Global air transport IT group SITA (not to be confused with South Africa’s State IT Agency) has announced the appointment of a new president for its Middle East and Africa region. He is Selim Bouri.

“This regional leadership change comes as SITA expands its reach and capabilities, opening an exciting new chapter in our company, to which the Middle East and Africa are absolutely integral,” highlighted SITA CEO David Lavorel. “SITA’s executive team and I are excited to have Selim on board and look forward to his contributions in driving SITA’s future growth.”

In the Middle East and Africa, 103 airlines and 115 airports use SITA solutions. The group supports its customers in the region with a dedicated team of 491 specialists.

“I am thrilled to be joining SITA’s leadership team, bringing my knowledge of the Middle East and Africa region’s unique complexities to tackle new growth opportunities,” affirmed Bouri. “The appetite for technological innovation is at an all-time high across the region. SITA’s cutting-edge solutions will be instrumental in keeping airports, airlines and governments ahead of the curve as well as igniting a digital shift in those areas still rife [sic] for technological transformation.”

Bouri has a Master’s degree in Aeronautics, Aerospace Science and Technology from France’s (and one of the world’s) leading aerospace engineering colleges, ISAE-SUPAERO (which is also the oldest dedicated aeronautical engineering institute in the world, having been founded in 1909). He also has a Master’s degree in Executive Leadership, Strategy, and Business Administration, from leading international business school, the Institute for Management Development (better known simply as the IMD).

He was previously at Airbus, heading that group’s Critical Comms and Security Business, for the Middle East and Africa region and the Asia-Pacific region. Previous to his work at Airbus, he led business development at many leading telecommunications companies.  

Bouri has replaced Hani El-Assaad, who worked for SITA for 30 years. The group described El-Assaad’s career as “extraordinary” and hailed him for his “invaluable contribution to shaping SITA and the way it operates”.