Leaders of the Year- 2025

Hamad Alfataih, Founder, Jadaya
Hamad Alfataih: Innovating Governance, Risk, and Compliance While Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders

Did you know Saudi Arabia is set to invest over SAR 40 billion annually in digital transformation? Across finance, healthcare, and smart cities, the Kingdom is embracing technology to redefine its economy and elevate its global standing. Yet, this transformation is not driven by technology alone; it requires visionary leaders who can turn potential into action.
This guides us to the work of Hamad Alfataih, Founder of Jadaya. Through Jadaya, he is redefining how organizations approach governance, risk, and compliance, transforming fragmented, complex processes into intelligent, automated solutions that empower agility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Visionary Leaders Writing Asia’s Growth Story, One Deal at a Time
By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor
In the past decades, the Asian business landscape has emerged as a hub of economic growth and opportunity. Owing to a vast consumer base, maturing markets and technological expansion

Key Elements to Consider While Building Future-Ready Finance Teams
By: Mac Weaver, SVP and GM APAC, BlackLine
The world is swiftly transforming to become more digitally oriented, particularly within the finance sector. Traditional financial institutions are experiencing significant digital changes to cater

Establishing a Data Lake in the Age of GenAI: A Guide

By: Spencer Kimball, Co-founder & CEO, Cockroach Labs

Despite progress in data technology, many organizations continue to face challenges in accessing outdated mainframe information.

Generative AI in 2025: Transitioning from Hype to Business Transformation

By: Ed Anuff, Chief Product Officer, DataStax

Generative AI is no longer just a futuristic concept; it is transforming how businesses innovate and interact with customers. With its potential to drive operational

A Strategic Approach to Erase Food Insecurity, Malnutrition in Africa

By: Ramesh Moochikal, CEO, AIF

Food insecurity in Africa is an age-old struggle. As of January 2025, there were an estimated 61.6 million food-insecure people in East Africa alone. The causes of food insecurity in the region can

Reflections as a Business CEO

By: Nishant Saxena, CEO - Emerging Markets & Europe, Cipla

Being a business head is a crazy, relentless roller coaster where the initial glamour of the role is quickly replaced by the weight of responsibility – millions of patients, thousands of employees

Why the AI Game Isn't Over for Tech Leaders

By: Simon Wardley, Researcher, Startup Advisor, and Former CEO

Often, people assume that the AI story has already been written and that its outcome is settled. The answer is that it’s not. In truth, that’s far from reality.

Leaders of the Year- 2025

In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, leadership roles such as Chief Product Officers, Country Managers, and sustainability champions are pivotal in driving innovation, operational excellence, and long-term impact. Chief Product Officers (CPOs) from the UAE are redefining how companies approach product strategy, development, and customer engagement. They combine market insight, technological expertise, and visionary thinking to create products that not only meet consumer needs but also set benchmarks for innovation across industries. Their role often spans cross-functional teams, ensuring that design, engineering, and business objectives are seamlessly aligned for maximum value creation.

Simultaneously, Asia’s Sustainability Leaders of the Year exemplify the growing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) imperatives. These leaders are recognized for pioneering initiatives that promote sustainable business practices, reduce carbon footprints, and foster circular economies. Their work demonstrates that profitability and sustainability can coexist, inspiring organizations across Asia to integrate responsible practices into their core strategies.

Country Managers from the UAE play a critical role in translating global strategies into local success. They oversee operations, build relationships with clients and partners, and navigate regional regulatory and market dynamics. By combining strategic foresight with hands-on execution, they ensure that multinational businesses thrive while adapting to the unique economic and cultural landscapes of the UAE.

Together, these leaders illustrate the diverse dimensions of contemporary leadership - where product innovation, sustainability, and regional operational excellence converge to shape resilient, future-ready organizations that are poised for global impact.

CEO Insights Asia in this issue presents a spotlight of 'Leaders of the Year- 2025' featuring leaders who have leveraged their extensive industry expertise and experience in offering effective skills to the market. The following list has been prepared after being closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of judges including CXOs, analysts and our editorial board. We recognize their valuable contribution to the ever expanding and competitive market and their ability to sustain themselves and emerge as top contestants through their reliable knowledge.

Leaders of the Year- 2025

Company Management	Company Name	Company Description
Ali Baydoun, Country Manager	IBM	An experienced sales and business development leader with expertise in government digital solutions, strategic growth, operational excellence, and customer-centric strategies
Anna Lukonskai, Product Director	MERED	A leader with global experience across banking and technology industries, he drives growth, operational excellence, and customer-centric innovation, empowering teams and fostering sustainable business impact
Hassan Reda, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer	CredibleX	A product leader with global experience across the USA, Asia, and UAE, specializing in product strategy, design, customer experience, and business leadership in banking and fintech sectors
Kamel Abbou, Country Manager	CarSwitch	With global experience across banking and tech, he drives growth, operational excellence, and customer-focused innovation, empowering teams and creating sustainable business impact
Kishore Ravuri, Director	ESG Business Institute Singapore	With over two decades of experience, he champions sustainability, drives responsible business practices, and nurtures initiatives that create lasting value for stakeholders, the planet, and future-ready organizations
Muhannad Khattab, Country Manager	NTT DATA	He specializes in planning and leading sales strategies, building high-performing sales and marketing teams, and coordinating operations across management, vendors, and internal departments
Nirbhay Lumde, Senior VP - ESG & Sustainability	Prestige Group	He leads ESG and CSR projects across industries including technology R&D, retail, IT, and real estate, bringing strong expertise in sustainability reporting, regulatory compliance, data analysis, and more
Utku Yazici, Chief Product Officer	Valus	With 20 years of experience in digital transformation, he drives product innovation across B2B and B2C, building empowered teams and delivering large-scale, user-focused solutions
Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-Founder & Chairperson - Sustainability	ReNew	She is engaged with leading industry bodies, think tanks, and educational institutions, and also excels in fundraising, business development, financial modelling, negotiation, and related skills
Yi-Wei Ang, Chief Product Officer	Talabat	He specializes in building product-led organizations, driving customer-focused, data-driven, and experimentation-led strategies across teams in Dubai and Cairo tech hubs

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