Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 102 | Page 11

NEWS

Vertiv expands Middle Eastern presence with new regional headquarters in Riyadh

Tassos Peppas

Vertiv , a global provider in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions , has announced its new Middle East regional headquarters in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia . With a steadfast commitment to providing essential services and solutions to regional customers for over three decades , this move symbolizes a pivotal step in Vertiv ’ s strategic expansion across the Middle East and Levant region .

Tassos Peppas , Regional Director , Middle East , Turkey and Central Asia for Vertiv added , “ Saudi Arabia and the Levant region rank among the most driven economies in the world today . We are excited to be a part of such a dynamic region . Data is the new oil as they say , and we ’ re extremely excited to contribute to the development of data centres within the greater Middle East market .”
The investment will help propel Vertiv ’ s local operations into the future , enabling closer collaboration with customers to provide cutting-edge solutions and meet rapidly evolving demand . Over the coming months , Vertiv plans to hire additional local staff to support local sales and marketing initiatives while providing Saudi nationals with professional opportunities and career pathways .
Karsten Winther , President of Vertiv for Europe , Middle East and Africa , EMEA , expressed his enthusiasm about the significant milestone , stating : “ This move underscores Vertiv ’ s commitment to the Middle East and Levant markets , reflecting the importance we place on fostering strong partnerships in the region .”
“ It has been amazing to watch the immense growth this region has witnessed over the last decade , and we are excited to support new phases of development through our regional headquarters ,” added Winther .
“ We have built great relationships with partners and customers both locally and regionally to date , and increasing our strong local presence will solidify these further .”
Vertiv is poised to support the future digital landscape across the wider Middle East and Levant region .

Arthur D Little forecasts growth in Saudi Arabia ’ s biotechnology and genomics sector

A comprehensive analysis by Arthur D Little

Middle East , projects substantial doubledigit growth potential for Saudi Arabia ’ s biotechnology and genomics sector , in line with the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030 ’ s targets . The detailed report , orchestrated by Dr Patrick Linnenbank , Partner at ADL Middle East , and Dr Ankita Gulati , Principal at ADL Middle East , provides a data-driven forecast into the future of the Saudi Arabia ’ s role in the global biotech market .
Within this context , Saudi Arabia ’ s directed R & D investments , amounting to $ 3.9 billion in 2021 and aims to become a global provider in innovation and R & D , with annual investment equivalent to 2.5 % of GDP by 2040 which are set to catalyse the expansion of the sector . This is expected to add $ 16 billion to the economy and create high value jobs in science and technology , are set to catalyse the expansion of the sector , reinforcing its commitment to a knowledgebased economy .
Dr Patrick Linnenbank , Partner in the Healthcare and Lifesciences Practice for Middle East and South East Asia at Arthur D Little remarked , “ Our analysis indicates that strategic investments and initiatives are aligning with a growing demand for enhanced healthcare services and personalised medical treatment , which Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to fulfil .”
Dr Ankita Gulati states , “ The confluence of genomic data and AI in healthcare is at the core of next-generation medical treatment and may revolutionise healthcare . Saudi Arabia ’ s current trajectory in genomics research and development is a robust indicator of its potential to lead in this domain .”
While government-led investment and vision are driving change , various entities within the R & D ecosystem are enhancing the biotechnology agenda . Prime among them are King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre , KAIMRC , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology , KAUST and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology , KACST .
Dr Patrick Linnenbank ( left ) and Dr Ankita Gulati
www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO MIDDLE EAST 11