Thales, a global leader in aerospace, defense, security, space, and transportation sectors, announced the appointment of Sherif Barakat as the new Country Director of Egypt.

As the new Country Director, Barakat will be responsible for strengthening the presence of Thales with a focus on driving growth in the transport, aerospace, defense, and security sectors.

With over 40 years of presence and more than 500 employees in the country, Thales has been a historical trusted partner for Egypt’s public and private sectors.

Barakat will be responsible for driving the growth, especially as the country focuses on its strategic Egypt Vision 2030 plan to propel economic and social prosperity to its citizens.

Barakat, an Egyptian national, brings over 20 years of experience covering multiple geographies and industries. A seasoned executive with experience in technology, digital transformation, and telecommunications, Barakat’s previous role were VP and CCO of Samsung Egypt. He has a master’s degree in engineering from the American University in Cairo, and he has also served as a Country Director in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt with his previous employer, Samsung, as well as holding leadership roles across North Africa with Nokia prior to this.

Barakat said: “As Egypt begins to realize its 2030 Vision socio-economic plan, it’s an exciting time to be leading the Thales team in the country. Thales has a historic heritage of operations in Egypt, and we remain committed to supporting the nation’s focus on promoting security, safety, and growth. Through our strong local presence, including joint ventures and academic partnerships, we will continue to be the go-to partner for Egypt in driving its growth into the nation’s exciting future.”