This week, Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi was appointed as CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Radio and Television Corporation. The announcement was made by the corporation’s board of directors, headed by Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, who is the Kingdom’s Acting Minister of Media. To his new role as CEO, Al-Harthi brings with him over two decades of media expertise and diverse experiences in the sector and beyond, spanning print media, television, digital publications, conferences, CSR initiatives, and more.
Al-Harthi is an award-winning journalist, Chairman of the first Saudi Media Forum and Chairman of the Saudi Media Award, member of the board of directors at the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), and a member of the board of directors of the Saudi Journalists Association. He holds a master's degree in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
At the start of his career, Al-Harthi worked as a reporter for the renowned Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper. He then moved on to the English-language newspaper Arab News, reporting on a wide range of issues and topics, while also writing for the London-based Financial Times as a visiting journalist. The seasoned journalist then moved to the Saudi-published newspaper Al Eqtisadiah, beginning his career there as a journalist, then becoming the newspaper’s front-page official, and finally becoming the editor-in-chief of the publication.
الف مبروك للزميل محمد فهد الحارثي تعيينه مديراً عاماً لهيئة الاذاعة والتلفزيون في #المملكة_العربية_السعودية @mfalharthi خبرة كبيرة وثقافة عالية وشخصية خلوقة ودمثة pic.twitter.com/iwBnbHuLTX
— #مصطفى_الآغا Mustafa Agha (@mustafa_agha) September 27, 2020
In 1997, Al-Harthi was appointed editor-in-chief of Arrajol, a London-based magazine by the Saudi Research and Marketing Group and, five years later, was given the Gulf Excellence Award in recognition of the magazine's success and wide circulation. In 2004, Al-Harthi became the editor-in-chief of London-based Sayidaty and Al-Jamila magazines, and a year after that, relocated the headquarters of both magazines to Dubai.
وفقك الرحمن ، وتمنياتي لك بالنجاح المتوقع منك بإذن الله
— عبدالله الغذامي (@ghathami) September 28, 2020
وأوصيك خيرا بالقناة الثقافية
سامح الله صديقنا أبا محمد حين وأدها في مهدها
وننتظر منك تصحيح الوضع ، وهذا رهاني الخاص والشخصي عليك https://t.co/dkXAjUv6ow
During his time with Sayidaty, Al-Harthi transformed the magazine into a leading model of journalism and digital media in the Arab region, diversifying its offerings to cover a wide range of pertinent subjects for its readers. He also developed ALMALL, known as the first digital shopping platform launched by an Arab publication, and AboutHer.com, an English-language site dedicated to highlighting the achievements and supporting the vision of Saudi and Arab women, locally and globally.
Al-Harthi also has extensive experience in TV. Indeed, since 2015, he has hosted his very-own talk weekly show entitled “Bidoun Shak” (Without Doubt) on MBC, which boldly addresses various social issues but in the style of reality television.
أعانكم الله على ماكلفتم به وسدد خطاكم، ونفع بك العباد والبلاد.
— د لمياء عبدالمحسن البراهيم (@DrLalibrahim) September 28, 2020
With regards to corporate social responsibility initiatives, Al-Harthi has worked on a number of key campaigns tackling major social issues such as: La Lizawaj Al Kaserat, a campaign against child and underage girls’ marriage in the Arab World, which garnered thousands of signatures for petitions that helped stop five marriages of minors; Baader bel Khair, a campaign recognizing other community and humanitarian initiatives, while creating awareness of volunteerism in society; and Khali Soutek Masmou Mish Makmou, a campaign against domestic violence encouraging abused women to speak up.
يستحق من قضى أجمل سنين حياته في دهاليز مهنته التي يعشقها #الإعلام ..
— ماضي الخميس (@Madi) September 27, 2020
متأنياً في درجاتها ، متنقلاً بين منصاتها ، مشرعاً نوافذها .. محققا بها النجاحات المتتالية.
أبارك للزميل والصديق #محمد_فهد_الحارثي تعيينه رئيسا لهيئة الاذاعة والتلفزيون السعودي.
@mfalharthi @SBAgovSA pic.twitter.com/DxiQDQkQL9
Al-Harthi has been publically recognized for his achievements and successes, presented in 2002 with the Gulf Excellence Award 2002 and in 2014 with the Media Innovation Award in Lebanon. He is also a founding member of the Young Arab Leaders Forum in Davos Middle East, a member of the Gulf / 2000 project at Columbia University in New York, and a former member of the National Union of Journalists (UK & Ireland).
