L to R, Steffen Behrens, Johnny El Hayek, Jawaid Malik, Sidharth Menon.
Dammam, Saudi Arabia, January 8, 2025 – deugro has taken decisive steps to reinforce its operations in Saudi Arabia following the retirements of two stalwarts, Suresh Rajan and John Vetteth, who stepped down on December 31, 2024. These transitions mark a new era for deugro’s Saudi operations, underscoring the company’s commitment to growth and strategic leadership.
Starting January 1, 2025, Johnny El Hayek assumes the role of Country Manager for Saudi Arabia. El Hayek, a familiar face within deugro, brings a wealth of sales acumen and a proven track record to the table. Having served as General Manager for the Eastern Region, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and a knack for strategic planning. Now, he’s poised to guide a growing team across three offices, ensuring deugro’s continued momentum in the region.
“His deep understanding of the region, coupled with his proven track record of success, makes him the ideal person to lead our team in Saudi Arabia,” noted Steffen Behrens, President – Middle East at deugro.
El Hayek acknowledges the legacy he inherits, crediting his predecessor Suresh Rajan’s 35 years of dedication. “Building on Suresh Rajan’s outstanding legacy, I’m honored to lead deugro Saudi Arabia and eager to write the next chapter. The focus is on seamless continuity, strategic expansion, and accelerated growth, embodying our guiding principle: GROW, GROW, GROW,” said El Hayek. His vision includes bolstering sales capabilities, expanding market presence, and driving business generation.
Supporting El Hayek in this mission are two seasoned professionals: Sidharth Menon and Jawaid Malik. Menon, who took over from Vetteth as General Manager for the Western Region in October 2024, operates from Jeddah, while Malik relocated from deugro Pakistan to Riyadh, taking charge as General Manager for the Central Region. Both bring years of industry expertise and strong professional networks, key assets for deugro’s growth strategy.
“Both Sidharth Menon and Jawaid Malik are excellently connected professionals with years of practical experience in the industry. Their expertise will contribute to our continued success and further growth in the region,” Behrens added.
As deugro embarks on this new chapter, the leadership shuffle reflects its unwavering focus on robust business development and strategic expansion. With a well-connected team at the helm, the company is set to deepen its roots and scale new heights in Saudi Arabia’s competitive logistics landscape.
