DOHA: The German engineering giant Siemens has appointed Alia Al Rifai as new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company’s Middle East region.
Al Rifai will assume her new role after two years as Senior Executive Vice President of Finance for the Energy Management Division in the region. The 40-year old executive takes over from Stefan Halberstadt, who will join the Power and Gas Division’s Energy Solutions business unit as CFO, starting August 1.
Al Rifai, whose career at Siemens spans close to two decades, will lead the company’s financial operations in the region, focusing on strengthening key growth areas, driving profitability and promoting diversity and local value creation. She will be based in the United Arab Emirates, home to Siemens Middle East and UAE headquarters in Masdar City. As part of her remit, she will oversee key growth markets in the region, including the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens Middle East, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alia into the position of CFO for the Middle East, a region where Siemens’ presence dates back almost 160 years. With her extensive knowledge of the local market, we are confident Alia will work with our strong teams to steer the company towards further expansion and profitability. ”
Commenting on her appointment, Al Rifai said: “The region continues to present exciting opportunities for Siemens across different sectors, with energy efficiency and digitalisation taking center stage in the drive for productivity. I am thrilled to take up my new responsibilities and to build on our past achievements.”
