Leadership
ARO Board
Our leadership team drives strategic vision and operational excellence, shaping a forward-looking organization
Abdulhameed Al Dughaither
ARO Chairman
Anton Dibowitz
Board Member
Faisal AlNughaimish
Board Member
Tom Burke
Board Member
Hamad Aldaghreer
Board Member
Chris Weber
Board Member
Abdulhameed Al Dughaither
ARO Chairman
Anton Dibowitz
Board Member
Faisal AlNughaimish
Board Member
Tom Burke
Board Member
Hamad Aldaghreer
Board Member
Chris Weber
Board Member
ARO Executives
Our executive team brings deep industry expertise and a unified commitment to excellence, safety, and sustainable growth.
Mohamed HegaziCEO
Mohamed Hegazi is the CEO of ARO Drilling, bringing over 30 years of energy sector experience. He joined ARO in 2023 after serving as CEO of TGT Diagnostics (2012–2022), a Private Equity-backed technology company, where he led a 15-fold global business expansion. Hegazi began his career at SLB (formerly Schlumberger) in 1992, progressing through various roles in operations, technology, management, marketing, and HR across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. He serves on the boards of the Saudi Arabian Drilling Academy (SADA) and Energy Tech and is a member of Strategy and ExCom committees. He was also a board member of the Harvard Business School Club of the GCC. Hegazi holds degrees from the American University in Cairo and Harvard and completed executive programs at IESE and London Business School.
Mortada AlsadahChief Financial Officer
Mr. Mortada Alsadah is the Chief Financial Officer of ARO Drilling, with a distinguished career spanning senior financial leadership roles at Saudi Aramco, its subsidiaries, and SABIC. He brings deep expertise in finance, accounting, treasury, risk management, and corporate governance, driving operational excellence and sustainable growth. Mr. Alsadah has led major financial transactions, optimized capital structures, and managed diverse loan portfolios. At Aramco, he played a key role in launching joint ventures and subsidiaries globally and contributed to strategic spin-offs and divestitures. At SABIC, he directed the ERP (SAP) implementation for accounting and unified management reporting across affiliates. He holds a bachelor’s in accounting from King Faisal University and an MBA from KFUPM. Mr. Alsadah is a Certified Public Accountant (USA/KSA), Certified Management Accountant (USA), and an alumnus of INSEAD’s Executive CFO Program.
Eric MiddenManaging Director
Eric Midden is the Managing Director at ARO Drilling, having taken on this role in September 2024. He is responsible for all ARO Drilling Operations, Capital Projects, and Technical Services. Previously, Eric was the General Manager of North and Central America for Valaris. He also served as an Operations Manager and Rig Manager for Valaris, working in over twenty countries throughout his oilfield career. Prior to working in the oilfield, Eric was a Captain in the United States Army. Eric’s educational qualifications include an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Eric is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Louisiana.
Ibrahim Al MeshrefBusiness Development Director
Ibrahim is a distinguished leader in the drilling sector, currently serving as the Business Development Director beside one year operation excellence director at ARO Drilling. With 27 years of diverse experience, he has spent the last seven years at ARO, transitioning from a successful career at Saudi Aramco where he held pivotal managerial roles supporting offshore and onshore operations, engineering, maintenance as well as new build and upgrade projects.
As the founder of the Accelerated Leadership Program and the ARO Social Committee, Ibrahim fosters innovation and employee engagement within the organization. He also spearheads Sustainability, IKTVA and localization initiatives, aligning strategic goals with ESG and local development . His strategic influence extends to his role as a board advisor at SADA and Technical Advisory Committee chairman, where he has overseen the establishment of ambitious joint ventures ARO, SANAD, ARM, and IMI.
A pinnacle coach in drilling and representative at the corporate maintenance council, Ibrahim holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a MBA, both with honors.
Sara Al-HaroonGeneral Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
Sara Alharoon is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at ARO Drilling, with over 15 years of legal and compliance experience across multinational companies. As a qualified Saudi legal professional, she has a strong track record in building and leading the legal and compliance functions, advising executive leadership, and supporting complex regulatory and contractual matters. Prior to joining ARO Drilling, Sara held senior legal roles at Novartis and Halliburton, where she gained extensive experience in highly regulated sectors, supporting cross-border operations and engaging with diverse stakeholders. Her expertise spans contract negotiation, policy development, risk mitigation and legal and compliance strategy. With a career that includes leadership roles in energy and pharmaceutical sectors, Sara combines legal acumen with a deep understanding of operational realities. She holds LL.B. from Nottingham Trent Law School and an LL.M. in Natural Resources Law from the University of Denver, specializing in Energy Law.
Nicolas Le GouhinecQHSE Director
Nicolas Le Gouhinec brings over 20 years of global experience in Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) management across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. He currently serves as QHSE Director at ARO Drilling. Prior to this, he held multiple senior QHSE roles at Valaris Ltd, including Global QHSE Director, and served in regional QHSE leadership positions at Weatherford. He began his career at ONERA, the French Aerospace Lab, where he gained a strong foundation in risk and safety management. Nicolas has led QHSE programs in high-risk environments, driving operational excellence and a strong safety culture. He holds a Master’s in Industrial Risk Management from Aix-Marseille University and a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Health & Safety from London South Bank University.
Ameera AlBalushiHuman Resources Director
Ameera AlBalushi is the Human Resources Director at ARO Drilling, with over 18 years of experience across IT, Learning & Development, and HR in the Oil and Gas sector. Since June 2022, she has led HR and Government Relations, aligning strategies with business goals. Her previous roles include Senior HR Administration Manager and Training & Competence Manager, where she drove recruitment, compliance, and regional training initiatives. Ameera holds a Master’s in IT and Computer Science from Al-Ahlia University, a Bachelor’s from the University of Bahrain, and CIPD Level 3 and 5 diplomas. She also earned a Certificate in Management from London Business School. Known for her strategic planning and leadership, she fosters high-performing teams and operational excellence.
Abdullah AlomariChief Information Officer
Abdullah Alomari is the CIO of Information Technology at ARO Drilling, a role he has held since November 2023. He previously served as General Manager of Digital Technology at SAMI – Advanced Electronics Company. With over two decades of experience in IT, Abdullah has worked with leading organizations including Raytheon Technologies, BAE Systems, JHAH, Sadara, Accenture, Naizak, ISE, and SATORP spanning Oil & Gas, chemicals, healthcare, and petrochemical sectors. Abdullah holds a master’s in cybersecurity from Alyamamah University, a bachelor’s in IT & computing from Arab Open University, and an associate’s in applied computer systems from KFUPM. Abdullah also holds various professional certifications such as PMP, CISSP, CISM, CEH, CHFI, MCSE, CRISC, RedHat Engineer, ITIL, Oracle Cloud Specialist, and M365 Cloud Expert—reflecting deep expertise in both technical and leadership domains
Azzeddine SmidaDirector, Operational Excellence & Efficiency
Azzeddine Smida is a distinguished operations and performance leader with over 27 years of experience in the energy sector, recognized for his leadership in operations, asset management, and financial governance. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has delivered measurable improvements in performance, cost efficiency, and agility across complex environments. He has held senior roles in international energy and drilling organizations, such as Slb and Weatherford, managing multi-rig operations, implementing QHSE systems, and overseeing large-scale asset portfolios. He aligns technical execution with business strategy, leads high-impact initiatives, and fosters high-performing teams. As Director of Operational Excellence & Efficiency, Azzeddine oversees offshore performance with a focus on real-time safety monitoring, KPI management, and compliance with excellence policies. He collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement and uphold the highest operational standards.
Mohamed AlhegawySupply Chain Director
Mohamed Alhegawy is the Supply Chain Director at ARO Drilling, bringing more than 25 years of international experience in supply chain management across the energy and drilling industries. He joined ARO in 2024 following a successful career with leading organizations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.Before joining ARO, Mohamed served as Global Director of Supply Chain at ADES, where he oversaw procurement, strategic sourcing, logistics, and inventory management across multiple countries, driving cost optimization, and operational reliability. He previously held senior supply chain roles at SLB and Seadrill, where he established new supply chain structures, led sourcing strategies, and supported rig operations and new-build projects.Mohamed began his career at Transocean, gaining extensive experience in procurement, vendor management, and international logistics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Ain Shams University and is a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP).
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Saad AlshalawiChief Auditor
Saad Mohammed Alshalawi is a seasoned audit and risk management professional with extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. As Chief Auditor at ARO Drilling he leads the internal audit function, driving high-impact audits, strengthening governance, and improving risk management practices. With a strong background in financial auditing and internal controls, Saad previously worked with Ernst & Young (EY) and Baker Tilly MKM & Co., where he managed complex audits of listed entities and advised senior leadership on regulatory compliance and corporate governance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from California State University, San Bernardino, and is both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Recognized for his ability to align audit strategies with business objectives, Saad is also dedicated to mentoring future audit leaders and promoting best practices that enhance transparency, efficiency, and organizational resilience.
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