(MENAFN- Global Advertising) AMSTERDAM — SkyTeam Cargo, the largest alliance in the air cargo industry, has announced the appointment of Omar Hariri as the new chairman of its Executive Board.
Hariri, concurrently the CEO of both Saudi Airlines Cargo Company (Saudia Cargo) and Saudi Arabian Logistics Company (SAL), replaces Shawn Cole, VP Cargo of Delta Airlines, who held the position for three years.
The Executive Board of SkyTeam Cargo Alliance, which is made up of top executives from the group’s 12-member cargo airlines, endorsed Hariri’s new role during their latest meeting.
Commenting on his new role as the Chairman of the SkyTeam Cargo Alliance Executive Board, Hariri said: “It will be an honor chairing the executive board of SkyTeam Cargo, the largest alliance in the cargo industry accounting for nearly 20% of the global air cargo movement. SkyTeam Cargo with its two decades of formulation has come a long way and with its 12-member airlines reaching every corner of the globe, enjoys a vast geographic reach and connectivity between the east and west and vice versa.”
“I would like to thank Shawn for his contributions during the last three years and SkyTeam Cargo Alliance and its members for giving me this opportunity. Moving forward, we will continue focusing on actively promoting and strengthening the alliance between the members and at the same time focusing on enhancing our technologically driven operational and network capability to ensure an outclass experience for our customers. With the growing demand for pharma and e-commerce, our aim is to continue exploring new markets while enhancing connectivity and efficient deliveries, further grow and strengthening the core business of our 12-member airlines.”
Hariri joined Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo (Saudia Cargo) as CEO in February 2018, bringing with him an extensive experience in air freight and logistics management from his diversified roles at DHL Express and FedEx Express.
He has a Master of Science Degree in Procurement Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the University of Salford’s Business School in Manchester, United Kingdom.
“It has been a pleasure serving as chairman of the cargo executive board,” Shawn Cole, Vice President of Delta Cargo, commented. “During my time as chairman, we focused on building connectivity, sourcing with economies of scale and connecting with our customers. Our true character was revealed in the face of the many unprecedented challenges brought upon us by COVID-19. I know that Omar Hariri will serve our alliance well as we continue to navigate through the crisis, rebuild network connectivity and contribute to support the transportation of vaccines”.
Saudia Cargo is the latest member of SkyTeam Cargo joining in April of 2019. The group, which marked its 20th anniversary last September, also counts Aeroflot Cargo, Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo, Aeromexico Cargo, Air France-KLM Cargo, Alitalia Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, Czech Airlines Cargo, Delta Cargo and Korean Air Cargo as members.
Collectively, the alliance of 12 member airlines working together with more than 3,337 aircrafts including 63 full freighters to 159 destinations countries.
Omar Talal Hariri, CEO of Saudi Cargo & SAL
Omar is a transportation and logistics veteran with 16 years of commercial, operations and transformation experiences within blue chip companies across Saudi Arabia and the region.
Having started his career with DHL in 2004, his strategic abilities and results-driven approach moved him up the corporate ladder to a Vice President Commercial for DHL in Saudi Arabia within a decade. During his tenure at DHL he has held different managerial positions including National Sales Manager for Saudi Arabia and Country General Manager for Kuwait operations prior to heading the Commercial function in Saudi Arabia as the Vice President.
Prior to joining Saudia Cargo, Omar headed the FedEx Express business in Saudi Arabia as Managing Director where he transformed the business by exponentially growing the topline within a short span of 18 months.
He currently leads the Saudia Airlines Cargo Company & Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) as the CEO, a multibillion-riyal group served by more than 1300 employees operated through 10 freighters and belly space of 160 passenger aircrafts along with 4 cargo terminals spread across the country.
Omar holds a Master of Science in Procurement, Logistics & Supply Chain from the University of Salford UK and is a member of the IATA Cargo Advisory Council & SkyTeam Cargo Committee.

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