THE International Association of Public Transport (UITP) elected Mr Khalid Alhogail as president for a two-year term during its general assembly held on June 18.
Alhogail is the CEO and managing director of the Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco), a position he has held since 2006. Alhogail is also chairman of the Saudi Emirates Integrated Transport Company (Seitco) joint venture between Saptco and Emirates Transport, and the Saptco-RATP Dev joint venture Public Transport Company (PTC) and a board member of the RATP Dev-Sapto joint venture Capital Metro Company (Camco).
In addition, Algohail has previously served as chairman of the Saudi National Union for Joint Stock Companies, representing 186 CEOs of listed companies, for 10 years, and been closely involved with several major transport projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
Alhogail has been an active member of UITP’s executive and policy boards for the past five years and served as UITP vice-president before his appointment.
Alhogail succeeds Mr Pere Calvet, director general of Catalonia Government Railway (FGC), who held the presidential position for two terms from 2017 to 2021.
“It is my great honour to be elected as the new UITP president,” Alhogail says. “I am proud of the long-standing involvement I have with the association, and I look forward to engaging with the international membership to advance the association’s vision in the years to come. Public transport needs strong support as we look towards a post-pandemic world, and I hope to work alongside many of you in the times ahead.”
“Having worked with [Alhogail] in our executive and policy boards, I have no doubt that he will put a spotlight on our mission and work closely with our global members to further advance public transport,” says UITP secretary general, Mr Mohamed Mezghani. “I look forward to exploring our professional relationship in the years to come. UITP congratulates and thanks Mr Alhogail for joining our team.”
The July 2021 edition of IRJ will include an exclusive article from outgoing UITP president, Pere Calvet, who reflects on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on public transport and his tenure as UITP president.
