Al-Asaker appointed as chair of ACI APAC & MID Economics Committee; Leena named Vice Chair

Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) is proud to announce leadership transition within its Regional Economics Committee, ushering in a new era of collaboration and strategic focus on the evolving landscape of airport economics.

Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Asaker, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Airports Company, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Regional Economics Committee, succeeding Mr. Nagy Abu Zeid, Vice President of Corporate Planning at Oman Airports, who served two successful terms. Concurrently, Ms. Leena Faraj, Vice President of Strategy and Business Improvement at Bahrain Airport Company, assumes the role of Vice Chair, succeeding Mr. François Southarewsky, Chief Commercial Officer Aero at Kansai Airports. 

Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Asaker and  Ms. Leena Faraj

With over two decades of experience across sectors including insurance, telecommunications, banking, and aviation, Mr. Al-Asaker has held leadership roles at Saudi Investment Bank and Mobily, where he successfully implemented customer development strategies.

Ms. Leena  has 20 years of experience in strategic leadership and human capital development. She has worked with organisations such as American Express and the Economic Development Board, and holds

degrees in Business Administration and Human Resource Management.

The committee members, along with the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East secretariat, extend their sincere gratitude to Mr. Abu Zeid and Mr. Southarewsky for their exemplary leadership and significant contributions during a period characterised by considerable challenges and resilience. Under their stewardship, the committee played a pivotal role in navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent recovery, fostering economic sustainability, and reinforcing airport competitiveness across the region.

The committee remains committed to addressing both legacy and emerging issues in airport economics, with continued emphasis on airport charges and economic regulation, privatisations and concession agreements, infrastructure development financing, sustainable transition, and technological modernization to enhance competitiveness across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.