Along with the changing times, the waves of globalization, technological advancements, and modern industrial progress have erased the boundaries to make our world more interconnected. In these rapidly evolving eras, major organizational concepts have been completely revamped. Staying mostly on the fringes of the operations department at the beginning of the industrial era, today, HR has been moved to the core of every successful global company.
It is thanks to the consistent and constant herculean efforts of some of the most influential HR executives like Moutaz M Mashhour, who are transforming the workplace to be more people-centric and employee-driven than ever before.
With over three decades of transformative leadership across oil and gas, healthcare, academia, and services, and as the Chief Human Resources Officer, Nomination and Remuneration Committee Member and Board Member at Neo Space Group, Moutaz brings strategic oversight to not only HR but also IT, procurement, and supply chain—driving enterprise-wide change across the organization from its base in Riyadh.
An Experience Spanning Oil and Gas, Services, Academia and Healthcare Sectors
Before his current role, Moutaz M Mashhourserved as Executive Vice President – Corporate Services at the Industrialization Energy Services Company (TAQA), where he spearheaded integrated strategies across HR, IT, and supply chain functions. His leadership was particularly impactful during his tenure at the Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization (SAMSO), a premier private healthcare facility dedicated to Aramco employees. Following a joint venture with Johns Hopkins Hospital, he successfully managed the complex transition of thousands of employees into the newly established Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH), fostering a people-first culture within one of the Kingdom’s most distinguished private healthcare institutions serving the oil and gas industry.
Moutaz’s expansive career includes senior roles at Saudi Aramco, Aramco Americas, Yanbu Aramco Sinopic Refining Company (YASREF), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)—each marked by visionary HR frameworks, organizational agility, and a deep commitment to human capital development. From building HR infrastructure at a world-class research university to driving leadership development programs across global locations, he has consistently demonstrated a unique ability to align people strategy with business outcomes.
Backed by a strong foundation in HR, business management, and industrial relations, Moutaz is known for his empathetic leadership, strategic foresight, and unwavering dedication to organizational excellence. His influence in shaping future-ready workforces and ethical governance makes him a standout leader in transforming the HR landscape in the Middle East and beyond.
From the Classroom to the C-Suite: A People-First Journey in HR Leadership
Moutaz’s journey from a passionate educator to a board-level HR executive is nothing short of inspirational. His career is a testament to the power of purpose-driven leadership rooted in people development. Reflecting on his early days, Moutaz M Mashhour shares, “My career began as a teacher at the Saudi Aramco Industrial Training Center in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. I was among the first Saudi teachers at the center, pioneering a role predominantly held at that time by non-Saudis”
This early experience, working alongside both new apprentices and experienced professionals, was pivotal in forming his people-centric philosophy. He emphasizes, “I feel that teaching and training is the core of HR—or the heart of HR.” This direct involvement in developing emerging talent and empowering existing employees ignited his lifelong dedication to human capital development.
Over the years, Moutaz’s career progressed through significant shifts, each one sharpening his people-centric acumen. He recalls, “There were certain stations, certain pivots in my career—this teaching role was the first, and I was one of the first!” This initial pioneering role launched him into increasingly senior positions, where he seamlessly blended his HR expertise with impactful leadership in diverse, multicultural settings.
Moutaz was employee #7 to join the company (NSG) and I don’t want to mention that it is a startup company but rather mention that he was one of the first 10 company pioneers during the establishment and inauguration. For example: Now, as Chief HR Officer at Neo Space Group, a trailblazing force in satellite communications, geospatial, and advanced space technology, Moutaz M Mashhour is once again playing a foundational role in shaping a bold new organization from ground up. As one of the first ten pioneers to join NSG during its establishment and inauguration, he remarked, “I’ve been part of other early ventures, but being here at Neo Space Group is yet another exciting chapter.”
Adapting, Learning, and Leading with Relationships at the Core
Further reflecting on his journey, Moutaz M Mashhour emphasizes two powerful themes that have shaped his evolution as a leader: adaptability and relationship-building. “The most important elements in HR—and in any leadership role, really—are constantly adapting and learning,” he shares. “If you adapt and learn, you become agile. You can do things quicker. You can adjust, reengage, and re-navigate situations.”
Equally vital to his leadership philosophy is the human connection. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of building relationships,” he says. “With your peers, employees, and customers—both internal and external—strong relationships are the backbone of effective HR leadership.” These core values lived and refined over decades, continue to define Moutaz’s approach as he helps shape the future of work in Saudi Arabia’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
The Quiet Power of Listening: A Lesson from the Classroom to the C-Suite
In a profession often associated with talking, Moutaz M Mashhour reveals a powerful truth: “HR has a reputation for speaking a lot—but the real strength lies in listening.” Reflecting on his early days as a teacher at Saudi Aramco, he shares how the classroom was his first training ground in this vital skill. “When you’re teaching, yes, you talk—but you also must listen. Listen to trainees’ questions and attend to their learning needs. That’s how you truly help them grow.”
This foundation evolved into a lifelong practice of attentive listening, becoming a defining trait of his leadership style. “As you mature in your career, you listen more and speak less. You learn to withhold judgment until you’ve understood the full picture.” For Moutaz, this blend of mindful listening and thoughtful speaking isn’t just a professional tool—it’s a philosophy that guides every conversation, decision, and relationship he builds.
The “Human” in Human Resources: Redefining Leadership Through Connection
For Moutaz, HR leadership has always been deeply personal and rooted in a profound respect for the “human” in human resources. “As the term implies, it’s human first,” he says. Moutaz M Mashhour believes the emphasis must always return to people—their stories, their individuality, and their inherent need for connection.
He elaborates that HR leadership transcends mere policies and procedures; it’s fundamentally about building relationships because we are inherently social beings. At the heart of his approach is a commitment to active listening, a skill he consistently refines. “When you listen attentively,” he explains, “you begin to understand people’s unique stories, and from those stories, you build genuine connections.”
These authentic connections are what Moutaz M Mashhour sees as the true currency of great leadership. “You build relationships by understanding people—not just what they do, but who they are.” In a world where leadership is often measured in metrics, Moutaz M Mashhour redefines it with meaning: “Relationships built on empathy, trust, and shared human experience. This, he believes, is where real impact begins.”
Balancing Timeless Values with Augmented Intelligence in Modern HR
In an era of rapid transformation, Moutaz M Mashhour remains grounded in the timeless pillars of HR—empathy, fairness, integrity, and human connection. “These are not trends,” he emphasizes, “they are the constants that define true HR leadership across generations.” For him, the foundation of people-centric leadership hasn’t changed—it’s only the tools that have evolved.
Reflecting on the post-COVID shifts in the HR landscape, Moutaz M Mashhour highlights how technology, particularly AI, has redefined the game. But he offers a refreshing perspective: “I don’t call it artificial intelligence—I see it as augmented human intelligence. It’s not here to replace us, but to supplement and complement what we already do best as humans.”
Through advanced data analytics and automation, HR professionals can now eliminate repetitive, transactional tasks and focus more deeply engaging meaningful interactions and relationship-building. “The power of AI,” he notes, “is in helping us make more informed decisions—without ever losing sight of the human essence of our work.”
As HR continues to evolve, Moutaz’s guiding principle stays the same: “Technology can support us, but it’s the timeless values—empathy, trust, and connection—that will always lead us forward.”
Shaping the Soul of a Startup: Crafting Culture as the Invisible Architecture
For Moutaz M Mashhour, culture is far more than a buzzword— “It’s the invisible architecture of any organization… the very DNA that defines who we are and how we act,” he shares. He sees culture not as a static ideal but as a living personality formed by the collective behaviors, values, and energy of every individual within a company.
At Neo Space Group, Moutaz M Mashhour is spearheading a transformative journey—not of change management but of culture creation. “In a startup, you’re not unlearning old habits—you’re shaping the very foundation,” he explains. This process begins by defining a clear purpose, promise, personality, and core values, but it doesn’t end there. “We’re not building a typical culture with textbook values—we’re designing one that is progressive, energetic, agile, and nationally proud.”
Drawing from a past role where he led a rebranding effort for a 20-year-old company, Moutaz M Mashhour acknowledges the complexity of reshaping culture in legacy organizations. “It’s a slow burn, not a light switch. It demands intent, patience, and alignment.” At Neo Space, however, he sees a unique opportunity to build something from the ground up—something futuristic, something bold.
“We want our culture to not just reflect our sector—but to redefine it.” In an age of limited physical interaction, this invisible architecture becomes even more vital, uniting teams not by location but by shared identity and purpose.
Anchored Locally, Aligned Globally: The Balancing Act of Cross-Border Culture
For Moutaz, global HR leadership is not about uniformity—it’s about “harmonizing per the law of the land while staying aligned with a broader global vision.” Reflecting on current integration efforts at Neo Space Group (NSG), Moutaz M Mashhour shares a hands-on example: “We’ve acquired a local company here in the Kingdom, and we’re in the middle of harmonizing policies, systems, and total rewards.”
His philosophy is simple yet powerful: “Anchor locally, align globally.” This balance becomes even more critical when NSG acquires companies in other countries. “Each market has its own labor laws and cultural context—we respect that. So we harmonize where possible but always stay compliant with local regulations.”
By paying attention to unique market realities while building a cohesive global framework, Moutaz M Mashhour crafts people strategies that are both respectful and resilient.
Strategic Ally, Human Catalyst: The CHRO’s Expanding Role
For Moutaz, the CHRO’s role is far more than operational—it’s about being “a true strategic partner and trusted advisor to the CEO and the leadership team.” He reflects, “I’ve never seen myself in any HR leadership role without also being an advisor to the CEO and peers.”
Balancing strategic vision with people’s aspirations, Moutaz M Mashhour uses high-level alignment to drive operational excellence. “That strategic interaction becomes the foundation to cascade alignment throughout the organization,” he shares. In his eyes, the CHRO is not just a function but “a bridge between business ambition and human potential.”
HR as Equilibrium: Navigating Employee Needs and Corporate Policy
Moutaz M Mashhour champions a balanced HR approach. “The key role of HR is advocacy … you are an advocate to all company employees,” he states, positioning HR as a trusted resource addressing concerns and providing advice. He emphasizes empathy and fairness: “We always want to be seen as an organization that serves all company employees… that empathize… that is fair.”
Yet, he underscores the need for equilibrium: “While at the same time also everything in balance is very important, HR needs to be protective of or the guardian of company policies.” This dual role ensures a harmonious and productive environment, advocating both employee and company interests. “You’re advocating the employees’ interest… but you’re also advocating and guarding and protecting the company’s interest as well.”
The Weight of Transition: Compassion in Leading Through Change
Reflecting on transitioning “multi thousand” healthcare professionals, Moutaz M Mashhour calls it another career “pivot.” “This was during my role as a CHRO at the John Hopkins Aramco Healthcare… a key element in my scope was to transition all those healthcare professionals… to the newly formed joint venture.”
He vividly remembers the employees’ anxiety, explaining, “You can imagine the level of anxiety they had. This was a career change for them, and they didn’t know what their future would hold. They felt they were taking a lot of risk.”
His response was rooted in empathy: “You have to really put yourself in their shoes… compassion takes over, complete compassion and empathy takes over.” He conducted several thousand one-on-one sessions to find out that. “All that they needed was someone who listens to them and understands,” he concludes, highlighting the power of empathetic listening.
The Power of Presence: Leading with Visibility and Approachability
Moutaz also stresses the importance of visibility. “You make yourself visible… you cannot be cooped up in your office, day in and day out.” Direct interaction is key: “Going and walking around, interacting with people… you cannot imagine the impact this has on employees when they see you just… talking to them.”
He advocates for humility and collaboration: “Humility as a leader is very important. You deal with every employee, at different levels, and make him or her feel as key a member of the entire team.” This approach fosters an open and valued workforce.
Embracing the Horizon: AI-Powered HR for Enhanced Human Connection
Looking ahead, Moutaz M Mashhour is excited about AI’s role in HR. “We’re introducing an AI-enabled talent acquisition solution.” This aims to shift HR’s focus to more human interaction. “I want the HR team to focus more on human interaction and let the transactional elements be handled by technology.”
By digitizing tasks, HR can dedicate more time to candidates and employees. “I’m now shifting their attention to interact more. This strategic integration of AI aims to amplify the human element within HR.”
