The death of Prince Ahmad ibn Salman, chairman of the SRMG group, came as a great shock to me.
My mind went back to a little over 15 years ago, when we met for the first time. He had just come to the office exuding the kind of radiance and charm nobody who ever met him will ever forget. He was so unassuming that he would sit with his staff and exchange ideas with them. He made it a habit of passing by my office whenever he visited Jeddah.
Our discussion would cover many issues. I was impressed by his keen insight and deep interest in everything connected with publishing. To the surprise of us all, soon after taking over the publishing company he knew the ins and outs of the business.
During the Gulf crisis he phoned me and asked me how were we going to position ourselves as an English-language paper. I replied that we would be in the thick of the battle.
"Go ahead," he said.
History was created as SRPC publications were the first to enter and report from the liberated Kuwait. I will always remember with deep gratitude how throughout the events, from August 1990 to the liberation of Kuwait, Prince Ahmad took special interest in the welfare of the journalists from the SRPC group based in the Eastern Province to cover the Gulf War.
He would visit us in the EP and pass on signed pieces of paper. Fill it with whatever you need, he would say. Such was his trust in his staff. He was a forward-looking man. A visionary at best. He wanted his publications to spread its wings worldwide. He was a captain steering his ship through a turbulent sea. The company would not have achieved the progress it has over the years without his dynamism and inspiring leadership.
I think if there are two qualities that would define Prince Ahmad, it was his nobility and kindness. He was so kind and compassionate, especially toward the less fortunate. I never heard him complain of anyone or anything. But at the same time he was a born leader, a pillar of support. In that and so many other ways he was truly unique, and we are all coming to terms with the realization that nothing unique can ever be replaced.
