Saad Alyahya
عربي

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia PMO Setup & Delivery Governance | Strategic Partnerships & Commercial Management

Saad Alyahya

سعد اليحيى

I manage commercial partnerships and see them through to delivery - nine years across technology, gaming, sports and entertainment in Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

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Saad Alyahya

About

Who's Saad?

Nine years across technology, gaming, sports and entertainment in Saudi Arabia and the GCC - from Microsoft and SONY to Savvy Games Group, a PIF-backed sports agency, and long-standing federation and brand clients.

On the commercial side, I closed 7 new partnerships in 60 days for Saudi Arabia's first ATP event and governed 500+ contractual rights across a five-day live event, alongside Gamers8 and multi-year federation accounts.

The thread across my career: I'm usually brought in where the structure doesn't exist yet. I've built three functions from zero - a national esports division at SONY, the events function at Nine66 and a PMO at 54 - so the partnerships I manage are built to be delivered.

Languages
Arabic (native) · English (fluent)
Expertise
PMO setup & delivery governance · Strategic partnerships & commercial management
Most recent
Partnership Project Manager at hala partners until Sep 2026
Status
Open to new roles
9Years experience
3Functions built from zero
7Sponsorships closed within 60 days
30+Brands & stakeholders

Journey

Nine years across three phases - build, execute, manage.

2017 - 2022

Technology & Gaming

Marketing, esports and events inside global technology and gaming brands - Microsoft, SONY and Savvy Games Group.

Microsoft Arabia

Product Marketing Specialist · Xbox · 2017 - 2019

+
Forza Motorsport 7FIFA18 eWorld CupForza Horizon 4
  • Managed regional product marketing across KSA and the UAE, translating global priorities into local campaigns and activations
  • Led campaign localisation across channels with global teams, agencies, retailers and local stakeholders
  • Delivered 3 flagship launch events and 10+ events, activations and brand participations across Riyadh and Dubai

Key Milestone3 flagship Xbox launch events - Forza and the FIFA18 eWorld Cup qualifiers across Riyadh & Dubai

Modern Electronics - SONY

Esports Manager · LA3EB & PlayStation KSA · 2019 - 2021

+
F1 Jeddah 2021eMBS Fans CupMCIT × PlayStation
  • Built the LA3EB esports function from zero - operating model, annual plan and stakeholder ecosystem
  • Owned the esports business plan and P&L - budgets, partnerships, tournaments, marketing and delivery
  • Built and led a cross-functional team of 10+ across events, marketing and technical

Key Milestone0 → 10,000+ participants across 10 tournaments in 90 days

Savvy Games Group - Nine66

Events Specialist, Acting Lead · Jan - Jul 2022

+
GameJam FastArtGamers8 Dev ZoneIGDA Saudi Chapter
  • Built Nine66's events function from zero - operating structure, vendor infrastructure and delivery processes
  • Set the annual events calendar and external participation plan for the studio's physical and industry presence
  • Launched the first Saudi Arabia chapter of the IGDA (International Game Developers Association)

Key MilestoneNine66's first live event, delivered end to end in 6 weeks with no precedent - venue, build, branding, vendors, VIP and live operations

Selected Work

Flagship projects - where the deal met the delivery.

Next Gen ATP Finals - Saudi Arabia's first ATP event

Partnership Sales · hala partners · 2023

Next Gen ATP Finals - Saudi Arabia's first ATP event

Senior Partnerships Specialist · hala partners · Sep – Dec 2023

7New partners in 60 days
10Partners managed
500+Contractual rights delivered
5Live event days
LA3EB Esports Platform - built from zero

Business Built from Zero · SONY · 2020–2021

LA3EB Esports Platform - built from zero

Esports Manager · Modern Electronics (SONY)

0→10K+Participants in 90 days
10Tournaments in 3 months
10+Team built and led
GameJam Fast Art - Nine66's first live event

Live Event · Savvy Games Group · 2022

GameJam Fast Art - Nine66's first live event

Events Specialist, Acting Lead · Savvy Games Group · Nine66

6 wksBrief to live
0→1End-to-end ownership
Gamers8 2023 - Saudi Esports Federation
On-ground partnerships team
On-ground partnerships team
Partner mural · arena ingress
Partner mural · arena ingress
Main Partners & Official Suppliers
Main Partners & Official Suppliers

Partnership Management · hala partners · 2023

Gamers8 2023 - Saudi Esports Federation

Senior Partnerships Specialist · hala partners

5Partners incl. PepsiCo & Hilton
8 wksRights & benefits cycle

Network

Relationships built within - organisations, clients, brands.

30 engagements across KSA & GCC

Microsoft ArabiaMicrosoft ArabiaEmployer · Product Marketing Specialist · Xbox · 2017–2019
XboxXboxBrand managed · Xbox campaigns & launches across KSA & UAE
Modern Electronics (SONY)Modern Electronics (SONY)Employer · Esports Manager - LA3EB & PlayStation KSA
PlayStationPlayStationBrand managed · PlayStation Saudi commercial & marketing programmes
Savvy Games GroupSavvy Games GroupEmployer · Events Specialist, Acting Lead · Nine66 · 2022
Nine66Nine66Platform · Built the events function & delivered the first live event
hala partnershala partnersEmployer · Senior Partnerships Specialist 2023–24 · Partnership Project Manager 2025–26
POWR EsportsPOWR EsportsEmployer · Partnerships Manager · 2024
5454Employer · PMO Manager · Sanabil / PIF-backed · 2024–2025
Public Investment FundPublic Investment FundStakeholder · Indirect stakeholder via 54 (Sanabil)
Saudi Esports FederationSaudi Esports FederationClient · Gamers8 2023 · Esports World Cup workstreams 2025–26
Saudi Tennis FederationSaudi Tennis FederationClient · Next Gen ATP Finals 2023 · partnership workstreams 2025–26
ATPATPEvent property · Saudi Arabia's first ATP event
Gamers8Gamers8Event property · Saudi esports festival · 2023 edition
Mahd Sports AcademyMahd Sports AcademyAdvisory · Commercial advisory via 54
Jockey Club of Saudi ArabiaJockey Club of Saudi ArabiaAdvisory · Commercial advisory via 54
LA3EB EsportsLA3EB EsportsBrand built · Built from zero at SONY · 10K+ in 90 days
NEOMNEOMPartner managed · Presenting Partner · Next Gen ATP Finals 2023
stcstcPartner managed · GameJam FastArt · Nine66
Jahez GroupJahez GroupPartner managed · Onboarded & activated · POWR · 2024
ShawarmerShawarmerPartner managed · Onboarded & activated · POWR · 2024
Al Rajhi BankAl Rajhi BankProposal managed · POWR portfolio · 2024
PepsiPepsiPartner managed · Gamers8 2023 portfolio
AquafinaAquafinaPartner managed · Gamers8 2023 portfolio
Hilton Hotels & ResortsHilton Hotels & ResortsPartner managed · Gamers8 2023 portfolio
J-B جيبيJ-B جيبيPartner managed · Next Gen ATP Finals 2023 portfolio
GenesisGenesisPartner managed · Next Gen ATP Finals 2023 portfolio
ERKEERKEPartner managed · Saudi Tennis Federation portfolio
DoritosDoritosPartner managed · Gamers8 2023 portfolio
AFKAFKPartner managed · Esports community platform

Capabilities

What I bring - day one.

Business Development

Prospecting & PipelineProposals & PitchingCommercial NegotiationDeal StructuringGo-to-Market Planning

PMO & Project Management

PMO SetupDelivery GovernanceReporting & ControlsRFP & ProcurementRisk Management3 Functions Built from Zero

Partnerships & Account Management

Strategic PartnershipsPartner OnboardingAccount ManagementContract & Rights GovernanceSponsorship

Commercial Management & Leadership

Commercial DeliveryBudget OversightVendor ManagementStakeholder ManagementCross-functional Teams of 10+KSA & GCC Markets

Systems & tools

SalesforcePipedriveHubSpotJiraAsanaMonday.comClickUpTrelloNotionMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft TeamsSlack

Contact

Feel there's a synergy? Let's talk.

PMO setup & delivery governanceStrategic partnershipsCommercial managementBusiness developmentPartner onboarding & account management
Send an emailLinkedIn profile
Email[email protected]LinkedIn/in/saad-alyahya1
LocationRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
LanguagesArabic · English