Acwa Names New Chief Executive Officer
The board of directors at Acwa has named Dr. Samir J. Serhan as its new CEO, effective immediately. Dr. Serhan was previously a regional president at the company and formerly served as COO of US-based Air Products.
Dr. Samir J. Serhan brings over three decades of experience in the global industrial and infrastructure sectors to his new role. Before joining Acwa, he had a lengthy career with US-based Air Products, where he was instrumental in securing and executing the company's largest and most complex projects. His tenure there culminated in the role of Chief Operating Officer, with profit and loss responsibility for the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His expertise extends beyond Air Products, with previous leadership positions at The Linde Group in both the U.S. and Germany, and as president of Global HyCO for Praxair. This deep background in industrial gases, engineering, and large-scale project management aligns with Acwa's focus on green hydrogen and complex renewable energy projects. Dr. Serhan holds a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from Virginia Tech. The leadership change comes as Acwa, a major player in power generation and water desalination, continues its aggressive global expansion. The company aims to triple its asset base to $250 billion by 2030, with a significant focus on renewable energy to support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has mandated Acwa to lead 70% of the nation's renewable energy program. The outgoing CEO, Marco Arcelli, who held the position since March 2023, will stay on as an advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors to facilitate a smooth transition. Prior to Dr. Serhan's appointment as CEO, he had already joined Acwa as the President for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
