Middle East
Aziz Koleilat
President & CEO, METCIS
GE Aerospace
Responsible for leading GE Aerospace’s growth and strategy across the Middle East, Türkiye, Eastern Europe, and CIS (METCIS).
Biography
Aziz Koleilat is President & CEO of GE Aerospace for the Middle East, Türkiye, Eastern Europe & CIS (METCIS). Since 2017, he has been responsible for leading business growth and strategy for GE Aerospace across this critically important region. His remit includes supporting the market’s future-focused airline giants and rising stars – some of GE Aerospace’s largest customers. The METCIS region is GE Aerospace’s largest market for widebody engines.
Prior to his current role, Aziz led GE’s growth strategy across businesses as President & CEO of GE in Iraq and Levant from 2012-2017, with an expanded role leading GE Oil & Gas in Iraq starting in 2015. He led the establishment of strong relationships with business and government officials, helping to initiate new projects and increase GE’s overall footprint across the region.
Before this, Aziz was General Manager for GE Healthcare, Middle East & Pakistan from 2008-2012. In this role, he was a significant contributor to the expansion of the company’s footprint through partnerships, turnkey project strategy, and a focus on customer satisfaction and compliance.
Aziz began his career with Vietnam Airlines in Canada. In 1996, he joined Johnson & Johnson to run their Medical Business Unit in the Czech Republic. He moved to Dubai with Johnson & Johnson in 2000 and transitioned to the GE Healthcare team in 2006 as Zone Sales Leader.
Aziz holds an MBA from McGill University in Canada, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in the USA.
Mutlu Numan Zumrut
Human Resources Director, Middle East, Türkiye, Eastern Europe, and Africa
Responsible for leading talent management, organizational development, and regional HR strategies.
Biography
Mutlu Numan Zumrut is the Human Resources Director, Middle East, Türkiye, Eastern Europe, and Africa for GE Aerospace. In this role, Mutlu is responsible for developing and executing HR strategies that focus on talent and organizational development across the region. She is known for her ability to drive large-scale HR transformations, focusing on long-term, sustainable impact. She is a passionate advocate for inclusivity within teams.
Since stepping into this role in 2019, Mutlu has led several high-impact projects, including the GE Aerospace META legal entity separation and regional restructuring. Her strategic leadership has been instrumental in attracting and developing a diverse talent pool across multiple roles and markets within the region.
Mutlu joined GE Aerospace in 2010 as HR Leader for the Turkey Technology Center, where she oversaw 400% growth in the organization over a four-year period. In this role, she implemented key HR processes and programs that drove significant organizational change. Prior to joining GE Aerospace, Mutlu held various HR positions at Citibank, Tekstilbank, and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Istanbul, and later served as Senior Organization and Talent Development Specialist at Sabancı Holding.
Mutlu holds a Master’s Degree in Law from Marmara University in Istanbul, Türkiye and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Türkiye. She is based in Dubai, UAE and is married with two children.
Salim Mousallam
Regional Vice President, Defense & Systems, Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye
Responsible for driving sales, business development, and growth in GE Aerospace’s Defense & Systems business.
Biography
Salim Mousallam is the Regional Vice President, Defense & Systems for GE Aerospace, overseeing the Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye regions. In this role, Salim leads a dedicated team that supports customers and partners with GE Aerospace’s engines, avionics, electrical power, and services portfolio. He is responsible for driving sales and expanding business development opportunities, ensuring sustainable growth for GE Aerospace in the defense and systems sectors.
Previously, Salim served as Executive Director, Decarbonization Strategy and Partnerships for GE Gas Power in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In this role, he was instrumental in advancing business development and fostering strategic financial, infrastructure, and technology partnerships. His leadership was crucial in helping customers develop decarbonization roadmaps and commercial projects aimed at achieving net-zero goals, positioning GE as a leader in the global energy transition.
Salim joined GE in 2006 through the Edison Engineering Development Program, working in Greenville, South Carolina, and Houston, Texas. He later transitioned to GE Environmental Services in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Global Thermal Performance Engineer. In 2011, he moved to Saudi Arabia, where he served as the Regional Technical & Engineering Manager for GE Power in the Middle East & Africa. From 2014 to 2019, he served as Country Manager for GE Power Services in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.
From 2019 to 2021, Salim was the Executive Sales Director for GE Gas Power, responsible for overseeing sales of new equipment and aftermarket services, as well as upgrades across the Gulf and Pakistan regions.
Salim holds a Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, and dual law degrees: Master of Law (Executive LLM) from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, USA and from IE Law School in Madrid, Spain. He also earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Saint Francis University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University, both in Pennsylvania, USA.
Main Canaan
Regional General Manager, Middle East
Responsible for leading GE Aerospace’s commercial aircraft engine business in the Middle East.
Biography
Main Canaan is the Regional General Manager for Commercial Aircraft Engines in the Middle East for GE Aerospace. In this role, Main is responsible for overseeing business operations, managing strategic partnerships, and fostering growth in one of GE Aerospace’s most dynamic markets.
During more than 23 years with GE Aerospace, Main has held a variety of leadership positions, including roles in services engineering, customer & product support, and sales.
Prior to joining GE Aerospace, Main worked in engineering and flight operations for airlines and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations across North and South America. He also served in the US Navy as an officer, specializing in Intelligence and Special Duties, adding to his leadership and operational expertise.
Main holds an MBA and a Master’s of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami, USA, and a Master’s Degree in Aviation Sustainability from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Florida, USA. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from ERAU, along with aircraft, powerplant and pilot licenses.
Originally from Jordan, Main is fluent in Arabic and resides in Dubai, UAE with his wife and daughter. Outside of work, he enjoys learning about recent history through both books and film, traveling with family, and tolerates going to the gym as much as possible.
Peter Nassar
Chief Financial Officer, Commercial Finance & Risk, Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Responsible for leading commercial finance strategies, risk management, financial planning, and strategic decision-making.
Biography
Peter Nassar is the Chief Financial Officer, Commercial Finance & Risk for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for GE Aerospace. In this role, Peter is responsible for shaping commercial strategies, developing innovative solutions to deliver customer outcomes and drive growth while managing company risk/reward, overseeing risk management, driving financial planning and analysis, and supporting key strategic decisions in the region.
From 2018 to 2022, Peter served as Director of Finance, Commercial Finance & Risk for the Middle East, Türkiye, Russia, CIS, and Eastern Europe. He has been a key player in GE Aerospace’s financial leadership, bringing more than a decade of experience within GE across various functions, including roles as Commercial Finance & Risk Manager at GE Aerospace based in Dubai, as MENAT Integration Leader for GE Corporate/Healthcare leading the businesses consolidation & transition to Saudi CoE Center, and as being Finance Leader with the Global Operations Center, managing employees & financial services in Dubai.
Before joining GE, Peter built his career in finance with roles including Senior Accountant at ARAMEX International in Abu Dhabi and Chief Accountant at Nestlé International in Bethlehem, Palestine.
Peter holds an Executive MBA from HULT International Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bethlehem University, Palestine.
Nasser R Bakkar
Government Engagement Director, Middle East
Responsible for driving government relations and strategic partnerships for GE Aerospace in the Middle East.
Biography
Nasser R. Bakkar is the Government Engagement Director for the Middle East with GE Aerospace. In this role, Nasser leads government engagement efforts across the region, working to build partnerships and navigate regulatory landscapes to support GE Aerospace’s strategic initiatives.
He brings more than 25 years of experience in government relations, corporate affairs, and humanitarian work. Before joining GE Aerospace in November 2023, Nasser held senior leadership roles in several global organizations. He was the Global Head of Government Affairs at De La Rue International, where he led high-profile government relations initiatives, and previously served as Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs MENA at Imperial Tobacco Group. He was Corporate Affairs Director at Averda International, and Corporate Affairs and CSR Manager at British American Tobacco.
In 2018, Nasser took on the role of Business Development Director – MENA at De La Rue International, overseeing the successful implementation of the Digital Tax Stamp project in the UAE and securing key contracts across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. He later advanced to become the Global Head of Government Affairs – Authentication and participated in De La Rue’s Global Leadership Program.
Nasser’s career began in humanitarian work during Lebanon’s civil war, working with NGOs like Save the Children, Terres Des Hommes, and UNICEF on various education and relief programs.
Nasser holds a Master’s Degree in Global Business and Politics from the Yale School of Management in Connecticut, USA, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the Lebanese American University. He also completed a course on CSR Strategies to Create Business & Social Value at Harvard Business School in Cambridge, USA.
Kirsten Kutz
Communications Director, Middle East, Türkiye & CIS
Responsible for leading communications, reputation management, thought leadership, media relations, and public affairs.
Biography
Kirsten Kutz is the Communications Director, Middle East, Türkiye, and CIS for GE Aerospace. In this role, she oversees reputation and thought leadership, media relations, public affairs, and culture communications for the region. Kirsten collaborates closely with the brand team to deliver impactful regional marketing campaigns. A skilled storyteller, she excels in aligning context, content, and language to drive communications that deliver tangible business outcomes.
Kirsten has more than 15 years of experience in communications. Prior to her current role, she led communications for GE Corporate in the Middle East and North Africa, where she managed media engagement, events, partnerships, and social media strategy. She also supported executive communications for the global President & CEO of GE International Markets.
Earlier in her career with GE, Kirsten spearheaded communications for the company’s software business in the MENAT region, as well as Innovation Communications, focusing on advanced manufacturing, the industrial internet, and entrepreneurship. She joined GE in 2010, supporting culture and executive communications. Before GE, Kirsten worked in the Brand Marketing practice at Burson-Marsteller Public Relations in Los Angeles.
Kirsten holds a Master’s Degree in International Studies and East Asian Studies from the University of California, San Diego, where she graduated cum laude. She is a global citizen, having lived in the United States, China, the Middle East, and Europe.
She enjoys learning new languages and has studied Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Kirsten resides in Dubai, UAE with her husband and two children.
