Exova welcomes new Managing Director

29 Jul 2013

Hicham Abdallah appointed as new managing director for its Middle East and Asia Pacific region

Exova, the global testing and advisory group serving markets worldwide in fire safety, has appointed Hicham Abdallah as managing director for its Middle East and Asia Pacific region to lead its ambitious growth plans.

Hicham joins Exova from Air Liquide, the global manufacturer of specialty gases, industrial gases and gas handling equipment where he spent 12 years in senior commercial and operational roles.

Most recently he was chief executive officer for Middle East and Iraq with responsibility for over US$250m of sales and 500 staff across 39 manufacturing and distribution sites in seven countries. Prior to this, he was CEO of Air Liquide’s Caribbean region and before that held the position of business development director for the Middle East.

At Exova, Hicham will have responsibility for 10 specialist laboratories and 800 experts across the region providing testing and advisory services to leading organisations in the oil & gas, environmental, infrastructure, fire safety and health sciences sectors.

Exova’s CEO, Ian El-Mokadem, commented on Hicham’s appointment. He said: “This appointment is an important part of ensuring that the growth we have achieved in recent years is sustained. I am delighted to welcome Hicham to Exova. He brings a wealth of experience from working across the Middle East market, combined with a track record in delivering customer value. I know he will provide the energy and strategic and operational leadership to support our ambitions in the region”.

Hicham Abdallah added: “Exova is a growing global business that plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and quality of its customers’ products and services. Operating at the very heart of the region’s growth industries, I see huge potential in the services it offers as well as the opportunities to build market share”.