Farhan M. Al-Qahtani has been the vice president of industrial relations for the Sadara Chemical Co. since November 2017.
In the role, he has been responsible for a wide range of critical business functions including human resource strategy development, planning and execution, and employee training and development. His work has also included government and corporate communications and he takes charge of overseeing the complex housing and transportation requirements of Sadara’s diverse workforce.
Al-Qahtani joined Saudi Aramco in 1980 and has held several key positions including as the acting director of the company’s staffing services department, and head of the supplemental manpower and contracts administration division.
In addition, he led the human resources joint venture and subsidiary support department, playing an important part in integrating HR best practices for all of Aramco’s joint ventures and subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia, as well as establishing annual HR forums and collaboration meetings.
From 1986 to 1998, he held supervisory positions in various locations under community services, acting as assistant to the vice president of community services between 1998 and 2003 when he was planning staff coordinator for the community services administrative area.
And between 2005 and 2009, he headed the social insurance and retirement affairs division.
From 2012 to 2013, he served as vice president of industrial relations for the Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Co., where he led human resources, support services, industrial security, plus fire protection and supply chain.
Al-Qahtani gained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the US. He also completed various Aramco leadership programs, including those of the Saudi Aramco Leadership Forum and the Manager Assessment Center.
