Matz joins Hyatt Regency Riyadh as executive chef

Stephan Matz, a seasoned hotelier from Germany with 23 years of experience has been named the new executive chef of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 June 2021
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Matz joins Hyatt Regency Riyadh as executive chef

RIYADH: Stephan Matz, a seasoned hotelier from Germany with 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry, has been named the new executive chef of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya.

“Riyadh is a vibrant and fast-paced market, open to experimentation, where the locals warmly welcome creative new trends. My arrival in the local market coincides with the city’s unprecedented time of growth and opportunity,” said Matz.

“After learning about Vision 2030, witnessing the iconic Riyadh Season and observing the development process that Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia as a whole, is undergoing, I believe my creativity and passion for whipping up innovation via food will introduce the locals to a whole different world of culinary experience which happens to be critical for success in the local market,” he added.

Matz began his career in 1998 as an apprentice at the legendary Grand Hyatt Berlin, Germany.

During his journey with Hyatt, his creativity, talent, hard work and achievements were instantly recognized, and in 2012 he was promoted to the position of executive chef at the landmark of east Africa, Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, the Kilimanjaro.

He managed the daily operations in three restaurants, banquets and in-room dining of the luxurious 180-room property. In addition to Hyatt, he gained vast experience working with various hospitality brands across countries such as the US, Germany, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Oman and Egypt.


Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Updated 04 February 2026
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Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.

The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.

The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.

The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.

Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”

The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.

“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”

The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.

Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.