Cisco has announced a key leadership appointment in Saudi Arabia, naming Bader Almadi as Vice President.
Based in Riyadh, Bader will lead Cisco’s strategy and operations, helping customers use technology to support Vision 2030. He will also build partnerships to advance AI infrastructure across key sectors such as finance, sports, entertainment, hospitality, and energy, leveraging Cisco’s ecosystem to help organizations grow and compete.
Bader Almadi has over 20 years of experience in technology and sales leadership. As Managing Director for Google Cloud Saudi Arabia, he spearheaded digital transformation plans for the Saudi market across sectors including finance, healthcare, entertainment, and telecom. He delivered major achievements, including the launch of Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia (2023) and Google Pay (GPay, 2025). Previously, he held senior leadership positions at Dell Technologies, Oracle, and EMC.
The Middle East is a vibrant hub of innovation and digital progress, and its momentum has been further accelerated by Saudi Arabia’s strategic focus on digitization. Bader brings a wealth of leadership experience, a deep connection to the Saudi technology ecosystem, and a strong record of driving impactful digital initiatives that will be vital to steer our next phase of growth in the country,” said Gordon Thomson, President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Cisco.
“I am honored to join Cisco at such a pivotal moment for Saudi Arabia. Cisco has been fundamental in building the digital infrastructure that helps power Saudi Arabia’s progress. As the Kingdom advances towards Vision 2030, our technological leadership, talent and partner ecosystem position us well to empower Saudi Arabia’s digital economy and AI leadership,” said Bader Almadi, who began his career with Cisco in 2006.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Bader has helped in shaping the Kingdom’s technology landscape, serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) on international partnerships. He also represented Saudi Arabia at the G20 Summit’s Digital Economy Taskforce and spearheaded initiatives at the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Cisco’s Commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Cisco has played a key role in Saudi Arabia’s digital growth, supporting the goals of Vision 2030. Its strategy includes investing in AI infrastructure, such as a 1 GW joint venture with AMD and HUMAIN, expanding local manufacturing, and developing talent through the Cisco Networking Academy, which has trained over 500,000 learners. Through programs like Country Digital Acceleration and local data centres, Cisco is helping build a secure, AI-driven future for the Kingdom.
