Klaus Kleinfeld, who was tasked with developing the NEOM project in the northwest of the Kingdom, has been appointed as an adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Kleinfeld “will take over wider responsibilities to enhance the economic, technological and financial development of Saudi Arabia,” said an official Saudi statement. But he will retain a position on NEOMs board, it said. The German, who is former chairman and CEO of Alcoa Inc., and former president and CEO of Siemens AG, is set to assume his role on August 1, with new NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr taking the helm of the 26,500 square kilometre business zone on the same day. Al-Nasr has been developing strategy for the project and has over 30 years of experience at national oil giant Saudi Aramco.