LEORON names new Saudi CEO and CFO

LEORON Institute has appointed Mariana Ignatov as CEO for Saudi Arabia and Mustafa Al Audib as CFO as the training and EdTech provider deepens its investment in the Kingdom. The moves are tied to LEORON’s push to support workforce development under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda.

Why it matters: - LEORON is reinforcing its Saudi leadership team as the Kingdom accelerates workforce nationalisation, professional development and economic diversification. - The appointments are designed to support LEORON’s long-term role in Saudi Arabia’s human capital development agenda. - LEORON says Saudi Arabia accounts for more than 80% of its business.

What happened: - LEORON Institute announced Mariana Ignatov as CEO, KSA, and Mustafa Al Audib as Chief Financial Officer on July 2, 2026. - The company operates in the EMEA region and focuses on corporate training and EdTech. - LEORON has worked in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade and maintains offices in Riyadh and Khobar.

The details: - LEORON delivers more than 2,000 instructor-led programmes annually and trains more than 50,000 professionals each year. - The company offers 400+ certified programmes across 17 knowledge areas. - LEORON’s programmes are accredited by more than 50 internationally recognised associations and institutes, including CIPD, ATD, PMI, ISACA and IIA. - Mariana Ignatov has spent 12 years at LEORON and now leads the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia and its certified programmes portfolio. - Ignatov was born in Skopje, North Macedonia, and holds a bachelor’s degree in e-Business and a master’s degree in Project Management from Saints Cyril and Methodius University. - Ignatov also holds CIPD qualifications and other professional certifications. - LEORON says Ignatov has worked with public and private sector organisations across the Middle East to build workforce capabilities and learning pathways. - Mustafa Al Audib joins from senior finance roles at Beiersdorf, Danone, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and the Digital Cooperation Organisation. - Al Audib is a Saudi national with experience across the Kingdom, the wider Middle East, 14 countries and the Middle East and Africa region. - Al Audib holds a bachelor of science in business administration, finance, from the University of Oregon. - His background includes leading regional finance operations with P&Ls above €180 million, managing finance teams of more than 20 people and delivering ERP transformation projects on SAP and Oracle Fusion. - LEORON said the company’s portfolio is aligned with Saudi priorities for workforce nationalisation, professional development and economic diversification. - The company also cited a landmark partnership with Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and a growing client base across government and enterprise.

Between the lines: - The appointments signal a deeper local operating model, with Saudi-based leadership covering both learning delivery and financial execution. - Ignatov’s background points to continuity in LEORON’s core training business, while Al Audib’s finance and governance experience suggests a focus on scaling with tighter operational control. - The emphasis on Vision 2030 shows LEORON is positioning itself as part of the Kingdom’s broader talent and transformation agenda rather than as a generic training vendor.

What's next: - LEORON will use Ignatov to lead learning and certified programmes in Saudi Arabia. - Al Audib will focus on financial strategy, governance and operational excellence. - The company expects the new structure to help it expand its impact across the Kingdom and the wider region. - LEORON plans to deepen its work with government and enterprise clients as Saudi Arabia’s transformation continues.

The bottom line: - LEORON is betting on senior local leadership to grow faster in its biggest market and stay closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s workforce goals.