In a reshuffling of leadership at one of the country’s largest organizations, Qatar Foundation has two senior Qatari officials taking on new roles.
Saad Al Muhannadi, who worked as vice president of Capital Projects and Facilities Management since 2005, has been appointed by Chairperson Sheikha Moza bint Nasser as the new president of QF.
Over the past eight years, he has overseen several projects in and around Education City. That includes the construction of new buildings such as the Qatar National Convention Center, efforts to render EC a car-free campus with the help of an under-construction people mover system, and the establishment of a charter to protect workers’ rights.
Not all plans have stayed on deadline under the direction of Al Muhannadi, an engineer who studied in the US and formerly worked with the Ministry of Municipality and Agriculture.
In a 2007 interview about QF with Gulf Construction, Al Muhannadi forecasted that the organization’s new headquarters, which are being designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, would open in February 2009. It remains under construction today.
Qatari focus
Speaking about his promotion, Al Muhannadi – one of the founding members of QF in 1995 – addressed a long-standing complaint among nationals that the organization does not benefit Qataris enough. He said in a statement:
“And, just as Qatar Foundation’s success has come about through collective hard work, so the opportunities afforded by the organisation should be available for the collective benefit of the local population.
Qatar Foundation was built by Qatar, it is sustained by Qatar, and it belongs to the people of Qatar, regardless of their background and occupation. Qatar Foundation has an extremely bright future, and I am delighted to be a part of it.”
Al Muhannadi replaces Dr. Mohamad Fathy Saoud, who served as president since 2007 and had been credited with bringing Weill Cornell Medical College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Texas A&M University, Carnegie Mellon University and Georgetown University to Education City.
Meanwhile, Rashid Al-Naimi, former vice president of Administration, has been promoted to CEO of QF Investments, where he will oversee the organization’s recently formed multi-billion dollar endowment and other initiatives.
Al-Naimi also obtained a college degree from the US, in economics, and serves on the Board of Directors for Msheireb Properties, as does Al Muhannadi.
Thoughts?
Credit: File photo of Saad Al Muhannadi via Qatar is Booming
