< PreviousPOWER LIST 80 ACN | Summer 2025 Mosab Almoaily is the Chief Information Technology Offi cer at Marafi q. He started his career at the Saudi company in 2005 as a SAP SEM Consultant, before expanding his remit several times. He was promoted from IT Manager to CITO in 2021. In his current role, he leads the Digital Transformation Program in Jubail, Eastern Province. Almoaily is focused on superior customer service, digital transformation via strategic planning and building robust teams. Abdel Hadi Mustafa has over 20 years of experience in IT planning, quality assurance, digital solutions and business services. He is a certified ITIL and Scrum Master. Mustafa has worked on many digital transformation projects, like blockchain, chatbot, digital E-KYC, Emirates Digital Wallet, RPA Robotic Process Automation, Big Data and cloud. He is the Chief Technology Offi cer at Al Ansari Financial Services. He implemented two core banking systems (Banking Vision and Temenos T24). Salem Ahmed AlSarraf has been employed at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait for over 18 years. He is currently the Chief Information Of ficer. AlSarraf began his career with the company as AGM & Head System Development before being promoted to Chief Transformation Offi cer then CIO. He holds a Master of Engineering, Electrical from the University of Kuwait and a Bachelor of Engineering from Iowa State University of Science and Technology. John Mankarios has signifi cantly enhanced IT operations at QInvest as the IT Vice President. With over 18 years of experience in technology, he engineered cloud migrations, modernised telephony systems and integrated AI solutions, notably Microsoft Copilot. His leadership in consolidating data centres and implementing data privacy regulations has amplifi ed effi ciency and security. Mankarios is instrumental in aligning innovations with company goals, fostering strategic progress in the fi nancial sector. SALEM AHMED ALSARRAF CIO AL AHLI BANK OF KUWAIT JOHN MANKARIOS IT VICE PRESIDENT QINVEST MOSAB ALMOAILY CHIEF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER MARAFIQ ABDEL HADI MUSTAFA CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AL ANSARI FINANCIAL SERVICES John Mankarios TRAILBLAZERS ACN_March2025_74-81_PL - Trailblazers_13581512.indd 80ACN_March2025_74-81_PL - Trailblazers_13581512.indd 8003/06/2025 20:3903/06/2025 20:39POWER LIST ACN | Summer 2025 81 Samy Ahmed Al Ghassany has worked at Omantel and Oman Mobile for 17 years. He is currently the Chief Tech & Digital Offi cer and he is responsible for commercial and technical operations of the company. Al Ghassany was instrumental in modernising Omantel’s network with next-generation switching (NGS) and IP transmission systems, streamlining network operations. Additionally, he introduced a variety of new services. He has a Masters in Computer Information Systems from the University of Detroit Mercy. With 30 years in IT, Saji C S has driven digitalisation across SKAB Group companies for over a decade. As the Group IT Head, he has advanced implementations of Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Cloud servers and Salesforce Automation, boosting operational effi ciency. By leading the development of a real estate mobile app and integrating Hotel PMS solutions, he has enhanced system performance and user engagement, strategically aligning IT initiatives with business objectives for sustained growth. As the Head of IT at Volkswagen, Shoeb Khan excels in managing the company’s IT functions, performance and assets. With over 20 years of expertise, he has successfully formulated and executed IT strategies focused on innovation and digitalisation. Khan’s leadership in IT security has been pivotal, ensuring high standards across the enterprise. His track record in project delivery and cost optimisation highlights his commitment to maximising tech investments while boosting stakeholder engagement. Mohammed Khair has signifi cantly advanced Tawuniya’s IT landscape through strategic digital initiatives as the Chief Information Offi cer. Leading new cloud migration, he enhanced system resilience and lowered operational costs by 20 per cent. By implementing cutting-edge cybersecurity measures and integrating AI-driven analytics, Khair improved data-based decision-making. His focus on aligning technology with business outcomes has improved customer experience and operational effi ciency. SHOEB KHAN HEAD OF IT VOLKSWAGEN MOHAMMED KHAIR CIO TAWUNIYA SAMY AHMED AL GHASSANY CHIEF TECH & DIGITAL OFFICER OMANTEL SAJI C S GROUP IT HEAD SKAB GROUP Shoeb Khan TRAILBLAZERS ACN_March2025_74-81_PL - Trailblazers_13581512.indd 81ACN_March2025_74-81_PL - Trailblazers_13581512.indd 8103/06/2025 20:3903/06/2025 20:39FOCUS 82 ACN | Summer 2025 $6.4BN The record-breaking amount OpenAI is set to pay for io OOpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has announced its biggest acquisition to date: a staggering $6.4 billion all-equity purchase of io. The hardware startup was founded by Apple designer Jony Ive, who is best known as one of the principal architects of the iPhone. Ive and a team of other Apple alumni founded io one year ago as part of a bigger project called LoveFrom. The enterprise is made up of architects, artists, engineers, various types of designers, musicians and writers. Sam Altman and the OpenAI team have reportedly been collaborating with Ive and the creative collective LoveFrom for two years. With this announcement, they have made the partnership public and permanent. “A collaboration built upon friendship, curiosity and shared values quickly grew in ambition,” Ive and Altman wrote in a blog post announcing the acquisition. “Tentative ideas and explorations evolved into tangible designs.” OpenAI said the deal will push the artifi cial intelligence company fi rmly into the world of hardware. In the announcement, the company also revealed Ive will take on “deep creative and design responsibilities across OpenAI and io.” LoveFrom will stay independent. OpenAI already owns 23 per cent of the company. The landmark deal comes weeks after the company agreed to buy AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf for $3 billion. Previously, OpenAI acquired real-time analytics database company Rockset for an undisclosed sum in 2024. “We could not possibly be more excited,” the OpenAI and io announcement concludes. OPENAI BUYS APPLE DESIGNER’S STARTUP IO ChatGPT is set to pay billions to buy the company created by Jony Ive, known as one of the main architects of the iPhone ACN_March2025_82_Last Page_13625536.indd 82ACN_March2025_82_Last Page_13625536.indd 8203/06/2025 20:4003/06/2025 20:40Next >