JEDDAH, 6 March 2007 — Tarik Algain has been appointed chief executive officer of Saudi Printing & Packaging Company (SPPC) as well as its subsidiaries, beginning from Dec. 1, 2006, it was announced yesterday.
Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG), made the appointment as part of the group’s efforts to tap qualified hands to manage its various affiliates.
“There will not be any change in the organizational setup of the printing companies under SPPC in terms of their higher administrative bodies,” an official statement issued by the group said.
Prince Faisal also appointed Atef ibn Mahdi Mufti, director general of Saudi Distribution Company, from Feb. 1, 2007.
“The new appointments are part of the group’s strategic plan to improve its efficiency,” the prince said.
Algain, who holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in the US, joined the group in 2003 as director of its technical support division before becoming the deputy director general of Saudi Research & Publishing Co., which produces this newspaper and several other publications.
He had earlier worked for Saudi Air Force in the areas of information technology and program engineering, and attended a number of scientific and professional courses in project management and program operation and engineering.
The new SDC chief Mufti obtained a bachelor’s degree in marketing from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 1994. He held different positions at Saudi British Bank (SABB), including director general of the bank’s branches in the Western Region, and deputy director general of personal banking services.
In a related development, Algain yesterday signed an agreement with Luay Abdullah Mutabagani, director general of Asir Press & Publication Organization, to print Al-Watan Arabic daily at the SPPC’s press in Dammam.
The agreement was in line with Al-Watan’s efforts to establish its presence and increase distribution in all parts of the Kingdom, covering the latest national, Arab and international news. “The selection of SPPC for printing Al-Watan reflects the company’s advanced printing capabilities, ensuring high quality,” a company statement said.
The Dammam edition will help Al-Watan distribute its copies all over the Eastern Province and some parts of the Northern Province as well as some other Gulf countries, it added.
