Saudi Automotive Services Company (SASCO) appointed Mohammed Al-Hajjaj as Chief Executive Officer effective August 1, 2026, following the resignation of Riyadh Saleh Almalik, who stepped down on July 31 citing personal circumstances. Al-Hajjaj, an electrical engineer with deep experience in Saudi Arabia's energy and investment sectors, brings institutional knowledge of both private industry and government economic development initiatives to the publicly listed automotive services operator.
The SASCO board approved the leadership transition on June 18, when it also confirmed that Almalik would remain on the board and serve on affiliated committees following his departure from the executive role. No external search firm was mentioned in connection with the appointment. Al-Hajjaj previously served as CEO of Engie Saudi Arabia, a major low-carbon energy provider, from May 2023 until his move to SASCO. His prior role at the Saudi Ministry of Investment from 2018 positioned him as a key figure in channeling capital toward the Kingdom's energy, water, and waste management sectors, three areas aligned with the government's Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.
Al-Hajjaj holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and a master's degree in engineering systems management from the University of Dayton in the United States. He began his career at Schneider Electric in 2006, where he held multiple leadership roles across the Middle East, directing the company's solar energy business for more than a decade. He later served with General Electric overseeing corporate transformation and the power conversion unit business in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain before joining government service. At the Ministry of Investment, he held the position of Executive Managing Director for Regional Investment Development, where he focused on attracting foreign and domestic capital to critical sectors over a five-year tenure.
SASCO, established in 1982, is a major player in Saudi Arabia's transportation and travel services sector. Listed on Tadawul under ticker 4050 in the consumer discretionary retail segment, the company operates a diversified portfolio spanning fuel stations, vehicle service centers, roadside restaurants and motels, transport fleet services for liquid and dry cargo, and administrative services related to international driving licenses and customs transit documentation. The company also maintains a real estate and investment division. With capital of 600 million Saudi Riyals divided into 60 million shares, SASCO employs approximately 866 people and maintains multiple business segments focused on serving travelers and commuters across Saudi Arabia.
Al-Hajjaj's appointment signals a potential shift in SASCO's strategic orientation toward infrastructure modernization and alignment with broader Saudi industrial policy. His successful track record managing businesses valued at more than 33 billion riyals at Engie, combined with his government experience driving investment in energy transition and infrastructure, suggests the board may be preparing the automotive services company for significant operational or capital deployment initiatives. The choice of an energy and infrastructure specialist rather than a traditional automotive or hospitality executive, though Al-Hajjaj's engineering background provides relevant technical grounding, could indicate board confidence in a strategic transformation agenda for a company whose traditional fuel station and service center model faces long-term disruption from vehicle electrification.
