Omar Najjar at MISK: Advancing the Kingdom’s Leadership Ecosystem for a High‑Impact Vision 2030

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A Leader Shaping the Future of Saudi Talent

In a decade defined by accelerated transformation across Saudi Arabia, Omar Najjar stands out as one of the Kingdom’s most strategic minds, driving national talent development, organisational transformation, and large‑scale capability building at a pace matched by few.

As Deputy CEO of Misk Foundation, Najjar leads the Foundation’s most ambitious programmes — including the 2030 Leaders Programme, the Saudi Unicorn Program, and global initiatives designed to prepare the next generation of Saudi changemakers.

These programmes, launched under the vision of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, represent the Kingdom’s commitment to building one of the world’s most competitive human capital ecosystems. Najjar’s stewardship of these initiatives places him at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s transformation story.

A Career Defined by Impact Across Continents and Industries

Omar Najjar’s leadership journey spans more than two decades and touches nearly every key sector of the Kingdom’s economic transformation.

His trajectory reflects a rare combination of operational discipline, strategic vision, and human‑centric development:

• Saudi Aramco: Began as an engineer, mastering systems thinking and operational excellence.

• Saudia Airlines: Led global business improvement projects, sharpening his expertise in organizational performance.

• Unilever: Became Regional HR Director for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey — transforming HR capabilities across 40+ countries.

• Emaar / King Abdullah Economic City: Pioneered educational development as part of the Kingdom’s vision for a knowledge economy.

• Cristal: Engineered a global transformation that helped establish Cristal as the world’s #2 TiO₂ producer.

• Tasnee: Oversaw a multi‑billion‑riyals downstream business, reinforcing his reputation as a world‑class executive operator.

• Saudi Ground Services (SGS): Led services for 100 million passengers across 27 airports and 100 airlines, managing 11,000+ staff.

This is a portfolio of leadership unmatched in scope — from aviation and petrochemicals to national education, global HR, and transformation management.

At Misk, a New Generation of Saudi Leaders Is Rising

Today, at Misk Foundation, Najjar leads Saudi Arabia’s most important platform for developing the leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who will drive the Kingdom’s competitiveness for decades to come.

Under his leadership:

• The 2030 Leaders Programme became one of the region’s most selective leadership accelerators.

• The Saudi Leadership Society was established, uniting emerging and senior leaders under one national platform.

• The Saudi Unicorn Program expanded to support high‑growth founders with global scale ambitions.

• Misk’s global partnerships reached new heights with universities, think tanks, and innovation ecosystems.

Every initiative speaks to Najjar’s belief that leadership is not inherited — it is engineered, nurtured, and scaled.

Kadmiel Van Der Puije on Omar Najjar: “A standard for what leadership must look like.”

TVOA CEO, Kadmiel Van Der Puije offered reflections on Najjar’s influence, based on professional admiration, not affiliation:

“Omar Najjar represents the new era of Saudi leadership…globally fluent, operationally disciplined, and deeply committed to national progress. Leaders like him don’t just run institutions; they shape future generations.” — Kadmiel Van Der Puije

And further:

“His work at Misk proves that when you invest in people, you invest in a nation’s destiny. Omar is one of the few executives whose impact can be measured not only in business outcomes, but in lives transformed.” — Kadmiel Van Der Puije

These statements reinforce what many in the region quietly acknowledge: Najjar is playing a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s long‑term human capital transformation.

A Legacy Aligned With Vision 2030

Omar Najjar’s leadership mirrors the larger national ambition:

• Build globally competitive institutions

• Develop world‑class talent pipelines

• Transform industries and economies at scale

• Drive sustainable, people‑centred growth

His ability to bridge private‑sector excellence with national‑level strategy places him among the most influential leadership figures shaping Saudi Arabia’s future.

Why He Matters: Beyond Titles, A Nation‑Builder

Najjar’s journey — from Aramco engineer to Deputy CEO of one of the Kingdom’s most mission‑critical foundations — reflects:

✔ The ambition of Saudi Arabia’s transformation
✔ The rise of a new generation of strategic leaders
✔ A commitment to unlocking human potential at scale

He is not merely an executive.

He is a nation‑builder contributing to the architecture of Saudi Arabia’s next 50 years.

Kadmiel Van Der Puije Receives Misk 20 Under 30 Award from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Foundation

Vision 2030 leadership, Saudi youth empowerment, Omar Najjar, Misk Foundation, Saudi transformation, leadership development, GCC innovation, strategic talent development, 2030 Leaders Programme, Saudi Unicorn Program.