JEDDAH — The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) announced Thursday the appointment of Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello as chief executive officer, effective March 22, 2026.The authority said the appointment supports its mandate to develop the coastal tourism sector while safeguarding the marine environment and promoting sustainable investment and growth.Dr. Ficociello brings more than two decades of leadership experience in governance, risk management, resilience and compliance across public and private sectors, including state-owned entities.Most recently, she served as group chief governance officer at Red Sea Global, where she led the Governance, Risk and Compliance Division and advised on sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.Beyond her professional background, Dr. Ficociello is also an experienced sailor and diver, reflecting a long-standing interest in marine conservation and sustainable ocean practices.She has contributed to several national initiatives, including supporting sustainability targets under the Saudi Green Initiative, and served as a founding member and secretary of the executive committee overseeing sustainability efforts for the Red Sea.Dr. Ficociello has also represented Saudi Arabia at international forums, including the UN Climate Change Conference and the UN Ocean Conference, and led the Saudi delegation to the Ocean 20 (O20) engagement group during the Group of Twenty.Commenting on her appointment, Ficociello said it was an honor to join the authority at a pivotal moment in its development.“SRSA has a critical role in enabling a world-class coastal tourism sector that is safe, well-governed and investment-ready, while protecting the Red Sea’s unique marine ecosystems,” she said.She added that she looks forward to working with stakeholders across government and industry to strengthen regulatory excellence, embed sustainability and resilience across the sector, and advance Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for responsible coastal tourism and the blue economy.The authority also expressed appreciation to outgoing CEO Mohammad Al-Nasser for his leadership over the past four years, during which he helped establish SRSA’s operating model, strengthen its regulatory framework and deepen coordination with national partners to accelerate coastal tourism development.JEDDAH — The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) announced Thursday the appointment of Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello as chief executive officer, effective March 22, 2026.The authority said the appointment supports its mandate to develop the coastal tourism sector while safeguarding the marine environment and promoting sustainable investment and growth.Dr. Ficociello brings more than two decades of leadership experience in governance, risk management, resilience and compliance across public and private sectors, including state-owned entities.Most recently, she served as group chief governance officer at Red Sea Global, where she led the Governance, Risk and Compliance Division and advised on sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.Beyond her professional background, Dr. Ficociello is also an experienced sailor and diver, reflecting a long-standing interest in marine conservation and sustainable ocean practices.She has contributed to several national initiatives, including supporting sustainability targets under the Saudi Green Initiative, and served as a founding member and secretary of the executive committee overseeing sustainability efforts for the Red Sea.Dr. Ficociello has also represented Saudi Arabia at international forums, including the UN Climate Change Conference and the UN Ocean Conference, and led the Saudi delegation to the Ocean 20 (O20) engagement group during the Group of Twenty.Commenting on her appointment, Ficociello said it was an honor to join the authority at a pivotal moment in its development.“SRSA has a critical role in enabling a world-class coastal tourism sector that is safe, well-governed and investment-ready, while protecting the Red Sea’s unique marine ecosystems,” she said.She added that she looks forward to working with stakeholders across government and industry to strengthen regulatory excellence, embed sustainability and resilience across the sector, and advance Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for responsible coastal tourism and the blue economy.The authority also expressed appreciation to outgoing CEO Mohammad Al-Nasser for his leadership over the past four years, during which he helped establish SRSA’s operating model, strengthen its regulatory framework and deepen coordination with national partners to accelerate coastal tourism development.
Saudi Red Sea Authority appoints Dr. Maryam Ficociello as CEO
