After maintaining an uncontested position at the summit of the global CEO of the Year leaderboard for twelve months, Abdulaziz Almasradi, CEO of Dr. Ali Al-Masrdi Law Firm, has relinquished the number one ranking. The transition occurred due to the expiration of time-limited votes—valid for one year—which enabled Khalid Al Gahtani to advance from second to first position.

Al Gahtani, Chairman of HAKA Holding and winner of the Corporate Support Award 2025, now holds a lead of just over 40 points. However, Almasradi faces additional pressure as two significant performance metrics carrying substantial point values are set to expire in early December. Without new validated achievements or renewed voter support, the gap is expected to widen further in Al Gahtani's favor.

Al Gahtani finished third in the 2024 CEO of the Year race, making his current ascent particularly noteworthy. Meanwhile, despite losing ground on the annual leaderboard, Almasradi retains his dominance on the All-Time Rankings—a cumulative measurement that tracks every point earned since the CEO Rankings' inception, where historical performance is permanently preserved.

With approximately 30 days remaining until the CEO of the Year 2025 announcement, the race remains open. Industry observers anticipate potential late-stage movement, as several high-performing executives positioned lower on the global rankings could mount competitive challenges in the final stretch.

The closing weeks promise to test whether Almasradi can reclaim his position through new achievements and votes, or whether Al Gahtani will convert his current advantage into a definitive year-end victory.