Ahmed Mohammed A. Alzehairi
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Summary
Aviation leader with comprehensive expertise across Safety, Security, Quality, Occupational Health , and enterprise risk governance. Demonstrated capability in shaping organizational strategy, leading multidisciplinary teams, and strengthening regulatory, governmental, and industry relationships at national and international levels. Skilled in executive decision‑making, financial planning, operational transformation, crisis leadership, digital innovation, and stakeholder diplomacy. Advisor to regulators, boards, , elevating organizational culture, and delivering sustainable performance. Steering Board Member – Prince Sultan University Aviation College; Board Member – Gulf Flight Safety Association. Business professional with talent for strategic planning, operational efficiency, and team leadership. Adept at driving growth, managing budgets, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve organisational goals. Skilled in stakeholder management and business transformation. With strategic mindset and knack for fostering collaboration, excel at driving initiatives that align with organisational goals. Skilled in building and nurturing relationships, ensuring seamless communication and cooperation across teams. Adaptable, quick to learn, and always ready to take on new challenges to achieve success. Directs aviation safety and security strategy across complex operations, combining regulatory oversight, crisis leadership, and data-led decision-making to protect performance and reputation. Manages teams, budgets, audits, and emergency preparedness programmes that support compliance, accountability, and sustained improvement. Builds integrated risk management frameworks that improve hazard identification, incident response, and assurance across safety, security, and quality functions. Coordinates regulators, airports, government bodies, and service providers to support strong compliance, effective communication, and disciplined execution. Visionary executive with progressive [Industry] background and record of accomplishment. Brings focus on growth, confidence in decision-making and expertise in leading organisations through periods of change and development. Articulate and driven with top strengths in relationship-building, planning and operational problem-solving. Forward-thinking [Job Title] brings proven record of success in exceeding targets to deliver measurable results and substantial improvements. Expert in motivating operational changes to revitalise, revamp and redirect teams. Decisive leader and strategic planner specialising in [Area of expertise].
Overview
3
3
Languages
1
1
Certification
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President Safety & Security, Captain Boeing 787-9
Riyadh Air
05.2023 - Current
- Safety Management
- Lead and oversee the Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with ICAO, IATA, GACA, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Ensure effective hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation processes.
- Monitor safety performance indicators and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Oversee occurrence reporting, investigations, corrective actions, and safety assurance activities.
- Present safety performance and key risks to executive committees and the Board.
- Aviation Security Management
- Created a comprehensive workforce plan to align staffing needs with organisational goals.
- Formulated an annual budget to ensure financial resources align with departmental objectives.
- Led the implementation and maintenance of the Airline Security Programme.
- Ensure compliance with national and international aviation security regulations.
- Oversee security risk assessments, threat analysis, and mitigation strategies.
- Managed security incident response, investigations, and implementation of corrective action programmes.
- Coordinate with regulators, airports, government agencies, and security service providers.
- Occupational Health & Safety (OHS)
- Develop workforce plan
- Develop annual budget
- Establish and maintain an effective Occupational Health & Safety Management System.
- Ensure compliance with local labor laws, health and safety regulations, and industry best practices.
- Oversee workplace risk assessments, health monitoring, and injury prevention programs.
- Promoted employee well-being and established occupational hygiene and health protection initiatives.
- Regulatory Compliance & Governance
- Maintain compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), GACA regulations, IOSA standards, and other applicable requirements.
- Lead regulatory inspections, audits, assessments, and certification activities.
- Ensure timely resolution of audit findings and regulatory observations.
- Maintain strong governance, reporting, and assurance processes.
- Risk Management
- Establish an integrated Safety and Security Risk Management framework.
- Monitor emerging operational, security, cyber, geopolitical, and business risks.
- Ensure appropriate controls are implemented across all operational areas.
- Provide executive oversight of risk mitigation plans and risk acceptance processes.
- Emergency Response & Crisis Management
- Lead development and maintenance of Emergency Response Plans and crisis management frameworks.
- Oversee emergency preparedness exercises and business continuity activities.
- Provide executive leadership during major incidents, emergencies, and security events.
- Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders during crisis situations.
- Oversight of Service Providers and Stations
- Establish oversight programs for ground handlers, maintenance providers, catering companies, security vendors, and other outsourced service providers.
- Ensure effective oversight of domestic and international station safety and security performance.
- Conduct risk-based audits, inspections, and performance reviews.
- Ensure service providers meet contractual, regulatory, and company requirements.
- Training and Competency
- Established competency requirements for safety, security, and OHS personnel to ensure qualification standards. for safety, security, and OHS personnel.
- Ensure delivery of regulatory and company-required training programs.
- Promote leadership development and professional competency within the department.
- Foster continuous learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Data Analytics and Continuous Improvement
- Utilize safety and security data, intelligence, and predictive analytics to identify trends and emerging risks.
- Drive digital transformation of safety and security reporting and assurance processes.
- Implement industry best practices, innovation, and benchmarking initiatives.
- Support data-driven decision-making across the organization.
- Stakeholder Management
- Acted as primary liaison with regulators, industry groups, and government agencies to enhance collaboration and compliance.
- Represent the airline on safety and security committees and industry forums.
- Build strong collaborative relationships with operational and corporate departments.
- Foster a positive reporting culture and effective communication across the organization.
- Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop Safety, Security, and OHS teams.
- Establish departmental objectives, budgets, and resource plans.
- Ensure effective workforce planning and succession management.
- Drive accountability, engagement, and high-performance team culture.
- Executive Accountability
- Accountable for the airline's Safety Management System (SMS), Security Management System (SeMS), and Occupational Health & Safety program.
- Accountable for regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and organizational resilience.
- Accountable for safety and security performance across all operations, destinations, and service providers.
- Accountable for providing independent assurance and expert advice to the CEO, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors.
Advisor to Executive Vice President Safety & Aviation Standards
General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
08.2020 - 05.2023
- Acted as Assistant President Safety & Aviation Standards with full authority for several times.
- Led and managed GACA's cross-functional teams on, Conferences and meetings (ICAO, ACO, CAAs, Boeing, Airbus)
- ICAO universal safety oversight audit program (USOAP) preparation.
- State Safety Program (SSP) initiative (manual, RFP, gap analysis)
- Contributed to the evaluation and approval of airlines exemptions within the GACA regulation exemption task force.
- Developed and revised GACA safety regulations, safety related E-book
- Aviation Regulation Committee (ARC) with KSA aviation stakeholders
- Assisted in restructuring the safety and risk management directorate at GACA.
- Assisted in the recruitment process for GACA's experts and staff.
- Assessed private sector applications for 'Consultant Certificate' to uphold industry standards.
Director Safety, Security and Quality- Captain A320
SaudiGulf Airlines
Dammam
10.2018 - 07.2020
- Advanced and key leadership role in establishing strategic goals and driving development of processes and systems to achieve and maintain safety, quality, security management and regulatory compliance.
- Established and managed Safety Management Systems (SMS), incorporating safety assurance data analytics, safety investigations, root cause analysis, and safety risk management.
- Planned, implemented, and oversaw safety, security, and quality standards and practices across airline operations and service providers.
- Oversaw service providers in safety, security, and quality, ensuring compliance with established standards.
- Ensured compliance with relevant regulatory requirements within the company.
- Establish, supervise and control safety, quality and security audits and surveillance system within the organization.
- Monitored compliance with, and the adequacy of, procedures required to ensure safe operational practices and operations.
- Verified, by monitoring operational compliance with the applicable standards of GACA, CAA- Cayman Island and IOSA.
- Responsible for ensuring that the Quality Assurance Program was properly established, implemented and maintained.
- Managed and led corporate team in Emergency Response.
Mgr Safety Management System- Airbus 330 Capt
Saudia Airlines
Jeddah
06.1994 - 08.2018
- 2018-2018 Airbus A330 Captain (type rated: 02nd June 2018/released to line: 11th July 2018). Total PIC Flight Hours: approximately 60 Hrs.
- 2012-2018 Airbus A-320/321 Captain and Mgr. Flt Ops Safety Management Systems Total PIC Flight Hours : 1105 HRS. Flight &Training Standards Specialist, LOSA Line Operations Safety Auditor, IOSA internal Auditor.
- 2004-2011 Boeing MD90 Captain and Flight &Training Standards Specialist Total PIC Flight Hours: 2544 Hrs, LOSA Line Operations Safety Auditor, IOSA internal Auditor.
- 1999-2004 Boeing 747-400 First Officer and Flt Ops & Quality Assurance Specialist. Total F/O Flight Hours: 1807 Hrs, ISO Internal Auditor.
- 1998-1999 Boeing 777-200 First Officer and Flt Ops & Quality Assurance Specialist. Total F/O Flight Hours: 392 Hrs.
- 1994-1998 Airbus A300-600 First Officer. Total F/O Flight Hours: 1879 Hrs, Participated in initial First Officers training.
- 1992-1994 Training Pilot: Saudia Flight Training Academy Total Flight Training Hours: 293 Hrs and 26 Minutes.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Environmental Sciences- Occupational Health & Safety
King Abdulaziz University
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia01-2022
Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) - Organizational Behavior
Grenoble Ecole De Management
Grenoble, France01-2017
Bachelor's Degree - Psychology
King Abdulaziz University
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia01-2010
Executive Master's of Business Administration -
King Abdulaziz University
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia01-2009
Business Administration -
Cyprus Institute of Marketing
Nicosia01-1999
Commercial Aviation Diploma -
Alzouman Institute
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia01-1997
Skills
- Operational Management
- Occupational health and safety
- Safety management
- Risk assessment
- Regulatory compliance
- Crisis management
- Crisis communication
- Investigator
- Aviation safety
- Risk management
- Emergency response
- Security oversight
- Safety management systems
- Security risk assessment
- Audit management
- Safety analytics
- Strategic planning
- Executive leadership
- Team building
- Leadership expertise
- Change leadership
- Executive decision-making
- Executive communication
- Operations management
- Policy development
LANGUAGES
Arabic: C2 Proficient
English: C2 Proficient
French: A2 Elementary
Certification
Captain Boeing 787-9 Rated., Captain: A330 Rated, Captain A320 Rated, Captain Boeing MD90 Rated
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Desert Camping
CUSTOM
- Emergency Response, Blake Int, 2024
- Safety management Systems, IATA, 2024
- Kenyon Emergency Response, Kenyon, 2019-08-10, Dammam, Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Flight Data Monitoring, Cassiopee, 2019-04-10, Jeddah, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Aviation Safety Management System, PJA, 2018-10-15, Jeddah, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Timeline
Vice President Safety & Security, Captain Boeing 787-9
Riyadh Air
05.2023 - Current
Advisor to Executive Vice President Safety & Aviation Standards
General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
08.2020 - 05.2023
Director Safety, Security and Quality- Captain A320
SaudiGulf Airlines
10.2018 - 07.2020
Mgr Safety Management System- Airbus 330 Capt
Saudia Airlines
06.1994 - 08.2018
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Environmental Sciences- Occupational Health & Safety
King Abdulaziz University
Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) - Organizational Behavior
Grenoble Ecole De Management
Bachelor's Degree - Psychology
King Abdulaziz University
Executive Master's of Business Administration -
King Abdulaziz University
Business Administration -
Cyprus Institute of Marketing
Commercial Aviation Diploma -
Alzouman Institute