At CATRION, our leadership team is comprised of dynamic individuals with diverse backgrounds and extensive industry experience. With their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, they are the driving force behind our continued success
Wajdy Al-Ghabban
Chief Executive Officer
Wajdy Al-Ghabban
Chief Executive Officer
Wajdy Al-Ghabban is an accomplished professional in the aviation industry, specializing in airline catering and related services. Since 2015, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering.
With a career spanning over 35 years, Wajdy has made significant contributions to the development and implementation of software solutions for airline catering, production operations and catering unit establishment. He has held key positions within Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering, including Deputy CEO; Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice President; General Manager of the Riyadh region; and Head of the Catering Unit in Cairo.
Wajdy holds a master's degree in business administration, which he obtained in 2013 from the University of Wales, Robert Kennedy College in Switzerland. His knowledge and expertise have played a crucial role in enhancing the services provided by CATRION to both the aviation and non-aviation sectors.
In addition to his role at CATRION, Wajdy is actively involved in various professional and advisory committees. He is a member of the Supreme Committee of the Saudi Professional House Program and the Advisory Board of the Tourism College at King Abdulaziz University. Furthermore, he is affiliated with organizations such as the International Flights Services Association/ International Association of Travel Catering. Wajdy also holds positions as a board member of the Saudi French Company for Duty-Free and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Saudi Emirati Business Council.
Mahmoud Masoud
Chief Financial Officer
Mahmoud Masoud
Chief Financial Officer
Mahmoud has an impressive professional history with over 25 years of international executive experience in logistics and travel. He has held the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in organizations including CWT for Europe, the Middle East & Africa at Carlson; Wagonlit Travel in the United Kingdom; Mannai Corporation in Doha; and DHL United Kingdom. Additionally, he served as the Vice President Global Controller of DHL in Brussels and CFO of DHL Nordics in Helsinki. Masoud holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and financial management from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Throughout his career, Mahmoud has proven his capabilities in driving growth, orchestrating turnarounds, restructuring and spearheading various responsibilities such as M&A, divestment and financial transformation.
A renowned expert in his field, Dr Rashed has a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of Reading. With a focus on food safety and risk analysis, Dr Rashed has held significant roles such as Vice President of Health, Security and Standards Control at Catrion and Executive Director of Monitoring and Risk Assessment at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). His membership of esteemed national and international organizations reflects his specialization in food science and technology, risk analysis and quality management. His dynamic leadership and expertise contribute significantly to the success of CATRION in the in-flight catering industry.
Paul Summers
EVP - Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Development
Paul Summers
EVP - Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Development
Paul Summers brings 20+ years of M&A expertise to CATRION. An alumnus of Durham University with degrees in Finance and Corporate International Finance, and an MBA from London Business School. Formerly, he was the Group Director at Ali Zaid Al Quraishi & Brothers, where he secured contracts for global brands in the GCC markets. At Zubair Corporation, he identified and executed lucrative deals. At CATRION, Paul will focus on innovative M&A deals and divestitures, and play a critical role in executing a dynamic, growth-centric business strategy.
Frederic Huet
VP - Catering and Facilities
Frederic Huet
VP - Catering and Facilities
With over two decades of senior executive management experience, Frederic brings a wealth of expertise to his role. He holds a Superior Technical Degree in Hotel, Food and Catering from France Le Touquet Institutional. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated innovative thinking, resulting in enhanced services and improved operations. Previously, Frederic served as CEO at FMH-JOURNEY/FMH-HOLDING in Avignon. At CATRION, he is focused on enhancing profitability, upholding company values, managing operations across multiple locations and exploring business development opportunities.
Thomas Gugler
VP - Culinary
Thomas Gugler
VP - Culinary
One of the world's most decorated chefs, Master Chef Thomas Gugler brings to Catrion nearly four decades of culinary expertise. Throughout his impressive career, Thomas has cooked for royalty, heads of state and celebrities across the globe. He has worked in prestigious establishments such as five and seven-star hotels, restaurants, airlines and catering services. Thomas is not only a certified Category A Judge, but also a champion coach for young chefs, with multiple accolades in the Cooking Olympics and World Championships. He holds memberships in numerous Chef Associations worldwide and currently serves as the President of World Chefs.
Obaidah Al Saggar
VP - Procurement and Supply Chain
Obaidah Al Saggar
VP - Procurement and Supply Chain
Obaidah is a highly accomplished professional with a passion for excellence in project management and supply chain operations across his 17-year career. With a degree from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, and an MBA from Maastricht School of Management, Obaidah has consistently enabled business growth by accelerating throughput, reducing costs and lead times and increasing overall capacity in both stable and unstable environments. Obaidah has a proven track record across various industries, including food and beverages, retail, FMCG and fashion.
Ashraf Nadeem
VP - Information Technology
Ashraf Nadeem
VP - Information Technology
With a strong academic background in Computer Engineering from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Ashraf brings 25 years of experience to his role. Throughout his career, Ashraf has specialized in various sectors, including banking and retail, demonstrating expertise in IT and digital transformation, robotics and automation and strategic planning. At Catrion, he has successfully modernized infrastructure and application landscapes, while introducing in-house digitization and automation technologies. Ashraf's strategic approach ensures the delivery of cost-effective and cutting-edge technology solutions.
Saeed Al-Mufadali
VP - Human Resources
Saeed Al-Mufadali
VP - Human Resources
Saeed brings more than 23 years of senior leadership experience in Human Resources across diverse sectors. Known for his exceptional management skills in all aspects of HR functions, from talent management to compensation design, he plays a vital role in developing and executing human resource strategies that align with the overall CATRION business plan. Saeed has been instrumental in restructuring the HR strategy at CATRION, focusing on optimizing service levels and driving cost reduction. He holds an MBA in Human Resources from the University of Business and Technology, In Jeddah.
Tarek Tharwat
VP - Audit
Tarek Tharwat
VP - Audit
Tarek is a highly experienced professional with over 32 years of expertise in internal control, inspection, operational and financial audit, as well as fraud investigation. As a registered Chartered Accountant and an MBA holder from the University of Liverpool, Tarek possesses extensive knowledge in his field. He also holds certifications such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Tarek has held senior positions at organizations including Deloitte & Touch Egypt, Rhodia, Abdul Latif Jameel, Orascom Construction Industries, and Saudi Binladin Group.