FaceOf: Andreas Schwer, chief executive officer of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries

Andreas Schwer

• He served as the executive vice president of The Manitowoc Co. in Wisconsin, US, between 2008 and 2012

Dr. Andreas Schwer has been working as the chief executive officer of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) since January 2018.
His responsibilities as the CEO include managing SAMI’s operational business and achievement of the company’s business strategy and targets. The company aims to become a top-25 global military company by 2030.
Previously, Schwer was a member of the executive management board of Rheinmetall Defense for three years between 2012 and 2015. He served as the president and CEO of Combat Systems Division, which is the core of the Rheinmetall enterprise with more than 7,000 staff in 16 countries.
Schwer then served as the chairman and president of Rheinmetall International AG for two years between 2016 and 2017 where he was responsible for defining the company’s internationalization strategy leading to the implementation of multiple operating companies and joint ventures in key strategic export markets such as the Middle East.
He also served as the executive vice president of The Manitowoc Co. in Wisconsin, US, between 2008 and 2012.
He also worked at the leading aviation company, Airbus, for 12 years between 1995 and 2008.
Schwer received his Ph.D. and master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. In 1998, Schwer obtained a second master’s degree in systems engineering from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Last week, SAMI and Naval Group signed an agreement on the sidelines of the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.
The agreement sets out the framework for establishing the joint venture, which will strengthen the Kingdom’s efforts to localize essential industrial skills and capabilities.
SAMI CEO Dr. Andreas Schwer said that this agreement laid the foundation of a strategic partnership that will reinforce SAMI’s commitment to helping Saudi Arabia develop self-sufficient defense capabilities.
Commenting of SAMI’s aims to generate $10 billion in revenue over the next five years, he said: “By 2030 SAMI will be more than just a regional player. We will be a truly global player, to be among the top 10 companies.”