SRMG has also appointed Editors-in-Chief, Deputy Editors-in-Chief, and Assistant Editors-in-Chief, all aimed at bolstering the group's digital transformation.
Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) has announced operational changes, ushering in an exclusively digital approach for its publications Arriyadiyah, AlEqtisadiah, and Malayalam News, effective January 19, 2024. This digital pivot is part of SRMG’s broader strategy for growth and expansion, aligning with evolving audience preferences and consumption habits.
These developments will optimise SRMG’s operational efficiency and support the production of innovative digital products across audio, video and written formats, which in turn will create new and diverse content offerings and marketing opportunities for advertisers across its digital platforms.
Emphasising its commitment to nurturing the next generation of journalists and media professionals, SRMG has revealed significant editorial appointments. The restructuring includes new Editors-in-Chief, Deputy Editors-in-Chief, and Assistant Editors-in-Chief, all aimed at bolstering the group’s digital transformation.
Ibrahim Hamidi, a seasoned journalist with over 22 years of experience, takes the helm as Editor-in-Chief of Al Majalla, the Arab world’s major current and political affairs magazine. His achievements include overseeing the impressive 1704% annual increase in views through the digital transformation of Al Majalla. He has held various editorial positions at Al-Hayat Newspaper, including Director of the publication’s office in Damascus. Since 2017, he has served as a Senior Diplomatic Editor and Writer, covering Syrian affairs at Asharq Al-Awsat.
Fahim Al-Hamid, a stalwart in political journalism with over three decades of experience, assumes the role of General Supervisor of Editorial Affairs for Malayalam News, Urdu News, and Independent Urdu. Al-Hamid has actively covered Middle East and South Asian affairs, engaging with several political leaders and other prominent international figures.
Mohammed Al-Bishi has been appointed as the Acting Editor-in-Chief of AlEqtisadiah, concurrently maintaining his role as Managing Editor of Asharq Business with Bloomberg in Saudi Arabia. This follows SRMG’s strategic decision to restructure AlEqtisadiah under Asharq Business with Bloomberg, focusing on global business and economic news with high-quality analysis.
SRMG has also reinforced its editorial team with Deputy Editors-in-Chief and Assistant Editors-in-Chief appointments to ensure a seamless transition and uphold editorial excellence.
Mohamed Hani has been appointed as a Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, the international Pan-Arab newspaper. Hani brings a wealth of experience, having served in various editorial positions at Al-Hayat and currently at Asharq Al-Awsat. He played a pivotal role in the recent revamp of Asharq Al-Awsat, overseeing the media title’s digital transformation and growth strategy by drawing on his extensive experience in modern content management systems.
Zaid bin Kami has been appointed as a Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat. He previously served as Assistant Editor-in-Chief of AlEqtisadiah and Director of Economic News at Asharq Al-Awsat. Additionally, he worked as Managing Editor of Asharq Al-Awsat in Saudi Arabia from 2009-2014. He brings extensive experience in both print and video journalism, with a specialisation in economics.
Nour Nuqli has been appointed as a Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, having progressed through various editorial assignments. Notably, Nuqli played a significant role in the launch of the digital version of Arab News in French in 2020. She has also conducted prominent interviews with leading political figures, including US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
May AlSharif has been appointed as the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia, having held several editorial positions within the publication, including her most recent role as Supervising Manager of the Riyadh office. During her tenure in the content creation department, AlSharif effectively implemented various projects and documentaries. Additionally, she oversaw the media title’s social media accounts, contributing significantly to the initial stages of the publication’s establishment and development.
Commenting on the development, Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, said: “We are proud of SRMG’s achievements over the past three years since launching our ambitious growth and transformation strategy. This strategy was developed to address growing audience demand for accurate, in-depth, credible and high-quality content, and our investments aim to further cement the Group’s rich journalistic history through modern, innovative products and services.”
Further commenting on this important step in SRMG’s digital transformation, Alrashid stressed that the group’s growth and expansion strategy is “focused on maintaining our leading role at the forefront of the regional media landscape and reaffirming our commitment to meet the needs of our diverse audiences, utilizing innovative digital platforms.”
