Serco, a leading global provider of essential public services, has appointed Phil Malem as its new chief executive officer for the Middle East region.

The company, which employs some 4,500 people in the region, delivers a wide range of services to the healthcare, rail, aviation and education sectors.

Prior to this, Malem was the managing director of engineering and design in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) at Atkins and led the transport and infrastructure business in the region.

A specialist in the energy sector, Malem’s other career highlights include his role as a nuclear site director in the UK.

He will also be a member of Serco Group’s Executive Committee operating from Serco’s Dubai office.

Lauding the appointment, Group Chief Executive Rupert Soames said: "It a pleasure to welcome Malem to Serco and to its Middle East business. He brings with him many years’ experience of the Middle East successfully delivering world-class services to a wide range of customers."

On the new role, Malem said: "It is a real privilege to have the opportunity to lead the organisation in the region and I am looking forward to working on the fantastic projects that we are delivering for our clients."

"I am especially pleased to have joined when our contract with the Dubai Road and Transport Authority for the operations and maintenance of the Dubai Metro has just been extended by two years, effective until September 2021," he stated.

"We will continue to ensure leading operational performance, with 99.9 per cent availability and 99.5 per cent punctuality. Last year saw us surpass a record 204 million journeys and we look forward to the challenges ahead in 2019 and beyond," he added.-TradeArabia News Service