Safouane Khcherif is widely regarded as one of the Middle East’s most influential financial leaders—not just for his technical expertise, but for how he connects finance to people, decisions, and long-term impact. Today, as Chief Financial Officer of Arabian Mills, he plays a central role in shaping the company’s strategy, governance, and growth as a publicly listed national champion.
Safouane’s leadership philosophy was shaped early in his career through a mix of audit, accounting, and hands-on experience in fast-growing organizations. These foundations taught him discipline, accuracy, and control—but also something just as important: finance only creates value when it helps people make better decisions.
“Effective financial leadership is as much about people and judgment as it is about numbers,” he says.
Building Finance That Serves the Business
Working in growth environments such as Orascom Telecom and Bintel Ltd., Safouane learned how to build finance functions from the ground up—implementing ERP systems, designing processes, and linking financial reporting directly to day-to-day operations. These experiences reinforced a simple principle: numbers must translate into action.
Later, at General Electric, Safouane managed large multi-country P&Ls, high-value contracts, and complex deals. Exposure to board-level decision-making, governance, and stakeholder management sharpened his ability to balance strategy, risk, and execution.
Together, these roles prepared him to step into senior CFO positions where finance is not a back-office function, but a strategic partner.
Joining Arabian Mills: A National Responsibility
Safouane joined Arabian Mills at a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. As one of Saudi Arabia’s most important food manufacturing companies, Arabian Mills plays a direct role in food security, employment, and economic resilience.
His mandate was clear: build a finance function that supports growth, transparency, and long-term sustainability—while meeting the expectations of regulators, investors, and society.
Finance at Arabian Mills works closely with CEO, operations, supply chain, and commercial teams to turn strategy into execution. Own P&L, Budgets, capital allocation, and performance metrics are designed around operational realities—not spreadsheets in isolation.
“Every financial decision is evaluated not only for return, but for its impact on efficiency, competitiveness, and national priorities,” Safouane explains.
Taking Arabian Mills Public
Leading Arabian Mills through its IPO was one of the most defining moments of Safouane’s career. For him, taking a company public is not just a financial exercise—it’s a cultural transformation.
The transition required redesigning finance and IT functions, strengthening internal controls, and embedding a mindset of transparency and accountability across the organization. Aligning the board, executives, employees, regulators, and investors demanded clear communication and disciplined execution.
“The real challenge wasn’t the mechanics of the IPO—it was readiness, mindset, and alignment,” he reflects.
The result was a successful listing that positioned Arabian Mills for long-term growth as a trusted public company.
Finance as an Enabler of Operational Excellence
At Arabian Mills, finance plays a hands-on role in driving operational performance. Through real-time reporting, improved costing, and ERP-enabled visibility, leadership can clearly see margins, costs, and performance across production sites.
Finance supports smarter planning, more disciplined capital allocation, and faster decision-making—helping reduce waste, improve efficiency, and protect profitability. Rather than acting as a control function, finance works alongside operations to ensure that performance improvements are both measurable and sustainable.
“Finance doesn’t just measure performance—it helps shape it,” Safouane says.
Digital Transformation with Purpose
Digital tools have fundamentally changed how finance operates at Arabian Mills. Upgraded SAP systems, automation, and analytics provide instant visibility into costs, profitability, and working capital.
This allows finance to move beyond reporting and into forecasting, scenario planning, and strategic insight. Technology also strengthens governance by embedding controls into daily processes, reducing risk while improving speed and accuracy.
Most importantly, integrated systems create a shared language between finance, operations, and commercial teams—ensuring decisions are aligned across the business.
Managing Volatility and Risk
Operating in a commodity-driven industry means volatility is a constant reality. Safouane approaches risk management with structure and foresight.
Arabian Mills actively monitors global markets, applies appropriate hedging strategies, and maintains strong liquidity and working-capital discipline. Scenario planning helps leadership respond quickly to price swings, supply-chain disruptions, and market uncertainty.
For Safouane, risk management goes beyond protecting margins—it’s about safeguarding food security and long-term resilience.
Beyond the Numbers
Safouane’s role as CFO extends well beyond finance. He contributes to board-level strategy, assesses long-term risks, and ensures financial planning supports national priorities such as sustainability and local employment.
By connecting financial insight to real business impact, he helps leadership make informed, balanced decisions—today and for the future.
“The CFO’s role is to bridge short-term performance with long-term value,” he says.
Ultimately, Safouane views finance as a responsibility—not only to shareholders, but to the economy and society that Arabian Mills serves.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Safouane is clear on the financial priorities that will guide Arabian Mills over the next five years. The focus is on disciplined, value-driven investment—particularly in capacity expansion, operational efficiency, and technology—ensuring that growth is both scalable and sustainable.
Strong cash flow and working-capital management will remain central, providing resilience in a capital-intensive, commodity-sensitive industry. At the same time, deeper use of data and analytics will enhance visibility, support faster decision-making, and strengthen financial control across the organization.
Finally, governance and risk management will continue to underpin the company’s strategy, helping Arabian Mills navigate market volatility while maintaining transparency and stakeholder confidence.
