KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Saudi Electricity Co 5110.SE has approved the resgnation of its long-serving chief executive, Ali bin Saleh Al-Barrak, "upon his own request", the company said on Monday.

It said the resignation would take effect next Jan. 1, when Ziad bin Mohammed al-Shiha would replace him as CEO of the Gulf's largest utility firm. Shiha is currently an executive at the country's state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco.

Saudi Electricity did not elaborate on the reasons for the change.

(Reporting by Reem Shamseddine; Editing by Andrew Torchia)

((Reem.Shamseddine@thomsonreuters.com)(+96638592898)(Reuters Messaging: reem.shamseddine.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: SAUDI/ELECTRICITY/CEO