Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair & Co appoints Atul Singh as new Chief Executive Officer effective 1st April 2017, as Alhokair Fashion Retail continues to consolidate its position as the largest fashion retailer in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and the Caucasus region.
Mr Singh joins from The Coca-Cola Company upon his retirement as the Chairman of Asia Pacific, responsible for managing key stakeholders, government relationship, mergers and acquisitions initiatives.
The incoming CEO arrives with almost twenty years of experience from a global consumer product player, having joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1998 as Vice President, Operations of Coca-Cola, India Division. Prior to his current role, Atul was the Group President, Asia Pacific, responsible for operations of 5 Business Units: Greater China and Korea BU, India & Southwest Asia, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and South Pacific, comprising of 36 countries.
Mr Singh led the Franchise Operations and Key Accounts group of the India Division from 1998 to 2001. He then moved to China and served as the President of the East, Central and South China Division. Under his leadership, mainland China operations were among the fastest growing Coca-Cola businesses. In September 2005, Atul took over as the President of Coca-Cola India and South West Asia Business Unit. Under his stewardship, Coca-Cola's business in India made strides in all facets of its operations, emerging amongst the top businesses in the Coca-Cola System Worldwide and delivering 32 consecutive quarters of growth.
With a truly global background, Mr Singh’s previous experience includes key positions at The Colgate-Palmolive Company in Nigeria, Romania and USA and Price Waterhouse in New York. As well as being current independent Director on the Board of Compass Ltd, Mr Singh has lived and worked in the four continents of Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
Mr Singh will take over from outgoing Chief Executive Officer Simon Marshall, who spent ten years with Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair & Co. In that time, Mr Marshall oversaw the business’ growth as a global organisation through multiple expansions and acquisitions, as well as over 80 brand partnership with world-class retailers including Zara and Inditex, Aldo Group, Monsoon, Gap and Marks and Spencer's to name a few. Fawaz A. Alhokair & Co wish to express their thanks and gratitude to Mr Marshall for his tireless work and contributions in the past decade of successful growth for the business.
Dr Abdul Majeed Alhokair, Vice President, wanted to personally thank Mr Marshall on behalf of the entire group for his contribution to the growth of Alhokair over the past ten years:
“With Simon’s support, the retail platform grew from its core market of Saudi Arabia to North America, Central Asia and Caucasus and North Africa.
“The talent of our people has always been at the heart of our success, in seeking out new international markets and to find new partners ready to entrust the growth of their brand with us.
"It's a responsibility Simon embraced with integrity and tenacity, and we wish him all the best in his new endeavours."
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About Alhokair Fashion Retail
Fawaz A. Alhokair & Co was formed in 1990 by Fawaz, Salman and Abdulmajeed Alhokair. The company has since become the largest franchise retailer in the KSA, MENA, Central Asia and Caucasus regions, and the only listed business of its type in the Middle East. Quality, innovation, service and trust are the guiding principles for all Alhokair Fashion Retail operations. These values are coupled with an ability to move quickly, to seize new opportunities and to enter emerging markets. Since the opening of its first store in 1991, Alhokair Fashion Retail has grown considerably and now trades in more than 2,100 stores across 100 shopping malls in 17 countries, with a retail platform operating on a total GLA of over 500,000m2. All of this is managed by a workforce numbering more than 12,000. Alhokair Fashion Retail currently represents over 80 fashion brands, spanning from womenswear, menswear, kids and baby, department stores, shoes and accessories, cosmetics and coffee shops.
For further information, please contact:
Ayyaz Khan
Director of Special Projects. Alhokair
ayyaz.khan@alhokair.com.sa
© Press Release 2017
