Professional Role and Current Position
Badar Khan holds the position of Director of Digital Platforms at NEOM Tech & Digital Company, a division of NEOM, which is recognized as a leading global cognitive technology enterprise. His role involves strategic leadership within digital platform initiatives at NEOM, contributing to the development of cutting-edge smart city technologies and cognitive digital ecosystems aligned with NEOM's ambitious giga-project objectives.
Organizational Context – NEOM
NEOM is a major Saudi Arabian giga-project focused on sustainable urban innovation, digital transformation, and smart city development, aiming to pioneer AI-driven ecosystems and new economic models. NEOM’s digital platform efforts are critical to realizing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, specifically in creating data-driven government frameworks and AI-friendly environments. NEOM’s social responsibility initiatives impacted over 50,000 people in 2023, underscoring the scale and social scope of its operations.
Previous Experience and Expertise
Badar Khan brings extensive executive experience from the energy and technology sectors:
- Former Head of Technology and Executive Team member at Siemens Saudi Arabia, where he was instrumental in operational and technological leadership.
- Ex-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Direct Energy, a major North American energy company affiliated with Centrica plc, where he led business growth, market expansion, and innovation.
- Served as Director of Digital Platform at TONOMUS, a role that overlaps with his tenure at NEOM, based in Kingston, New York, denoting an ongoing connection with technology platform development beyond NEOM.
- Held leadership roles focusing on energy diversification, digital transformation, and organizational scale-up in competitive markets.
Educational Background
Badar Khan holds advanced technical and business qualifications:
- Master of Science (MS) in Electrical Engineering, concentrated on Genetic Computation, from the State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz (2008).
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Engineering from SUNY New Paltz (2005).
- Additionally, he holds a degree in engineering from Brunel University, London, accompanied by an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, reflecting a strong foundation in both technical and strategic management disciplines.
Geographic and Network Footprint
Badar is based in Kingston, New York, United States, and maintains an extensive professional network with over 500 connections on LinkedIn, indicating active engagement with global technology and energy professionals.
Cross-Industry Leadership and Board Roles
- Since May 2022, Badar Khan has served as a member of the board of directors of EVgo, a leading public electric vehicle fast-charging network in the United States.
- In November 2023, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of EVgo, demonstrating his executive capacity to lead growth-stage, technology-driven energy enterprises.
- Khan’s expertise spans energy infrastructure, digital platforms, and sustainable technology adoption, positioning him as a strategic leader bridging clean energy and digital innovation.
Strategic Contributions and Focus Areas at NEOM
While specific project details at NEOM are limited, given his role and background, Khan is likely engaged in:
- Developing and overseeing digital platform architectures that support NEOM’s smart city initiatives, including AI integration, cognitive computing, and data-driven infrastructure.
- Driving collaboration between technology divisions and other giga-project partners aligned with Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and sustainability.
- Supporting NEOM’s ambition to foster AI-friendly ecosystems and facilitate data analytics adoption within urban governance frameworks.
Relevant Points for Engagement
- Leveraging his deep experience in utility-scale energy transformation and digital platform development can inform approaches to NEOM’s technology strategy.
- His concurrent leadership with EVgo underscores a strong focus on sustainable energy and digital mobility solutions, aligning with NEOM’s environmental and mobility goals.
- Educational and professional credentials emphasize a quantitative, systems-engineering approach to problem-solving and innovation management within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
In summary, Badar Khan is a digitally focused executive integral to NEOM’s platform strategy, combining global energy sector leadership, advanced engineering education, and board-level experience in clean and connected mobility. His profile suggests a strong orientation toward integrating digital cognitive technologies with large-scale sustainable infrastructure projects, reflective of NEOM’s transformative urban vision.
