Digital transformation catalyst Evoteq appoints Jihad Tayara as CEO

UAE-based digital solutions provider Evoteq has appointed du executive Jihad Tayara as its new CEO.

A subsidiary of the sustainable environmental services group Bee’ah – ‘digital transformation catalyst’ Evoteq has appointed telecoms, ICT and digitalisation business development executive Jihad Tayara as its new CEO. Tayara crosses from du after more than 13 years with the Emirates telco, most recently serving as Vice President for Business Development & Partnerships – New Business & Innovation.

“Tayara’s track record in complex and smart ICT areas such as IoT, AI, blockchain and many others will create synergies with Evoteq’s vision of becoming the leading digital transformation catalyst in the region, while pioneering a sustainable quality of life.” said Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Bee’ah. “We are confident that his wealth of local and international experience will add value to the various operations of our technology arm.”

Founded in 2007 as a public-private partnership company through a decree by Sharjah sovereign ruler Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Bee’ah group of companies provide services in recycling and waste management, sustainable transportation, environmental consultancy and community engagement among others – including digital innovation through its tech arm Evoteq.

“Our mission is to be a digital transformation catalyst in the region and to achieve that we need to foster a culture that attracts the best and brightest: inclusive, respectful, collaborative, diverse,” said Tayara, who prior to du held roles at Motorola and engineering & construction firm Orascom. “What makes our company special is its people, and I am very proud to have been given the chance to build Evoteq with them.”With partners including Microsoft, IBM and SAP, Evoteq provides a range of services to both the public and private sectors across the GCC, in areas such as smart transportation and supply chains, smart city management systems, and the digitalisation of public sector and corporate services. Previous highlights include managing the largest municipal digital transformation project in the GCC and deploying Sharjah’s first blockchain platform.

“Evoteq is a great company with exceptional people and strong relationships with clients who place a high value on our work,” added Tayara, who has been tasked with leading new growth opportunities and the strategic direction of the company. “Few organisations have the focus and clarity of our goals with our powerful combination of creativity and expertise in technology and transformation.”

Tayara holds a Bachelor’s in Telecommunications Engineering from the American University of Beirut and a MBA from the University of Cambridge (in addition to executive education at Wharton), and at du focused on Smart City Services, IOT, Digital advertisement, AI, and Blockchain – the latter on which he appeared as a panelists at the recent Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai.

While Tayara will be based in Evoteq’s new office in Dubai, the firm has also just unveiled what is being dubbed as the Middle East’s first fully AI integrated building to serve as Bee’ah’s headquarters in Sharjah, developed in partnership with Microsoft and with technical project management to be overseen by Evoteq. The new HQ will be fully sustained by renewable energy, with features including digital workspaces, smart management systems and an AI ‘concierge’.

“Our AI system is being developed to create offices of the future that enable faster, better and more sustainable workplaces. It effectively automates data collection, logistics, and other business functions while monitoring factors like energy consumption,” said Al Huraimel. “In addition to enhancing the smart capabilities of our HQ, we believe this system, once rolled out, will have a tangible impact on the operations of governments and entities across the region.”