Chief Information Officer

Our client is a large, well-established Saudi organization with significant scale across the Kingdom. A confidential search is underway to appoint a Chief Information Officer who will own the full technology agenda and lead it as a peer to the rest of the executive team.

This is a senior executive role with full ownership of the company's technology function. The Chief Information Officer will define and execute the technology strategy across infrastructure, enterprise applications, data, integration, and security, and will be accountable for the reliability, security, and commercial relevance of the entire technology estate.

The successful candidate will bring a clear point of view on the future state of enterprise technology, the right balance between in-house capability and strategic partners, and the discipline to deliver value in quarters rather than years.

• →Define and execute the multi-year technology strategy across infrastructure, applications, data, integration, and security.
• →Set the target architecture for the group, including ERP, core operational systems, data and analytics, and the integration fabric that connects them.
• →Make and defend the build, buy, and partner decisions that shape the technology estate.
• →Run a modern, reliable enterprise systems environment that supports the core operations of the business.
• →Lead any ERP modernization or migration program required to support unified reporting, real-time decisioning, and operational scale.
• →Stand up the integration and middleware capability that allows the core functions to operate from one source of truth.
• →Build the data foundation, the warehouse, the governance, and the analytics layer that the commercial, operations, and finance teams need.
• →Embed data-led decision-making across the senior leadership population.
• →Hold full accountability for the cybersecurity posture of the company.
• →Ensure full compliance with the National Cybersecurity Authority, the Personal Data Protection Law, and all other applicable regulatory obligations.
• →Own business continuity, disaster recovery, and the controls required by internal and external audit.
• →Run a service-oriented IT operation with measurable uptime, response, and cost commitments.
• →Lead the program management office for technology, with clear quarterly delivery, transparent governance, and disciplined vendor management.
• →Shape the IT operating model, including the balance between in-house capability, managed services, and strategic partners.
• →Sit on the executive committee and act as a peer to the rest of the senior leadership.
• →Translate technology into commercial language for the Chief Executive Officer and the board.
• →Manage the technology budget with the same rigor as a P&L, including capital allocation, vendor consolidation, and total cost of ownership.

• Fifteen years or more in enterprise technology, with at least five at Chief Information Officer, Group CIO, or equivalent level in a complex, multi-site organization.
• A track record of leading a full technology stack end to end, ideally in a regulated or institutionally governed environment.
• Direct, hands-on experience with at least one major ERP transformation or core systems re-platforming program, from business case to go-live.
• Deep fluency in enterprise technology, including ERP platforms, integration platforms, cloud infrastructure, data and analytics, and modern security architecture.
• Strong commercial instinct, with the ability to challenge and partner with operating leaders rather than simply service them.
• Proven cybersecurity and data privacy leadership at the level expected of a major Saudi organization.
• Vendor management discipline, with a history of consolidating estates, renegotiating contracts, and holding partners to outcomes.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related discipline. Master's degree or MBA is an advantage.
• Relevant certifications in enterprise architecture, security, or program delivery are welcomed.
• Arabic language is an advantage. English is required.