After 15 years of recognizing executive excellence in Australia, The CEO Magazine is proud to announce the inaugural finalists for the 2026 Executive of the Year Awards – Middle East & Africa.

Delivered in partnership with Headline Sponsor Ardaas Holdings, the program marks a defining milestone – establishing a global benchmark for leadership recognition across one of the world’s most dynamic business regions.

A global standard of executive excellence

For more than a decade, the Executive of the Year Awards have celebrated CEOs and senior leaders who demonstrate:

Strategic vision

Sustained commercial performance

Innovation and transformation

Culture and people leadership

Industry and community impact

The expansion into the Middle East and Africa reflects the region’s increasing global influence and the caliber of leadership shaping its economic future.

Proudly delivered with Ardaas Holdings

The 2026 Executive of the Year Awards – Middle East & Africa program is delivered in partnership with Headline Sponsor Ardaas Holdings, an organization aligned with long-term value creation, strategic growth and leadership excellence across the region.

This partnership reinforces a shared commitment to recognizing leaders who drive sustainable impact and transformative progress.

As the initial cohort of the Middle East and Africa program, the 2026 finalists represent the benchmark for executive excellence in the region.

To be named an inaugural finalist is not only an achievement – it is a distinction that places these leaders at the forefront of business transformation across the Middle East and Africa.

CEO OF THE YEAR

Mohamed Abdelbary
Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Nizar Kayali
President – Agri-Business, Agthia Group PJSC

Geoffrey Alphonso
CEO, Alef Education

Faisal Al Nassar
President & CEO, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group

Ibrahim Al Shami
Managing Director, Jotun

Olatomiwa Williams
Chief Growth & AI Officer – Middle East and Africa, Microsoft

Sherif Foda
Chairman and CEO, National Energy Services Reunited

Mohammed Albuty
CEO, National Housing Company

Kalyana Sivagnanam
Group CEO, Petromin Corporation

Hakimuddin Ali
President – Middle East, Türkiye & Africa (META), RHI Magnesita – Middle East, Türkiye & Africa Region

COMMUNITY

Richard Roudeix
Senior Vice President Olefins & Polyolefins Europe, Asia, International, LyondellBassell

Keith Watson
Division Manager, Reza Hygiene

Mark Benzahia
Managing Director, S.A. TALKE

Mater Al Dhafeeri
Vice President, Commercial, Sahara International Petrochemical Company

CUSTOMER IMPACT

Rohit Lamba
Group Marketing Director, African Industries Group

Sanchita Singh
Director, BIDCO Africa

George Kunnappally
Managing Director – United Arab Emirates, Nando’s

Kevin Lakay
General Manager – South Africa, Unilever Food Solutions

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Martin Roe
Group CEO, CCI Global

Sherif Elkhouly
Co-Founder and CEO, DataScience Middle East

Nishant Saxena
Global CEO, Erba Mannheim

Helmy Abouleish
CEO, SEKEM

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Lorraine Dyer
Country Manager, Bata South Africa

Mohamed Seghir
CEO, HAYAH Insurance

Darrell Edon
CFO, PJP Investments Group

Peter Karsten
CEO, STARTRADER

INNOVATION

Navneet Dalal
Former Middle East Regional General Manager, Logistica-EnKay Express

Vas Daichenko
Founder & CEO, LoyaltyPlant

Mohamed Shaheen
CEO Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen and Bahrain, Schneider Electric

Ramez Abou Zaid
CEO, Union Insurance

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

Julius Fon
Country Director – Cameroon, CBM Cameroon

Deyaa Mukhtar
CEO, King Abdulaziz Hospital – Makkah Health Cluster

Kaushik Burman
CEO, Spiro

Yanal Alkhasoneh
Division Director and Advisor – Information Technology, The General Administration of Customs – Abu Dhabi