Acwa Taps Former Air Products Exec as New CEO
Acwa's board has named Dr. Samir J. Serhan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective today. Dr. Serhan, who formerly served as COO of US-based Air Products, was most recently President of Acwa's Saudi Arabia and Middle East division.
Dr. Samir J. Serhan's move to Acwa Power deepens an already strong existing partnership with Air Products. The two companies are key players in a joint venture to build the world's largest green hydrogen-based ammonia production facility in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. This $8.5 billion project is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to make the Kingdom a global leader in clean energy. The NEOM project will be powered by over 4 gigawatts of renewable energy from solar and wind, producing 1.2 million tons of green ammonia annually for export. As COO of Air Products, Dr. Serhan was pivotal in winning and executing the largest and most complex projects in the company's history, with his role expanding in 2019 to include full responsibility for business in the Middle East. His appointment signals a strategic alignment at the highest level, bringing a key architect of major joint projects directly into Acwa's leadership. This move follows a period of leadership transition for Acwa Power; the previous CEO, Marco Arcelli, held the position for a year, having taken over from the long-serving Paddy Padmanathan who retired in March 2023 after 18 years at the helm. Dr. Serhan's extensive experience at industrial gas giants, including leadership roles at Praxair and Linde Group before joining Air Products in 2016, gives him a deep understanding of the complex technologies and large-scale project execution required for Acwa's ambitious green hydrogen plans.
