When Lubna Olayan and Jane Fraser step into their roles as co-chairs of the U.S.–Saudi Business Council's newly expanded Board of Directors, they'll be shepherding one of the most formidable gatherings of corporate leadership in recent bilateral history. The Council announced this week a reconstituted board bringing together chief executives from across finance, energy, technology, defense, and consumer industries—leaders who collectively steer some of the world's most influential companies.
The timing matters. Economic engagement between the United States and Saudi Arabia has accelerated dramatically, and this board lineup reflects a deliberate effort to match that momentum with high-level private sector expertise. The 19 U.S. executives range from Ruth Porat, President and CIO of Alphabet and Google, to Darren Woods, Chair and CEO of ExxonMobil, from Brian Moynihan at Bank of America to James Taiclet leading Lockheed Martin. The roster spans the breadth of industries shaping both economies—Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Chevron, Cisco, Hilton, Honeywell, and BlackRock among them.
They're joined by their Saudi counterparts: Tareq Amin of the newly launched AI company Humain, John Pagano of Red Sea Global and the AlUla development project, Tareq AlSadhan of Saudi National Bank, and Abdullah Al Zamil of SENAAT. Long-serving members including Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, Ma'aden's Robert Wilt, and Alturki Holding's Rami Al Turki remain on the board, providing continuity alongside the new arrivals.
Charles Hallab, President and CEO of the Council, called it "an extraordinary alignment of global leadership at a pivotal moment in the bilateral relationship." Lubna Olayan framed it as a chance to translate partnership into lasting economic value for both nations. Jane Fraser highlighted the momentum the board signals: "This is an important inflection point in the Council's work to strengthen economic ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia."
The Council has positioned itself as a primary platform for cross-border business dialogue, and this reshaped board reflects the strategic sectors driving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 diversification goals. With private sector leaders from both nations now aligned under shared leadership, the Council is poised to facilitate partnerships, investments, and trade flows at a scale its previous incarnations couldn't match. The work begins now.