RIYADH, Saudi Arabia,
Dec. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/
-- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has announced the
appointment of His Excellency Walid Abukhaled as chief executive
Saudi Arabia, effective
Jan. 1, 2014. In this new position,
Mr Abukhaled will be responsible for leading the company's
operations in the Kingdom, accelerating growth and exploring
opportunities for public-private partnerships. This will include
coordinating the company's relationship with Saudi Arabia and providing strategic support
to the company's Middle East
business activities.
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Mr Abukhaled was most recently Deputy Minister for Industrial
Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in Riyadh. Prior to that, he was president and
chief executive officer of General Electric (GE), Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, during which time he led the
company's operations and strategy for growth. Before joining GE, he
worked for BAE Systems in Saudi
Arabia in a career that spanned more than 20 years and was
most recently director of portfolio management. In this
position, Mr Abukhaled was posted to the U.K. for two years to
develop strategies for growth and inward investment opportunities
in Saudi Arabia.
"Northrop Grumman has a long history of partnership with the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Walid
brings experience of growing capabilities in a multinational
industry environment and extensive knowledge of Saudi Arabian and
Middle East affairs that will
enable us to build on this important relationship," said
David Perry, corporate vice
president and chief global business development officer, Northrop
Grumman Corporation. "His appointment will enhance significantly
our in-country presence and position the company for success in
Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region as we continue to broaden
our global market focus."
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Mr Abukhaled has
been actively involved in the Saudi Arabian business community,
serving as a member of the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council and
the American Business Group in Riyadh. In 2011, he was named by the research
group Naseba, as one of the top three "Revolutionary CEOs in the
Middle East."
Mr Abukhaled earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management
and Systems Engineering from the University of
South Florida, Tampa.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation