Corporate Governance

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi is the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of AD Ports Group, the global trade enabler of logistics, industry, and trade. Listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, AD Ports Group’s vertically integrated business approach covers Digital, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Logistics, Maritime & Shipping, and Ports, with a diverse portfolio of assets that includes 36 terminals around the world.

In his role, Captain Al Shamisi is responsible for the organisation’s strategy, direction and global operations, he also takes the lead on the growth and expansion of AD Ports Group’s assets and development activities. Under his premiership, AD Ports Group has emerged as one of the most dynamic and innovative companies in the maritime, logistics and trade sectors; he has led the growth of the organisation from a local company to a publicly listed global entity, with a perpetually expanding worldwide presence.

A strong, determined and entrepreneurial leader, with over two decades of maritime and trade industry experience, Captain Al Shamisi capitalises on his substantial executive knowledge to guide the Group toward accelerating the UAE leadership’s vision of diversifying the non-oil and gas economy. During his tenure, AD Ports Group has evolved into a significant driver for economic growth and diversification, contributing AED 152.8 billion to UAE GDP, which represents 13 percent of the UAE’s non-oil GDP.

Captain Al Shamisi joined AD Ports Group in 2008 and has since held key leadership positions, which include the Executive Vice President for the company’s Ports Unit. In this role, he was instrumental in a major strategic restructuring of the unit and the rationalisation of its assets. He also oversaw the completion and commissioning of the first phase of the flagship port, Khalifa Port and adjacent KEZAD, the largest integrated trade, logistics, and industrial business grouping in the Middle East.

In addition to serving as Managing Director and GCEO at AD Ports Group, Captain Al Shamisi is currently the Chairman of Mair Group, and Serh Group. He is also a Board Member of Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Al Maryah Community Bank, and MAKE A WISH Foundation UAE.

Captain Al Shamisi holds an MBA, an advanced Diploma of Applied Science (shipmaster) and a Graduate Certificate of Management from the University of Tasmania, Australia.

Amongst his numerous personal accolades, Captain Al Shamisi was awarded the Peter Morris Prize from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) for his significant contributions to the maritime industry, as well as the AMC Baird Publication Prize for Best Performance in Navigation Studies, He is also the recipient of the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence. 

In 2012, he was named ‘Young Personality of the Year’ at the Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards and has repeatedly been ranked number one in Logistics News Middle East’s CEO Power List, achieving this accolade in 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Captain Al Shamisi has been recognised consecutively in the 2024 and 2025 Forbes Middle East Top CEOs list, in addition to being named among The Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders 2025 by Forbes.

Martin Aarup is the Group Chief Financial Officer.

He has more than 20 years of international experience in senior management positions in various countries, industries and segment across B2B, B2C, as well as services and manufacturing companies.

Before joining the Group , Martin Aarup spent three years as Head of Global Finance Operations for the Marquard & Bahls Group based in Hamburg. Prior to this, from 2011 to 2016, he was the Group CFO of Oiltanking Group.

In his early career, Martin Aarup started as a management trainee in Nordea, before joining A.P. Moller – Maersk, where he worked in various finance management and leadership roles, primarily in Asia Pacific over a 10-year period.

Martin Aarup graduated from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark with a double major in Economics and Business Administration Degree as well as Finance and Credit. Additionally, he has completed several leadership programmes from institutions such as IMD in Switzerland.

Ross Thompson is the Group Chief Strategy and Growth Officer.

He joined the Company in 2016 as Vice President of Commercial and Business Development in the Ports Cluster and was appointed to t his current role in January 2017.

During his career, Ross Thompson has worked for leading international companies in the maritime industry, such as the Peel Ports Group and American President Lines.

Ross Thompson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Languages from Plymouth University, UK.

He also has an Executive Management Diploma from Singapore Management University and an Executive Diploma in Maritime Economics and Supply Chain from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Emil Pellicer has more than 23 years of experience in the legal profession.

Emil Pellicer sits on the boards of several of the Company's subsidiaries and joint ventures, including KIZAD, MICCO and Abu Dhabi Ports Operating and Logistic Company, LLC.

Prior to joining the Company, Emil Pellicer spent seven years (2003 – 2010) as a full-time counsel for Allen & Overy LLP with a focus on infrastructure projects in the MENA region across a wide variety of sectors, including ports, oil and gas and utilities.

From 1998 – 2003, Emil Pellicer was based in Toronto Canada, working as an associate for Torys LLP. 

Emil Pellicer holds Joint Honours bachelor's and master's degrees in Political Science and a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University, Canada. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.

Mohamed Jamal-Eddine is the Group Chief Digital & Information Officer at AD Ports Group. He brings over two decades of proven digital transformation experience to lead the global digital, technology, and AI agenda for AD Ports Group across 50+ countries.

Over the years, Mohamed Jamal-Eddine has been instrumental in AD Ports Group's transformation from a regional port operator into a globally integrated trade and logistics powerhouse, through his role in building the digital infrastructure that underpins its scale. He provides strategic leadership to the Group’s digital ecosystem, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to drive revenue growth, compress cost structures, and shift decision-making from periodic to real-time.

He also serves as Board Chair of Dubai Technologies, one of AD Ports Group’s digital investment ventures.

Prior to this, Mohamed Jamal-Eddine led a regional SaaS turnaround at Broadcom to deliver one of the company’s fastest-growing product lines.

He holds an MBA from the University of Manchester and is an alumnus of the Executive Leadership Programme at London Business School.

Abdullah Al Hameli is the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster , holding more than 15 years of experience in different industries, including Human Resources and Administration, Maritime Trade, Finance and Corporate Operations and Services.

Prior to his current role, Abdullah Al Hameli served as Acting Executive Director of the Finance and Administration Affairs Sector, and as Advisor to the Chairman of the DMT. Prior to joining the DMT, he was the Acting CEO of ADT.

In his previous roles within AD Ports Group , Abdullah Al Hameli also served as Vice President - Human Resources & Emiratisation. He has also worked in the Human Resources and General Services sector at IRSHAD. Abdullah Al Hameli holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Portland State University, USA, and a master's degree in Strategic and Security Studies from the UAE National Defense College.

Saif Al Mazrouei is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ports Cluster and has over 20 years of experience in ports and across the shipping and retail industries.

Prior to his current role, Saif Al Mazrouei was Chief Operating Officer at Khalifa Port Container Terminal. Before that he worked at ADT as Execution Manager.

Before joining ADT, he also served as a Board member and Community Relations and Communications Director at Al Habtoor Group and before that he worked in various roles at Union Cooperative Society and DP World.

Saif Al Mazrouei holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Geography from Beirut Arab University, Lebanon.

Mr. Mohammed Al Tamimi is the CEO of Noatum Ports, subsidiary of AD Ports Group.

In his current role, Mr. Al Tamimi leads and oversees AD Ports Group’s international portfolio of ports and terminals with a strategic focus on growth, expansion, profitability, performance, sustainability, customer satisfaction, automation, and innovation while maintaining a strong commitment towards delivering further  value to partners, shareholders and customers. He also serves as a board member in a numbers of companies, where he contributes his extensive industry knowledge and leadership insights to further business growth and strategic ambitions.  

Mr. Al Tamimi has over 20 years of experience in ports, maritime, logistic, sustainability, and crisis management. He joined AD Ports Group in March 2009 and served as VP Corporate HSSE, where he established world class HSSE standards across the group. He later took on the role of Deputy CEO at the CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal - Khalifa Port, where he played a key role in driving the terminal’s growth and fostering a strategic partnership with COSCO SHIPPING. Prior to joining AD Ports Group, he worked in ADNOC Group within crisis management and onboard oil & gas vessels. 

Mr. Al Tamimi holds a Master of Business Administration from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi and a Higher National Diploma in Marine Engineering from South Tyneside College in the UK. He also holds an Officer of the Watch-Marine Engineering Certificate of Competency for steam and motor ships.

Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba is the Acting CEO of the Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group, part of AD Ports Group. In his role, he leads the development of marine services, shipping operations and assets, including eleven (11) operational units comprising more than 135 vessels and marine units.

Joining the organisation back in 2013 in Harbour Master Division, Capt. Al Shaiba was promoted to Khalifa Port Harbour Master at AD Ports Group’s flagship deepwater port as well as at Zayed Port, in addition to carrying out development and executive projects for Marine and Port operations in Khalifa Port, as part of the Group’s strategic expansion plan.

From 2017 to 2019, he held the position of Chief Harbour Master to oversee the development and implementation of regulations governing the safe navigation of vessels and managing fleet traffic within port waters and enforcing local, federal, and international best practices within commercial ports.

During his tenure with AD Ports Group, Capt. Al Shaiba has served as the CEO of Ports Operating Company and Managing Director of Zayed Port, the Free Port, as well as Musaffah Port, where he managed port optimisations and automation within operations while extending strategic growth within the Group’s operations. He also oversaw SAFEEN Feeders, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group that serves mainliner shipping clients and supports trade through increased connectivity and optimised shipping costs within and beyond the region.

He holds a Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA) and an Advanced Diploma in Nautical Science from the University of Tasmania in Australia. Capt. Al Shaiba also holds a Chief Mate/Master Certificate from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He is a member of the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA), the International Association of Ports & Harbours (IAPH) and several other respected committees within the Maritime industry.

Jochen Thewes is the CEO of AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster. He brings decades of international experience in integrated trade and logistics across Europe, South America, and Asia.

Before joining the Group, Thewes served as the CEO and Management Board Chairman of DB Schenker, one of the world’s top logistics companies and a subsidiary of Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, from September 2015 to July 2025. As CEO, Thewes led DB Schenker through significant milestones, including its acquisition by DSV A/S in April 2025, a landmark deal in the global logistics sector. He previously served as the CEO of DB Schenker APAC, and as the Senior Vice President Global Ocean Freight.

Prior to his tenure at DB Schenker, he served over a decade at Kuehne + Nagel in senior leadership roles, including President of Brazil operations, General Manager for Central China, Chief Representative in Vietnam, and Sales Manager for Sea Freight Export Europe in Hong Kong.

Thewes holds a business degree (Diplom-Betriebswirt) in transport management from Fachhochschule Heilbronn in Germany.