New Middle East CEOs 2023

These are some of the most notable Middle East-based CEO appointments in 2023.

- SARA JUNAID

Ahmed Galal Ismail 

Majid AI Futtaim - Holding

Ismail was appointed CEO of Majid AI Futtaim-Holding in January 2023, succeeding Alain Bejjani, who had held the role for eight years. In March 2023, the company inaugurated a 6.2-megawatt-peak solar power plant in partnership with Yellow Door Energy at the Bahrain Mall. In the first half of 2023, the Majid AI Futtaim Group reported a 4.8% increase in consolidated revenue to $5.1 billion. Ismail was previously CEO of Majid AI Futtaim - Properties and CEO of Majid AI Futtaim - Ventures.

Irina Zaporozhets

Eli Lilly and Company

Zaporozhets assumed her position as associate vice president and general manager for the Middle East and Africa at Eli Lilly and Company in January 2023. Zaporozhets joined Lilly's Hungary branch as a marketing associate in 2001 before adopting senior positions across its marketing, sales, HR,Six Sigma, and ethics and compliance departments in Hungary, Austria, and the U.S. She was previously the general manager for Lilly Russia and CIS from August 2017 to December 2022.

Andrew Buckingham

The Coca-Cola Company

Buckingham was appointed vice president and general manager for the Middle East at The CocaCola Company in February 2023, after joining the company in 1999. The Coca-Cola Company is working with Emirates Nature WWF to help develop traditional falaj irrigation systems in Wadi Shees, Sharjah. Before assuming his current role, Buckingham was the general manager of The Coca-Cola Company for Russia and Belarus.

Tayba AI Hashemi

ADNOC Offshore