WORLD FZO: Announcement from the Chairman – Appointment of CEO

Tempo de leitura: 2 minutos

Dear Valued Members,

On behalf of the Board of the World Free Zones Organization, I am pleased to share an important leadership announcement for our organization.

Following a thorough process and with the support of the Board, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew Stephenson as Chief Executive Officer of the World Free Zones Organization, effective March 2026.

Dr. Matthew joins the World FZO from the World Economic Forum, where he served as Head of Investment and Services and was responsible for work related to the investment climate and regulatory reforms. Prior to this, he worked at the International Finance Corporation on advisory services for investment policy, where he led work on outward foreign direct investment. He also worked at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development on Africa and on investment.

Dr. Matthew holds a PhD from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, a master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oxford.

As CEO, Dr. Matthew will work closely with our members and partners to further strengthen the global community of free zones and to maximize their contribution to sustainable trade, investment, and economic development. His experience working across international organizations, governments and the private sector will support the continued growth and impact of the World FZO and its global network.

At the same time, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Samir Hamrouni for his dedication and leadership since the founding of the World FZO in 2014. Through his commitment and hard work, the organization has grown into a truly global platform connecting zones and stakeholders from around the world.

Dr. Samir has played a central role in establishing the organization, expanding its membership and partnerships, and building a strong foundation for its future development. I am pleased to note that he will continue to contribute his expertise in a new capacity as Senior Advisor to World FZO Chairman.

In addition, Dr. Samir will continue to support key initiatives of the organization, including leading the organization of the World FZO World Congress 2026 in Panama and advancing the development of the World FZO Global Free Zones Research Institute in China, an important initiative aimed at strengthening research, knowledge development, and thought leadership for the global free zones community.

As the World FZO enters its next phase, we look forward to working closely with Dr. Matthew and continuing to strengthen collaboration across our global membership.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Matthew to the World FZO community and in thanking Dr. Samir for his outstanding service to the organization.

Sincerely,

Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni
Chairman
World Free Zones Organization