Acwa, the largest water desalination company in the world, which operates within the water industry, announced the appointment of Dr. Samir J. Serhan as the company’s chief executive officer. He assumed the role on the 1st of March, 2026. The appointment was done through a structured governance process. It is a strategic move towards the company’s succession plan. The Board Nomination and Remuneration Committee oversees the process. It was a mutual decision between the company’s former CEO, Mr. Marco Arcelli, and the company. Dr. Serhan joined Acwa last year as President of Saudi Arabia and Middle East operations. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Air Products. He managed global operations across multiple regions with P&L responsibility. He also directed engineering, technology, and manufacturing divisions globally.
Global Leadership Experience and Strategic Vision
Dr. Serhan brings more than three decades of global industrial leadership experience. He previously worked with Praxair as President of Hydrogen business operations. Earlier, he spent 14 years with Linde Group across the US and Germany in leadership roles. He later became Managing Director of Linde Engineering. His career focused on operational transformation, institutional strengthening, and profitable industrial growth.
Executive Leadership Statements
Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Acwa, said: “Acwa stands today as a Saudi national champion and a global leader in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen, and our position continues to strengthen. We are grateful for Marco’s leadership in advancing Acwa’s strategy and accelerating our growth trajectory. This structured leadership transition reflects the strength of our governance and the maturity of our business platform. Our strategic direction remains clear and unchanged. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Samir Serhan to his new role as CEO of Acwa.”
Dr. Samir J. Serhan, the incoming CEO of Acwa, said: “Every day affords us new opportunities to help our customers and meet pressing energy and water needs around the world. I’m honored to lead Acwa at a pivotal moment as the company accelerates profitable global growth in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen solutions – including advancing green hydrogen to decarbonize heavy industries – to deliver scalable, sustainable impact worldwide. I look forward to working with our talented Acwa teams around the globe to build on the progress we have achieved and shape the next chapter of our journey.”
Marco Arcelli, the outgoing CEO of Acwa, said: “Over the past three years, Acwa’s portfolio has doubled in size, and we are on track to double it again by 2030, scaling both our footprint and our impact. Acwa now produces around 25% of the world’s desalinated seawater. We have expanded into new markets, including Azerbaijan, China, Kuwait, and Senegal, while advancing energy export opportunities from Saudi Arabia, and cementing our leadership in green molecules. What we have achieved reflects the scale of our ambition, the discipline of our execution, the dedication of our people, and the trust of our partners.”
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Source: PRNewswire
