GE (NYSE: GE) has appointed UAE national Dalya Al Muthanna as President & CEO of GE Gulf, reporting to Nabil Habayeb, GEs President & Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

The first Emirati to be appointed to the senior leadership position, Dalya will be responsible for developing GEs business strategy for the Gulf region, leading growth and driving cross business selling across the companys diverse portfolio.

Also mandated with overall strategic positioning of GE in the Gulf region covering UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, she is entrusted with building a portfolio of profitable growth initiatives while maintaining the highest level of integrity, and also promoting National leadership and talent development.

Nabil Habayeb said: The appointment of Dalya Al Muthanna to the senior leadership role underlines our commitment to support the localization agenda across the region. It also reflects GEs ongoing commitment to drive the participation of women in leadership roles. The GCC focus on enhancing local participation in the private sector is an ideal fit to GEs commitment to train, recruit, and nurture National talent. In a short time, Dalya has proven her leadership ability and management skill, supporting GEs growth in key markets across the region. Her appointment will serve as an inspiration for National women to be part of GE, which has been chosen as one of the Top 5 Great Places to Work for Women.

Dalya Al Muthanna said: I am excited to take up the challenging role as President & CEO of GE Gulf, and contribute to strengthening the growth of GE in the region. With over 80 years of presence in the Middle East, GE has focused on building strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors. I look forward to fulfilling GEs growth strategy for the region and build new business partnerships. I also hope the appointment will inspire National women across the region to take up new career challenges that demonstrate their true skills and potential.

Dalya Al Muthanna joined GE in 2008 and is the company's first UAE national to graduate from GE's Experienced Commercial Leadership Program (ECLP), during which she received multiple global ECLP awards and undertook global rotations in the US.

She has held multiple leadership roles within GE including as Director for Growth Strategy for Middle East, North Africa & Turkey leading strategic partnership activities and driving growth programs and strategic priorities in the region. Prior to joining GE, she founded and managed a multi-million dollar international franchise.

Dalya is a board member of Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA) Women in Solar Program and a member of the Steering Committee of the MENA Clean Energy Business Council. She holds an MBA degree from the American University in Dubai.

To ensure the continued personal and professional growth of employees, GE has an annual investment of US$1 billion in employee training and development globally. The company offers several training programs for its employees in addition to promoting entrepreneurial culture.

GE has been a partner in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey for over 80 years, committed to the regions progress and prosperity, through its waves of change and growth. With a presence in 19 countries in the GCC region, Levant, wider Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, since the 1930s, GE has some 30 offices and 35 ground facilities, and employs over 4,200 people. The company supports the generation of more than two-thirds of the regions electricity, and purifies 800 million liters of water daily for drinking, irrigation and municipal uses across MENA. Nearly 90 per cent of hospitals in Middle East are equipped with GE technologies, while GE and its joint ventures help to fly two-thirds of the region.