CXO 50 Awards and Conclave 2026: Honouring the region’s top technology leaders

The CXO50 Awards & Conclave 2026 brought together the Middle East’s most senior technology and digital leaders at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai, for an evening of recognition, conversation, and reflection on what it means to lead in one of the most demanding periods the industry has seen.

Organised by Insight Media & Publishing and CXO Insight Middle East, the event honoured CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, and senior technology executives who are helping organisations navigate an era defined by artificial intelligence, rapid innovation, evolving cyber threats, and constant disruption. The premise was straightforward: the role of the modern CXO has never carried greater responsibility. Today’s technology leaders are not simply driving IT initiatives, they are shaping business strategy, building organisational resilience, and ensuring their organisations are positioned for what comes next.

The evening opened with a keynote from Sherifa Hady, VP Worldwide Commercial, SMB & Transactional Sales at HPE. Speaking on the theme of ‘Thriving Through Change: Where Innovation Meets Human Potential’, she explored how organisations can embrace AI-driven innovation while keeping people at the centre of transformation, building businesses that are more adaptive, resilient, and genuinely ready for the future. With over two decades of experience spanning sales, channels, marketing, and executive leadership, Hady brought both strategic depth and personal conviction to a conversation the room was primed for.

The panel discussion that followed highlighted one of the defining challenges facing technology leadership today. Titled ‘Governing at Speed: How Enterprises Scale AI Without Losing Control’, it examined the shift from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide deployment, and the governance disciplines that determine whether that transition succeeds. Moderated by Andreas Hassellöf, CEO of Ombori & Phygrid, the discussion drew on perspectives from Dr Jassim Al Awadi, Executive Director and Head of Enterprise Platforms at Emirates NBD; Jacob Mathew, Head of IT at a Government Entity; Christian Mataheru, Go-to-Market Lead for Middle East & Africa at ClickHouse; Amit Bhatia, CISO at Henry Harvin; and Stephen Fernandes, Chief Growth Officer at Planview. Together, they examined how data discipline, clear decision authority, and operational controls enable AI to scale without compromising trust, security, or accountability.

The evening culminated in the CXO50 Awards ceremony, recognising the most influential technology executives across the region, leaders whose vision, execution, and impact are actively shaping the future of their organisations. Congratulations to all the winners, and a sincere thank you to the sponsors whose support made the evening a success.

WINNERS LIST