SAP recently appointed Saquib Ahmad as Managing Director (MD) for Bahrain, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan operations. Industry sources added that with close to 25 years’ of experience in the regional IT and Telecommunications industry, Ahmad will focus on supporting the digital transformation and AI capabilities of companies in the Kingdom.
Ahmed AlFaifi, Senior Vice President of SAP Middle East and Africa – North, to whom Ahmad will be reporting directly stated “The countries that Saquib Ahmad will cover represent an important growth market for SAP, particularly in digital transformation, and we expect to see them benefit from the enormous potential of Business AI. I am confident that with his in-depth knowledge of the region, strong IT background, and proven leadership skills, Saquib is the ideal person to guide public and private sector adoption of new technologies in a way that will deliver the quickest and most valuable benefits.”
Commenting on his appointment, Ahmad stated, “I am looking forward to expanding my remit and growing SAP’s footprint in Bahrain, Iraq, and Afghanistan, helping enterprises here to digitally transform and future-proof their operations. My focus will include extending our partner ecosystem and helping to equip young people with the skills needed in a digital economy. The role is a very rewarding one as it means I can be directly involved in making sure this part of the world is at the forefront of technology developments and to support SAP’s goal of making businesses run better and improving people’s lives.”
Immediately before his promotion, Ahmad had been Managing Director for SAP Pakistan, a position he held since 2017. During this time, he significantly expanded SAP’s footprint in Pakistan, exceeding growth targets and hiring local talent to enable the digital transformation of customers in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining SAP, Ahmad held senior positions in Pakistan and the Middle East at several large technology companies, including Siemens, Nokia, Comptel and Oracle.
Industry sources added that Ahmad holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunication and Electronics from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, and received the Aizza-e-Sabqat Presidential Award for Academic Excellence from the President of Pakistan. He has also completed the LEAP Program of Business Administration & Management from INSEAD, France.
