment, business, and industrial sectors through a vast network of projects across the Gulf region, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He also has expertise in risk management, serving as a member of the Board Risk Committee at Zain.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Chairman of the Board of Zain Sudan, Board Member of Al-Khatem Telecom Company in Iraq, Vice Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia, Board Member of Zain Bahrain, Chairman of TASC Towers, and Chairman of FOO Solutions. Beyond Zain, Mr. Al-Kharafi is the Chairman of Boursa Kuwait, Vice Chairman of Gulf Cables & Electrical Industries KSC (Kuwait), Board Member of Refreshment Trading Company (Coca-Cola), Vice Chairman of National Investments Company (NIC), Board Member of Foulath Holding B.S.C. and Bahrain Steel BSCC. Member of the Middle East Advisory Board of Coutts (Royal Bank of Scotland’s wealth division), Chairmanship of Injaz Kuwait, a non-profit empowering youth, Board membership in the Kuwait-British Friendship Society (since April 2014), and membership on Kuwait University’s Industrial Advisory Board for Mechanical Engineering.
Zaki bin Hilal bin Saud AlBusaidi
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Member of the Board of Directors since 2020
DATE OF BIRTH: 1973
EDUCATION:
Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, and Bachelor’s degree in public administration from Yarmouk University in Jordan.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
He has nearly 28 years of experience, having worked in the Ministry of Civil Service in the Sultanate of Oman in 1996 for 18 years, held the position of Director General of Organization and Job Classification, and held the position of CEO at the Institute of Public Administration since 2014.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Member in the State Council in the Sultante of Oman and Member in the Consultation Board for the Supreme Council of the GCC. Board Member in Liva Group company (insurance company)
Abdulrahman Mohammed Ibrahim AlAsfoor
INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER
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Member of the Board of Directors since 2018
DATE OF BIRTH: 1981
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Kuwait University.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Extensive technical experience in the application of information technology solutions, worked as a financial expert in the management of information systems at Equate Petrochemical Company, He has experience in the field of auditing through his work at the State Audit Bureau.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Group Holding. He also served as a board member of WABA Medical Insurance Company.
Yousef Khaled AlAbdulrazzaq
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- A representative of the Kuwait Investment Authority
- Member of the Board of Directors since 2018
DATE OF BIRTH: 1983
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, majoring in Finance, from Kuwait University
WORK EXPERIENCE:
His experience extends to 19 years at Kuwait Investment Authority in the general reserve sector. He is currently a senior investment manager within the General Reserve Sector under the local equities department at the Kuwait Investment Authority.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Member of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Tourism Enterprises Company (2012-2019), Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Human Resources Committee in the Public Facilities Management Company (2015-2018).
Atif bin Said bin Rashid AlSiyabi
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Member of the Board of Directors since 2020
DATE OF BIRTH: 1980
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Hardware and Network Technology from Coventry University, a Master of Business Administration from Franklin University, Certificate in Professional Leadership Development from HEC Paris.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
He is the Chief of Information Management at the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) in the Sultanate of Oman. His track record extends to more than 21 years in Information Technology and business transformation. His experiences vary from hands-on experience leading innovative technology solutions and system operations to transforming business operations and driving technological advancements. He is involved in various investment initiatives in the ICT sector, where he has been leading numerous assignments, devising comprehensive strategies, and delivering several ICT projects at the national level.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Director of Information Management at the General Reserve Fund (SGRF) in the Sultanate of Oman.
Aladdin Baitfadhil
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Board Member since 2020
DATE OF BIRTH: 1978
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Sultan Qaboos University, He holds certifications in executive leadership programs from Harvard University and London Business School.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Eng. Aladdin Baitfadhil is the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Omantel, the Sultanate’s leading integrated telecommunication services provider. Eng. Aladdin has been the torchbearer of Omantel’s digital transformation journey responsible for driving the growth of Consumer and Enterprise business units of Omantel across core telco products, cloud-based ICT Solutions and emerging technologies. He is a renowned business leader in the telecom’s landscape with over 20 years of strategic and operational experience in diverse multi-domain roles – spanning across marketing, sales, network operations, service delivery and customer experience.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Infoline” company. He holds executive board positions in NAMA Water, Oman Data Park (ODP).
Nasser Sulaiman Al Harthy
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Member of the Board of Directors since 2020
DATE OF BIRTH: 1975
EDUCATION:
Master of Business Administration from Victoria University in Australia, Bachelor of Finance from the United Arab Emirates University, National Leadership and Competitiveness Program (NLCP) from Oxford University.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
He has experience of up to 27 years in the investment, economic and financial sectors. He is the Depute President for Operations at the Oman Investment Authority, responsible for financial and administrative affairs, information management, legal affairs, and compliance.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
ASYAD Group Chairman, Vietnam Oman Investments, Chairman, Charmain of Takatuf Oman.
Dr. Saad Ahmed AlNahedh
INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER
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Member of the Board of Directors since 2024
DATE OF BIRTH: 1986
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in business administration from the University of Kansas in 2008, an MBA from the University of California, Irvine in 2012, and a Doctorate in Finance from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Alnahedh is a Professor of Finance at the College of Business Administration, Kuwait University, teaching undergraduate and MBA students. He has extensive expertise in regulatory and governance policy development, banking supervision, and have previously consulted for the Central Bank of Kuwait, a pioneering institution in issuing US-dollardenominated short-term sukuk and enhancing liquidity management in the global Islamic finance industry. Alnahedh is also affiliated with the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and has published his research on corporate finance, governance, risk management, banking supervision, mergers and acquisitions, and institutional investment in top-tier academic peer-reviewed journals.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Member of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development since 2021. He served as the Chair of the Risk Management Committee and is currently the Chair of the Investment Committee. He also served as the Chair of the Risk Management Committee of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM). He has also contributed to key government initiatives, including improving key performance indicators (KPIs) for government entities through the Government Performance Follow-Up Agency.
Ibrahim Said AlEisri
MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DATE OF BIRTH: 1980
EDUCATION:
Master’s degree in Finance from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
AlEisri has over 20 years of professional experience across the telecommunications, oil and gas, and financial investment sectors. He currently serves as Head of Private Markets Investments at the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), where he is responsible for developing and executing private market investment strategies, overseeing portfolio performance, and supporting long-term value creation in line with national economic diversification objectives.
Previously, he held senior roles at the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) and Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), where he was involved in financial planning, performance analysis, capital allocation, and investment management. Throughout his career, he has contributed to strengthening investment governance, enhancing financial discipline, and supporting sustainable growth initiatives.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS:
Chairman of Nama Water Services; Chairman of Razika Infrastructure Fund; Board Member of Ahli Bank; Board Member of Omantel.
About Executive Management
Ossama Matta
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2010
EDUCATION:
Master’s in Business Administration -American University of Beirut (AUB), 2007; Certified Public Accountant (CPA) 1998; Bachelor of Business Administration (AUB) 1994.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
With over 30 years of financial, managerial, operational, strategic, and vendor experience in the mobile and ICT sectors across the MEA region. He joined Zain Group in 2004 and became the Chief Financial Officer of Zain Group in June 2010. As a key member of the senior executive management team, he plays a key role supporting the Group CEO in executing the company’s ‘4WARD-Progress with Purpose’ corporate strategy. Mr. Matta maintains trusted relationships with global investment and commercial banking communities, evidenced by his pivotal role in securing over $25 billion in corporate financing for Zain since he joined.
Mohammad AlMarshed
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2024
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach; Master Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University; Executive Master’s degree from HEC Paris.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Over 23 years of experience in telecommunications and ICT. Joined Zain in 2002 as a Network Engineer and held several senior roles, including CTO of Zain KSA. Led greenfield operations and 5G rollouts across key markets.
Kamil Hilali
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2018
EDUCATION:
BSc in Industrial Engineering from the National School of Mineral Industry (Morocco), an MBA from Suffolk University (Boston, USA), and a Master’s in Finance from London Business School.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
With over 23 years of experience in telecom, digital infrastructure, and corporate strategy, specializing in business transformation, mergers and acquisitions, growth strategy, capital allocation, and international connectivity. Leading major initiatives to diversify organizations into digital infrastructure.
Mohammad Abdal
CHIEF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2015
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Information Management Systems from Portland State University, USA.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Over 25 years of experience. Oversees Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, and Governance. Played a key role in Zain’s expansion across the Middle East and Africa and in establishing the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) in Kuwait.
Malek Hammoud
CHIEF INVESTMENTS AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2017
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut; MBA from London Business School; Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Leads the Group’s digital investment strategy and revenue diversification initiatives. Oversaw the establishment of Zain Ventures, Zain Fintech, Dizlee, Zain Esports, and other strategic growth platforms.
Nawal H. Bourisli
CHIEF PURPOSE AND HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2018
EDUCATION:
Leadership Development Program, Harvard Business School.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Oversees Human Resources and Purpose strategy, including talent development, change management, recruitment, culture, rewards, engagement, and leadership development.
Jennifer Suleiman
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2018
EDUCATION:
Degree in Art History and Archaeology from Washington University, Missouri, USA.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Over 33 years of experience. Leads sustainability strategy, reporting and disclosures, engagement with international organizations like the GSMA and the UN Global Compact, and co-chairs the Zain Climate Action Committee.
Firas Oggar
HEAD OF LEGAL
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2017
EDUCATION:
Master’s degree in International Business Law from the University of Paris.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Qualified lawyer before the Paris Bar with 25 years of experience in France and the Middle East. Held senior executive legal roles and serves as a visiting professor at Paris Panthéon-Assas University.
Dr. Andrew Arowojolu
CHIEF REGULATORY OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2016
EDUCATION:
PhD in Mobile Wireless Communications; Master’s degree from the University of Liverpool; Bachelor’s degree from the University of Lagos; LLM from Queen Mary University of London. Masters in Digital Transformation from IE University.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Over 32 years of experience in telecommunications across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Leads the Group’s regulatory strategy and engagement with regulatory authorities.
AbdulGhaffar Setareh
CHIEF RISK OFFICER
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2016
EDUCATION:
Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from École Nationale des Télécommunications, Morocco.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Over 30 years of experience in telecommunications and IT. Led risk, cybersecurity, engineering, and operations functions across Zain’s Middle East and Africa operations.
Javier Cuadrado
CHIEF INTERNAL AUDITOR
APPOINTMENT DATE: 2023
EDUCATION:
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA); Executive Development Program (IESE, Madrid); Master in Financial Markets; Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
22 years of experience in internal audit and telecommunications. Held senior audit roles in Spain, Chile, and the UAE and served as Team Leader at IIA Spain.