Marco Arcelli

Chief Executive Officer

Marco Arcelli serves as Chief Executive Officer of Acwa, overseeing the company’s global strategy and operations. With more than 20 years of international leadership, he has guided organizations across energy, infrastructure, retail, and digital innovation.

His career includes senior roles at Enel, where he was CEO of Enel Trade, EVP of Upstream Gas, and CEO of Enel’s North American operations. These positions gave him deep expertise in energy markets, corporate strategy, and operational excellence. Marco has also contributed to the growth of multinational companies by driving digital transformation and positioning them for long-term success.

Known for his ability to combine strategic foresight with operational discipline, he has played a pivotal role in advancing Acwa’s leadership in the global energy transition. His international perspective and focus on innovation continue to shape the company’s expansion.

Marco’s leadership reflects a commitment to sustainable growth and value creation worldwide.

Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib

Chief Financial Officer

Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib is Chief Financial Officer of Acwa, overseeing the company’s financial strategy and performance. He brings more than 16 years of experience across business and finance roles within the group, including corporate finance and project governance.​

During his early years with Acwa, he worked on corporate finance activities and served on the boards and committees of several projects, including NOMAC. He later focused on managing projects under execution in the UAE, such as Noor Energy 1, the world’s largest CSP project.​

Before joining Acwa, Abdulhameed worked in Global Investment Banking and Advisory at HSBC Middle East / Saudi Arabia, gaining exposure to complex financings and capital markets. He has also served as a board, audit committee, and risk committee member for institutions including HSBC Saudi Arabia, SABB, and various Acwa subsidiaries.​

He holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Miami and an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, and completed the KSA Leadership 2030 Program sponsored by the MISK Foundation.

Faisal Jadu

Chief People and Culture Officer

Faisal Jadu serves as Chief People and Culture Officer at Acwa, leading the company’s human resources strategy and people agenda. With over 20 years of experience in HR, he has helped shape workforce capabilities at several major Saudi institutions.​

His expertise spans strategic planning, change management, leadership development, governance, and organizational effectiveness. He has been responsible for designing and driving HR functions that support business growth and transformation.​

Faisal began his career at Alawwal Bank through its Future Managers Program before moving into HR, where he held a series of executive roles. In 2011, he joined Saudi British Bank (SABB), ultimately serving as Chief Human Resources Officer.​

Prior to joining Acwa, he was CEO of the Financial Skills Centre at the Ministry of Finance, a national initiative to build the financial skills of government employees across more than five hundred entities, and he also serves as an independent NRC member for several Saudi boards.

Ghassan Shawli

Chief Legal Officer

Ghassan H. Shawli is Chief Legal Officer of Acwa, bringing 19 years of senior legal leadership to the group. He oversees the company’s legal affairs and supports governance across complex projects and transactions.​

Before joining Acwa, Ghassan was Chief Legal Officer at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, where he built and led the legal function. He previously served as Vice President of Legal Affairs at Saudi Arabian Airlines and held senior positions at Saudi Aramco.​

His experience covers acting as lead counsel on large-scale projects, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, and major restructurings, often involving companies with multi-billion-dollar market capitalizations. This breadth gives him a strong foundation to support Acwa’s growth.​

Ghassan is admitted to the New York State Bar and holds a Juris Doctor in law from Northwestern School of Law, combining international legal training with deep experience in the Saudi market.

Stefan Verlee

Chief Operations Officer & Acting Chief Technology Officer

Stefan Verlee is Chief Operating & Transformation Officer and Acting Chief Technology Officer of Acwa, and President and CEO of NOMAC, the group’s operations and maintenance company. A professional engineer, he has over 25 years of experience in power and water operations and maintenance.​

Since 2017, Stefan has played a central role in expanding NOMAC’s international footprint, focusing on safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of power and water while supporting the energy transition. He was appointed President and CEO of NOMAC in July 2022.​

Before joining NOMAC, he worked for ENGIE, where he oversaw the operation and maintenance of large power and water projects across multiple continents. His most recent ENGIE roles included Chief Operating Officer of ENGIE Power and Water Middle East and leadership of asset management for Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.​

Stefan holds a master’s degree in electromechanical engineering from the University of Leuven in Belgium and an MBA in European Utility Management from Jacobs University Bremen, equipping him with both technical and managerial expertise.

Eric Maka

Chief Construction Officer

Eric Maka serves as Chief Construction Officer of Acwa, overseeing the delivery of complex power and desalination projects worldwide. Nearly three decades of experience in the sector underpin his technical and operational leadership.

During 28 years with ENGIE, Eric worked extensively across Singapore, Turkey, Bahrain, Oman, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. His career has focused on a variety of areas, including asset management, leadership, and country-level operational responsibility.

Most recently, Eric was CEO and Chairman of Tihama Power Generation in Saudi Arabia, then Chief Operating Officer for ENGIE in Saudi Arabia, before becoming President and CEO of Senoko Energy in Singapore.

Board positions across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa, and Morocco reflect his governance expertise. Eric holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from ECAM in Brussels.

Simon Watson

Chief Health, Safety, Security & Environment Officer

Simon Watson serves as Chief Health, Safety, Security & Environment Officer of Acwa, guiding safety and sustainability across high-risk operations. International experience has shaped his approach to performance improvement and risk management.

His career began as a non-commissioned officer in the British Army, where he developed leadership and operational skills. Transitioning into industry, Simon designed and led HSSE strategies, including serving as Vice President of HSSES for Wood in the EMEA region.

Further roles at Siemens Mobility and Thames Water allowed him to reduce incidents and embed sustainable practices into business operations. A blend of strategic insight and practical execution has strengthened compliance and resilience.

Simon holds an MBA and a degree in Health and Safety, and he remains committed to continuous professional development. His leadership continues to advance Acwa’s safety culture.

Rusha Al Rawaf

Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer

Rusha Al Rawaf serves as Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer of Acwa, overseeing sustainability, CSR, institutional relations, and corporate communications. Her role centers on enhancing reputation and supporting long-term value creation.

Multilingual and experienced across diverse cultural environments, Rusha has built a career in marketing and communications. Senior positions at STC and Aramco saw her lead teams, shape brand positioning, and deliver integrated campaigns.

Her strategic advisory work has helped organizations align messaging, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability priorities. A strong technical foundation combined with collaborative leadership enables her to drive alignment across functions.

Rusha holds an Executive MBA from London Business School and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She continues to champion innovation and sustainability at Acwa.

Tahir Mahmood

Chief Risk Officer

Tahir Mahmood serves as Chief Risk Officer of Acwa, directing enterprise-wide risk management and governance frameworks. More than 20 years of experience in compliance and assurance underpin his approach to resilience.

His career spans leadership roles at National Grid Plc, Centrica Plc, and UK Power Networks, where he served as Director of Finance Assurance, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, and Chief Audit Executive. Most recently, Tahir held the same dual role at Saudi Electric Company, advancing risk maturity and compliance programs.

Expertise in enterprise risk frameworks, audit, and governance has defined his contributions across organizations. He has led post-acquisition reviews and group-wide governance processes while engaging regularly with boards and stakeholders.

Tahir is a qualified accountant with a BSc (Hons) from Aston University, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and a PRINCE2 Practitioner. His leadership strengthens Acwa’s risk management capabilities.

Furqan Kamlani

Chief Audit Officer

Furqan Kamlani serves as Chief Audit Officer of Acwa, reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board and the CEO. His remit covers independent assurance over governance, risk, and controls.

With more than 26 years in finance and audit, Furqan has built expertise in the aviation and energy sectors. Previous responsibilities at Acwa as Vice President – Internal Audit provided detailed insight into operations and compliance.

Earlier, Furqan held senior roles at Emirates Group, where he led finance and administration in Pakistan before becoming Head of Audit for Emirates Operations. At Saudia Technic, he established the audit and risk function as Chief Audit & Risk Officer, emphasizing Saudi talent development.

Furqan is a Chartered Accountant from Pakistan and a Certified Internal Auditor accredited by The Institute of Internal Auditors in the US. His leadership continues to strengthen Acwa’s governance framework.

Saleh Al Khabti

President, China

Saleh Al Khabti serves as President of Acwa China, leading strategy, and partnerships across the Chinese market. His work focuses on positioning Acwa as a trusted partner in the region.

Previously, Saleh was Deputy Minister of Investment Transactions at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, where he designed incentive frameworks and negotiated deals worth billions of US dollars. Earlier roles at Aramco Asia’s China office included Vice President of Business Origination and Vice President of Joint Venture Development, where he structured major downstream transactions.

Saleh holds an MBA with a specialization in marketing from Phoenix, United States, and a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from Xiamen University in China. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Mandarin, he continues to strengthen Acwa’s presence in China.

Hashim Ghabashi

President, Africa

Hashim Ghabashi serves as President, MEASEA of Acwa, overseeing operations across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. More than 21 years of experience support his leadership.

His technical background spans project management, petrochemicals, energy, and water desalination. Working with international consulting firms has helped him lead initiatives in cost leadership, reliability, health and safety, and culture enhancement.

Experience in multicultural environments and collaboration with contractors from Europe, the Far East, and China have strengthened his ability to align teams toward common goals.

Since joining Acwa in 2015, Hashim has served as EMO of Bowarege and RABEC, then as EMD for the Hassyan Clean Coal Project, and currently as EMD of Noor Energy 1, the world’s largest CSP project under construction. His leadership continues to drive operational excellence.

Abid Malik

President, Central Asia

Abid Malik serves as President, Central Asia of Acwa, leading activities across key markets in the region. A background in mechanical engineering underpins more than 25 years in the power sector.

Early career roles at AES and Engro Power (formerly Exxon) covered business development, design, construction, and operations of power assets. Joining Acwa in 2009, Abid has since taken on senior leadership positions spanning project development and asset management.

Direct involvement in major power transactions worldwide has given him deep insight into both contracted projects and merchant market investments. Knowledge of development, design, operations, and commercial structures allows him to navigate the sector’s two core business models effectively.

Abid also serves on the boards of several power and utility companies owned and operated by Acwa. His leadership continues to advance the company’s growth in Central Asia.