RIYADH, 26 September — Prince Faisal ibn Salman was unanimously chosen chairman of Saudi Research & Marketing Group’s board of directors at a meeting of the company’s general assembly, it was announced yesterday.
Prince Faisal, who holds a doctorate in political science from a British university, was named yesterday to the post, following the death of former chairman Prince Ahmad ibn Salman on July 22, 2002.
Chairing the first meeting of the board after the announcement, Prince Faisal said he would work with his colleagues to strengthen the media organization, the first Arab media company to change from a private firm to a joint-stock company on July 1, 2000.
Prince Faisal commended the achievements of the board as well as its companies and publications over the past two years, saying it was the natural outcome of the good cooperation between the group’s companies and its publications.
"I look forward to the continuance of this constructive spirit in the years to come to the benefit of this large press house," said the new chairman, who has been working as a professor at King Saud University in Riyadh.
Prince Faisal began the board meeting with a prayer for the late Prince Ahmad. He also thanked the board members and shareholders for putting their confidence in him.
Prince Faisal commended the efforts made by the late Prince Ahmad in association with Hisham and Muhammad Ali Hafiz to develop the group, strengthen its position in the media world and promote its publications. "We hope that these efforts will continue to achieve greater progress for the company and realize the ambitions of the late prince and board members," he said.
The meeting was attended by board members Muhammad Ali Hafiz, Abdullah Saleh Kamil, Muhammad Hussein Al-Amoudi, Abdul Rahman ibn Khaled Bin Mahfouz, Muhammad Omar Al-Eisai, Saaduddin Rafik Al-Hariri and Abdullah Salim Bahamdan.
It was also attended by Muhammad Al-Shibani, executive vice president of the group, and Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, assistant to the chairman.
