Acwa Appoints New CEO
Acwa's Board of Directors has named Dr. Samir J. Serhan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Dr. Serhan was previously the company's President for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, and formerly served as COO of US-based Air Products.
Dr. Serhan's appointment is the result of a structured leadership transition, succeeding Marco Arcelli who held the CEO position since March 2023. The company has emphasized that this change ensures continuity and stability, with no alteration to its long-term strategic direction. With over 30 years of experience in leading large-scale global industrial and infrastructure organizations, Dr. Serhan brings a strong background in operational transformation and profitable growth in capital-intensive sectors. His career includes significant leadership roles at major industrial gas companies, providing him with deep expertise in the energy and chemicals sectors. Prior to his time at Air Products, Dr. Serhan was the President of Global HyCO at Praxair and spent 14 years in management positions at The Linde Group in both the United States and Germany, culminating in his role as Managing Director of Linde Engineering. This extensive experience is directly relevant to Acwa Power's focus on green hydrogen projects. Dr. Serhan holds a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from Virginia Tech and has served as an adjunct professor at The Pennsylvania State University and Temple University. This technical and academic background complements his extensive industry experience. Acwa Power is a major player in power generation, water desalination, and green hydrogen, describing itself as the largest privately-owned water desalination company globally. The company has a significant project portfolio, including developing the world's first desalination plant powered by renewable energy. The leadership change comes as Acwa Power continues its ambitious growth strategy, with plans to significantly expand its assets and international presence in the coming years. Dr. Serhan's leadership will be crucial in steering the company through this next phase of expansion.
