Serco , a leading provider of public services, has promoted its Chief People and Culture Officer Hana Abu Kharmeh to Chief Operations Officer (COO) – a new role for the Middle East region. The appointment means that Hana will now lead the company's technology and transition teams, in addition to continuing to oversee the Middle East's human resources and workforce management functions.

The promotion comes following a period of growth for the business, with Serco continuing to strengthen its technology capabilities as a key enabler for its people led service offering. Hana will now be instrumental in driving forward innovation, whilst ensuring the quality and consistency of delivery are maintained.

Effective immediately, the new role will see Hana bring together her leadership skills having previously led Serco's people department for the past five years, where she was instrumental in positioning Serco as an employer of choice for nationals, developing local talent and fostering a culture of employee growth and well-being. 

Reporting into Phil Malem, Serco Middle East's CEO, Hana will continue to sit on Serco's executive leadership team, where over 50% of the positions are held by women. Additionally, 42% of critical management roles are also held by female employees. In 2023 19% of promotions and new roles went to women, a clear path towards an equitable workplace. These figures indicate the effectiveness of Serco's inclusive policies and wider commitment in bringing the government's national visions to life and impacting a better future.

Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East said, “At Serco, we are committed to establishing a workplace where diversity and career advancement, regardless of gender, is supported through internal policies and strategy."

Hana Abu Kharmeh, Chief Operations Officer at Serco Middle East said, “As we continue to invest in our end-to-end capabilities and services, we are strengthening our offering in the region, cementing our role as a trusted partner to governmental organisations. Technology and innovation is at the heart of what we do – bringing together the right people, the right technology and the right partners to create innovative solutions that make positive impact and address some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the modern world.”

The announcement follows a strong first half of the year for Serco internationally and within the region, which includes continued investments in the region’s space sector, as well as the acquisition of sustainability and engineering consultancy, Climatize.