Who we are
Our Executive Management
Eng. Ahmed Al-Ebrahim
Chief Executive Officer
Engineer Ahmed Al-Ebrahim has been leading GCCIA since his appointment in 2014; he joined the Authority in April 2007 as the Director of Operations and Maintenance, where he participated in implementing and starting the interconnection project. He later served as the Deputy CEO for Operations in 2012.
With over 35 years of experience in electrical energy, electricity markets, and infrastructure systems. Before joining GCCIA, Engineer Ahmed has been the CEO of Sintegro International and worked as the Manager of the Operations at the Ministry of Electricity and Water in Bahrain.
He earned an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, USA, in 2003 and a Master's degree in Electrical Energy Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland in 2000. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, USA, in 1986.
Engineer Ahmed has been a board member of Infracorp since 2022. He is also a board member (GO15), the association of the Very Large Power Grid Operators, previously its chairman in 2021, and a board member of the Association of Power Exchanges (APEx). Additionally, he is a board member of GCC CIGRE and chairs its technical committee, serving as a member of global CIGRE study committees since 2003.
Dr. Nasser Al-Shahrani
Chief Network Officer
Dr. Nasser Al-Shahrani joined GCCIA in 2008 during a crucial phase, establishing and operating GCCIA’s Network and played a prominent role in the project's success.
Dr. Nasser is considered a distinguished figure in administrative and technical fields, with significant contributions in the energy sector. He is a member of several regional and international organizations, committees, and boards, actively participating in numerous global conferences.
Before joining GCCIA, Dr. Nasser worked at the Saudi Electricity Company, where he chaired several committees and working groups. He served as a board member of the Saudi Scientific Association for Electrical Engineers.
He currently sits on the board of the (GO15), the association of the Very Large Power Grid Operators. He also heads the Coordination Committee for Operations under the Arab Union of Electricity and leads the technical working group responsible for studying Arab interconnection. Additionally, he chairs the GCC Cybersecurity Team and serves as the Secretary-General of the GCC joint Operations Committee.
Eng. Hashem Al-Zahrani
Chief Operations Officer
Eng. Hashem Al-Zahrani joined the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) in 2014, bringing extensive experience in the energy sector. Throughout his tenure, he has held several senior leadership positions and made significant contributions to enhancing the operational performance, reliability, and resilience of the GCC interconnected power grid. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening grid operations, advancing operational planning, ensuring system continuity, and fostering effective coordination among transmission system operators across the GCC member states.
With more than 22 years of professional experience in the energy sector, Eng. Hashem possesses extensive expertise in power system operations, strategic leadership, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has contributed to strengthening power grid resilience, enhancing operational procedures and governance frameworks, and advancing emergency preparedness and response capabilities. He has also played a key role in developing engineering capabilities, nurturing technical talent, and preparing future leaders for critical management positions.
Prior to joining GCCIA, Eng. Hashem held various technical and leadership positions at Saudi Energy (formerly Saudi Electricity Company) and Saudi Aramco, gaining valuable experience in power system operations, electricity markets, power transmission systems, and organizational transformation. He was also part of the team responsible for establishing the National Control Centre at Saudi Electricity Company.
Eng. Hashem serves on several technical committees within GCC CIGRE and CIGRE, including the Power System Operation and Control Study Committee (C2) and the Rotating Electrical Machines Study Committee (A1). He also serves as Secretary-General of the GCC Operations Committee. An active participant in regional and international energy conferences and technical forums, he was recognized in Paris as a Distinguished Member of CIGRE in acknowledgment of his technical and professional contributions.
Eng. Hashem holds both a master's degree and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). He has also completed specialized professional and executive development programs in change management, leadership, organizational culture, and organizational performance improvement.
Mr. Moath Al-Shaikh
Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Services
Mr. Moath Al-Shaikh has been responsible for the departments of finance, human resources, contracts and procurement, Logistics, digital technologies & Solutions, Security, and Facilities Management since joining GCCIA in 2016. He also represents the Authority on the Board of Directors of the GCC Lab Company since 2023.
With twenty years of experience in financial, managerial, and operational fields across electricity, Islamic investment, Islamic banking services, and aviation sectors, Mr. Moath brings a wealth of expertise to his role.
Before joining the Authority, he served as the Chief Financial Officer at NOMW Capital in Riyadh and previously held the position of Director of Finance and Accounts at the Gulf Aviation Academy in Bahrain. At the early stages of his career, Moath worked at Al Salam Bank Bahrain as a Financial and Accounting Manager and worked as an external auditor at Ernst & Young.
Mr. Moath holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, which he obtained in 2015, and he passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams in California, USA, in 2008.