HE Khalid Al Falih Life is never dull for the chairman of Saudi Aramco – not solely due to the oil giant’s nonstop supply of activity, but also thanks to his role as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources. The world’s largest oil producing company had another busy year, with the acquisition of a Dutch rubber… Life is never dull for the chairman of Saudi Aramco – not solely due to the oil giant’s nonstop supply of activity, but also thanks to his role as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources. The world’s largest oil producing company had another busy year, with the acquisition of a Dutch rubber company for $1.7bn at the end of 2018, jointly investing with Adnoc in a $44bn refinery in India, and developing a $20bn oil-to-chemicals facility along the Red Sea coast as it seeks to convert two to three million barrels of oil into chemicals per year. The long-awaited IPO is still some way off, however, with the expected $2 trillion listing potentially happening in 2021. Al Falih himself is a – if not the – global voice on oil, with his comments regularly dictating the direction and con fidence of the market. His work with the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) should also not be overlooked, with the company boosting its capabilities in 2018 by automating its processes, as well as announcing plans to grow its phosphate and fertilisers business internationally. Chairman, Aramco Origin:KSA Residence:KSA Sector:Energy