The National CEO Program (NCP) announced the 35 Omani participants of the second cohort and saw its first cohort of 30 graduate in the month of May. This marks a major milestone in His Majesty’s vision of a vibrant community of private sector leaders who are inspired and empowered to make an impact on the national competitiveness of Oman.

The second cohort of Omani nationals took part in an orientation session following their selection onto the NCP. A rigorous selection process was conducted over eight weeks from March to May. This year’s intake saw a 23% increase in the percentage of applicants qualifying from the first stage of assessment, with a strong representation from key economic sectors, including manufacturing, logistics and transportation and other strategic industries. Applications were received from nine of the eleven governorates, with an even split in the size of organisations, ranging from small and medium to large-scale enterprises.

“Selected from the top cadre of leaders from industries of strategic economic importance, participants are well positioned to lead transformational change as they drive the growth of their organisations and contribute to increasing the competitiveness of their respective sectors” said HE Dr Ali Qassim Al Lawati, Chairman of the NCP Advisory Committee, speaking during the orientation day for NCP participants. He continued, “It’s good to see that the participants come from a diverse range of industries and governorates in the Sultanate.”

Lynn Sadler, Program Director of the NCP, highlighted the efforts undertaken to deliver a rigorous, transparent and fair selection process. She commented, “The NCP’s merit-based selection process includes aptitude tests and competency interviews conducted by independent assessors of a leading international human resources consultancy. This is a critical platform from which to build world-class Omani CEOs.”

The NCP was launched by the Public-Private-Partnership Taskforce (PPP) ‘Sharaka’ and is managed by the Institute of Capability Development (ICD) at the Diwan of Royal Court. The Program is delivered by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), one of the world’s leading business schools in Oman, Switzerland and Singapore. The intensive curriculum features high-impact learning methodologies, live breakthrough projects and modules on leadership and innovation, strategy and finance, leading in a global context, leading organisations and change, inspirational leadership, and competing for the future. The NCP’s strategic learning platform delivers the latest thinking in leadership and research, with individual one-on-one and group coaching sessions, as well as access to a high profile group of Omani private sector leaders.

HE Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidi, Minister of Diwan of Royal Court, presided over the graduation of the first cohort of NCP participants. “We are delighted to see the entire cohort of 30 participants graduate after their 12-month long learning journey. They are the pioneering participants of the NCP and the foundation of a growing community of NCP Alumni” commented Dr Khamis Saud Said Al Tobi, Head of ICD.

The first cohort met with the second cohort, during the orientation day in May, to share the benefit of their NCP learning experiences. The combined group of 65 NCP executives represent growing strength of the private sector, empowered to make a step-change to the Sultanate’s economy.