UAE-based Yahsat, a satellite communications company fully owned by Abu Dhabi investment firm Mubadala, has appointed Mona Al Muhairi, an industry veteran, as the new chief human capital officer.

Al Muhairi has more than 20 years of human capital experience and she has been promoted to the role having previously held the position of executive director – Human Capital at Yahsat since 2007.

Currently, she is in charge of performance management, career growth, team development and Emiratization, and is responsible for ensuring that the human capital initiatives support Yahsat’s overall strategic objectives.

Commenting on the appointment, Yahsat chief executive Masood M Sharif Mahmood, said: "Al Muhairi has played a key role in developing what is Yahsat’s strongest asset – our human capital. Under her guidance and direction Yahsat has achieved an impressive workforce nationalisation with over 62 per cent UAE nationals.”

Currently Al Yah 3, Yahsat’s third satellite, is in the final production stage at the satellite manufacture Orbital ATK in the United States. As part of its building process, Yahsat has introduced a global program for the development of its engineers.

The program allows a select group of Emirati engineers to participate in the end-to-end satellite manufacturing process to launch Al Yah 3. Furthermore, Yahsat, Masdar Institute and Orbital ATK have initiated a Master’s programme in Space Systems and Engineering.

Part of Al Muhairi’s new responsibilities will be supporting Yahsat’s overall growth, forming the company’s strategic human capital objectives, creating and developing Emiratization initiatives plans, upgrading the human capital practices in addition to leading and planning the national capacity building operations, stated Mahmood.

Furthermore, she will ensure preparedness for strong UAE national cadres, creating a work environment that promotes effective communication and productive cooperation, he added.-TradeArabia News Service