Our Team

Sheikh Braik Musallam Al Amri joined the Board in March 2013. He has done master's in business administration from Northampton University UK, a Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Kent UK, a High National Diploma from the University of Salford UK, and a Diploma from Lloyds Maritime Academy UK. He has 23 years of management experience in varied senior positions. He had worked previously with the Port of Salalah for 11 years. He has a very good exposure to business and international practices, presently engaged with the financial services sector.

Mr. Abdulmalik Al Balushi joined the Board in March 2022. His career spans 20+ years in multiple sectors in Oman - public, telecom, electricity, shipping, postal and logistics. This diverse experience includes more than 13 years in senior leadership roles which included managing multiple functions and was characterized by strong leadership, skillful communication, resourcefulness, high performance, and sustainable partnership. Currently he is the Group Chief People of Asyad Group SAOC. Prior to joining Asyad, he served as the CEO of Oman Post Company SAOC and prior to that worked in various roles with each of Oman Shipping Company SAOC (General Manager Support Services December 2012 - January 2016), Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) (Visiting Faculty January 2014 - May 2014), Oman Power & Water Procurement Company SAOC, The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Muscat Municipality. Abdulmalik hold Master's Degree in Business Administration from Sultan Qaboos University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Arizona, AZ, USA. Abdulmalik is also a graduate of the National CEO Program - IMD, Switzerland.

Mr. Soren Sjostrand Jakobsen joined the Board in January 2017. Soren was employed by APM Terminals/Maersk for more than 42 years before retiring at the end of 2022. However, he still represents APM Terminals on a number of boards in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. While in the APM Terminals/Maersk Group he held a number of senior positions including Regional Manager for Africa/Middle East, Regional Manager for Latin America and Head of Project implementation in the APM Terminals Head Quarter in The Netherlands.  Before APM Terminals sold their Russian activities in 2022, Soren was also responsible for, and Chairman of the Board of, Global Ports Investments which operate 8 terminals in Russia and Finland. Global Ports was stock listed on the London Stock Exchange. During his more than 42 years in the Maersk Group, Soren has worked with most of the Group's business units and spent about 25 years outside his native Denmark, including in postings in Belgium, USA, Netherlands, Panama and the UAE

Dr. Hamdan has 29 years of experience at the Social Protection Fund in the fields of risk, management, financial accounting, auditing and investment. He is currently the Manager of Governance, Risk and Compliance at the Social Protection Fund. He is a former Board member in Bank Dhofar SAOG and a current Board member National Gas Company SAOG. Dr. Hamdan holds Ph.D in Management, a Master in Account, Arab Certified Professional Accountant (ACPA) and a Diploma in Risk Management.

He has over 45 years of experience in the business field and the port management sector. He currently holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman United Insurance Company S.A.O.G. and is a member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the period (2022-2026). He chaired the Economic Committee of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry from (2007-2018). He was a former member of the Board of Directors of Zain Telecom in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain from (2018-2020). He holds an advanced diploma in Port and Marine Shipping Management from the University of Wales in the UK, an advanced diploma in Port and Marine Shipping Management from the University of Humberside in the UK, a Board Executive Program certificate from Switzerland, and specialized courses in leadership and management skills from Belgium, Japan, the Netherlands, and other countries.

He is currently the Director General of Customs at the Royal Oman Police. He holds a PhD in Public Law and a Leadership Diploma from the UK Royal Police College (Bramshill) and has completed the Program for Development of Leadership Skills from the Chartered Institute of Management, UK. He has more than 33 years of experience in the public security sector, police, and public prosecution. He joined many training programs during his career in various fields, including administrative, technical, leadership and strategic planning. He received many medals during his career, including the Efficiency Medal in 2011, the Excellent Service Medal in 2021, and the Royal Recognition Medal in 2023.

He is currently the Vice President APMT Head of Transshipment Terminal, leading the APMT teams responsible for the operation at the 7 major hubs in Asia, Middle East and Europe/North Africa, collectively executing more than 30 Mill TEUs/year. He has more than 40 years’ experience in ocean container shipping for Maersk Line. He held various leadership positions at Maersk, including the Vice President Head of Maersk East-West Ocean Network and Market. 

Mr Steven Yoogalingam has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Port of Salalah Services effective from 1st November 2024. Steven comes from the position of Managing Director of the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT), Port Said, Egypt. Prior to his appointment with SCCT, Steven worked with APM Terminals in Aqaba Container Terminal, Jordan and Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia. He also has previous international experience working with ports in Jebel Ali, Dubai and Busan, South Korea. Steven is a Malaysian National and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from King’s College London. He has completed several executive management programs with APM Terminals. 

Mr. Bart van de Graaf, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer for Port of Salalah effective 1 March 2022. Bart joined the APMM Group in August 2011 in The Hague and subsequently took up the role of CFO at APM Terminals COMAN in Benin, followed by Abidjan Terminal in Ivory Coast. Prior to joining APMM, he worked for General Electric in the Financial Management Program, Corporate Audit Staff and in the energy services business. He holds an M.Sc. in Economics from the Erasmus University Rotterdam.​

Mohammed Al Mashani is a seasoned industry professional with over 26 years of experience spanning oil & gas, petrochemicals, and port operations. He joined the Port of Salalah in 2008 as Senior HSE Manager and holds a BSc in Safety Management from Central Missouri State University and an MSc in Facilities Management & Asset Maintenance from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Mohammed has held key roles at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Aromatics Oman (OQ). He completed the CPMD program at APM Terminals in collaboration with ESADE Business School and was selected for the inaugural Oman National CEO Program, launched by the Diwan of Royal Court in partnership with IMD.

Mr. Ahmed Aubad Qatan, has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer for Port of Salalah effective 1 March 2025. Ahmed has over 23 years’ experience working in various fields ranging from academia to oil and gas. Joined the Port of Salalah in 2016 as the General Manager for Projects Development and Implementation. In 2018, his scope expanded to include Maintenance and Repair. In 2020, Ahmed became member of the Executive Management Team as Head of Projects and Strategy Development and was assigned to lead the port expansion project and part-take in the negotiation with the Government of Oman for matters related to the concession agreement. In addition to that, Ahmed and his team are responsible for the Decarbonization strategy of the port. In his role as the Chief Commercial Officer, Ahmed will be reinforcing the committment of Port of Salalah to our customers for a world class service, fulfiling the port vision towards sustainable propserity for all.

Mr. Fadi Osekrie has joined Port of Salalah as the General Manager of the Health, Safety, Security and Environment department since December 2023. He has over 18 years of experience in Occupational Health and Safety gained in North America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East with exposure to several industries such as Logistics, Aviation Ground Services, Construction, Facility Maintenance, Hospitality and Oil and Gas. He is a certified member of the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (CRSP) as well as a chartered member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CMISOH).

Mr. Ali Kashoob has been associated with Port since 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Ports Management and Operations from Arab Academy for science and technology with honor. He has varied experience in Port Operations, commercial and training and brings vast industry knowledge.​ ​

Mr. Josh Surdin has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Port of Salalah, effective February 1, 2025. He began his career with APM Terminals in 2005 at Pier 400, Los Angeles. Throughout his career, Josh has held various leadership roles in dynamic environments such as Angola, Egypt, Malaysia, and Vietnam. His extensive international experience and leadership acumen in complex markets are noteworthy. A graduate of the APMT Magnum Program, he has served as the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Managing Director of CMIT for the past six years. During his tenure, CMIT saw significant gains in productivity and efficiency, establishing itself as a pivotal player in the regional market. Additionally, Josh contributed to the regional team through numerous operational and HSE initiatives with ASME.

Mr. Hatim Fadhil joined Port of Salalah in Jan 1999, where he held various managerial positions in the Container Terminal Operations and the General Cargo Terminal Operations. Hatim was promoted to General Manager of GCT in 2016. He has 40 years of experience in ports operations, planning, and finance management. Currently undertaking the GCT COO duties on an interim basis.  He holds a master’s degree in general administration, from Dhofar University and a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Administration from the College of Commerce and Economics, Ein Shamas, Arabian Republic of Egypt.