The UAE’s HR leadership landscape in the last twelve months features prominent moves across multiple sectors. The Industry & Science sector showed the strongest movement among HR leaders, followed by Consumer and Financial Services. This distribution reflects the UAE’s economic priorities and growth in the non-oil sectors.
Emerging HR Trends for 2025 include:
- Digital transformation and AI integration in HR processes
- Sustainability and ESG initiatives
- Development of local talent
- Global best practices adaptation to local context
HR leaders are collectively shaping the future of work in the UAE, driving innovation in talent management, and contributing to the nation’s economic vision.
Key Sector Leadership moves in 2024 included
Healthcare
- Fara Siddiqi holds the position of Group Chief People Officer at PureHealth
- Iain Copperthwaite serves as HR Operations Director at Abu Dhabi Health Services Co
- Abdelhakim Farag leads as Group HR Director at Saudi German Health UAE
Technology & Digital
- Ergul Hemmingsen serves as CHRO at Core42 (G42 company)
- Hornorata Sarnecka holds the role of People & Culture Director at Bespin Global MEA
- Ina Santos leads as Human Resources Director – MENA at CPX
- Kelly Luker operates as VP People & Culture at TPConnects Technologies
Consumer & Hospitality
- Frederic Chardot leads as Chief Human Resources Officer at Jumeirah
- Melissa Salibi serves as Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources at Kerzner International
- Yomna Khalil holds the position of Chief HR Officer at Aujan Coca Cola Beverages Co
- Charlotte Harris heads Executive Recruitment at Al-Futtaim
- Karen Beggs operates as Chief HR Officer at Entourage Marketing & Events
- Melody Sheybani serves as Group Human Resources Director for Grocery & Impulse at Americana Foods
- Alison
Financial Services
First Abu Dhabi Bank’s made a number of key leadership hires including:
- Simone Macleod-Nairn as Global Head of Group Business Partnering
- Mark Satglieno as Head of Executive Recruitment Cecilia Nabais as Senior HRBP
- Margy Mommertz serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at Al Fardan Exchange LLC
- Nida Muhammad holds the position of HR Director at DGM Investments
Industry & Science
- Etihad Airways appointed Donna Rawson as Global Talent Acquisition Leader and Alison Cleaver was appointed VP Talent and Culture
- Waseem Hassan holds the position of Group Chief Human Capital Officer at BEEAH Group
- Soha Ismail leads as Head of HR MEA Hub & Global Product Group at Hitachi Energy
- Jennifer Gillespie serves as Chief People Officer at Ecolog
- Yara Ghonim holds the role of Group Chief People & Culture Officer at MMD Steel
- Nadine El Etri serves as Business HR Director at Abbott
- Rizwan Raja leads as Group Head of Human Capital at RAK Ports
- Alexander Goettling serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at Oriel
- Thorsten Sickelmann holds the position of Group Human Capital Director at Al Abbas Group
- Bose Chandran operates as Talent Strategy Director at Al Dahra
Professional Services
- Haitham Samman leads as Director of Impact & Development at PWC
- Charlotte Ravoet serves as Chief People Officer at CTG
- Kieran Scott holds the position of Senior Director Human Resources at Bloom Holding
- Debra Teles operates as Executive Director Human Resources at Nakheel
- Seher Dean leads as Head of HR Business Partners at Al Tamimi
Article written by Emma Castillo – Practice Lead – Executive Search