In May last year, Khalid Al Falih took the position many deemed destined to be his, succeeding veteran Ali Al-Naimi as Saudi minister of petroleum and mineral resources. The role gives Al Falih untold power and influence over a global oil market that already held him in high regard, as shown by the key role he played in the OPEC and non-OPEC production cuts agreed at the end of last year. On top of this new position, Al-Falih’s seat as chairman of state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco looks set to become an increasingly important one in the coming years as the company gears up for a 5 per cent listing in 2018 expected to value it at more than $2 trillion. Publically he has suggested the funds could transform Aramco into an industrial conglomerate similar to General Electric in the US.
Chairman, Aramco
Origin:KSA
Residence:KSA
Sector:Energy