Dr. Simon Hassannia

Dr. Simon Hassannia is Chief Digital Officer of SAL Saudi Logistics Services and has held three CDO mandates across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Germany. He leads large-scale transformation and digital business-building across established, complex organisations, with a focus on turning technology into measurable business value.

At SAL, Dr. Simon leads the company’s digital agenda across automation, AI and new digital business models. The transformation has reduced customer waiting times by 80%, optimized more than 300,000 working hours annually, and introduced new high-margin digital services that generate additional revenue.

Previously, as Interim CDO of ATU Germany, Dr. Simon led a transformation that delivered more than USD 150 million in new digital revenue. At Albatha Group in the UAE, he led group-wide digital transformation and corporate venture building across a diversified organisation of more than 7,000 employees and USD 3 billion in revenue.

Across these roles, Dr. Simon has focused on one practical challenge: how to turn complex transformation into simplified customer journeys, efficient operations and new sources of growth. He speaks on large-scale transformation, AI, digital business models, customer experience and how leaders can bring clarity to increasingly complex environments.

Dr. Simon holds a PhD magna cum laude in Digital Innovation Management from the University of Münster, with doctoral research at UC Berkeley, and has completed executive education at UC Berkeley and INSEAD.