THE DIGITAL AGE ISN’T COMING—IT’S ALREADY HERE

Exclusive Interview with Naji Salameh, CEO, IT Max Global

In an era of rapid technological change, businesses are constantly challenged to stay ahead. In an interview that cuts through the noise of technological buzzwords, Naji Salameh, CEO of IT Max Global, breaks down the complex world of digital transformation, cybersecurity, and technological innovation. Drawing from his company’s experience across the Middle East and Africa, Salameh offers a pragmatic view of how organizations can adapt, secure, and leverage technology to remain competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Your quote, “Success is born out of impact” is powerful, so what kind of impact does IT Max strive to create?

IT Max Global was created with the basic objective of providing high quality solutions that will help our customers increase the revenue or reduce their cost. We aim to be a reliable partner to companies and organizations from both the public and private sectors. We work with our customers to help them cope with the rapid developments in technology and empower them to focus on their core business. To achieve this objective, we have onboarded a team of experts with wide range of expertise. This team works with our customers  to create a lasting impact on the way they service their end user customers.

What sets IT Max apart as the most versatile technology partner in the Middle East and Africa?

What distinguishes IT Max from other technology service providers is our exceptional team and strong service-oriented culture. Our team brings deep expertise in the domains we operate in, and we’ve cultivated a culture focused on delivering outstanding service at every touchpoint of the customer journey. This commitment has earned us a reputation for trust and reliability in the market.

How do you approach digital transformation in a way that delivers real business value?

In this day and age where everything is almost turning digital, any company or organization will get left behind without digital transformation. IT Max is well equipped with the expertise, as well as with products and services to help, assist and facilitate such transformation and enable an almost seamless shift to the digital platform. We emphasize not only the infrastructure and tools needed for transformation, but also how AI can be leveraged to automate processes, generate insights, and improve customer experience. We guide clients through the adoption of AI-powered platforms to ensure they maximize efficiency and decision-making accuracy.

 Included in that transformation is the training we conduct that will equip our customers with the knowledge and capability to operate more efficiently in the digital world thereby creating better efficiencies and reliability, which in turn adds real business value to our customers.

What are the biggest tech challenges businesses face in the MEA region today?

Among the biggest tech challenges faced by this region is security. In a highly digitalized and online connectivity of business processes, vulnerability to cyber attacks is probably the single biggest tech challenge, not just within the MEA region, but globally. In fact, just recently, the Cybersecurity Council of the UAE Government has confirmed that national cybersecurity systems have successfully thwarted cyberattacks targeting 634 entities, of which 30 are government entities, 13 are private, and the rest fall under other categories. This follows a similar event on January 17, 2025 when UAE cybersecurity systems successfully countered nearly 200,000 daily ransomware attacks. These attacks targeted several strategic sectors in both public and private entities, aiming to breach data and lock digital systems. The authority highlighted that emergency cybersecurity systems, in collaboration with relevant authorities, detected and preemptively countered these cyberattacks, identifying the hackers and their origins.

Another major technology challenge organizations face today is selecting and deploying the right artificial intelligence solution tailored to their specific business needs. The current IT landscape is saturated with a wide array of AI tools and platforms, making it difficult for businesses to navigate and make informed decisions. To tackle this, we have established a dedicated Innovation and AI team that works closely with our customers, guiding them in developing the right strategy and enabling them to fully harness the benefits and competitive advantages of AI.

How does IT Max tailor its solutions to meet unique client needs?

As a Managed Services and Security Services Provider (MSP and MSSP), we prioritize close collaboration with our customers to deeply understand their unique needs and requirements. Our approach starts with gaining a clear insight into their core business and the role technology plays in their daily operations, including how it supports their respective end-user customers.

We then conduct a thorough assessment of their existing technology infrastructure, with a strong focus on identifying vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement—particularly in areas such as cybersecurity, performance, and scalability. Security is no longer optional; it’s a foundational element of any successful IT strategy, and we ensure our customers are protected against today’s ever-evolving threats.

This comprehensive approach enables us to design and implement tailored technology solutions that drive innovation, strengthen security postures, and accelerate digital transformation. As a result, we help our customers transform their workplaces, enhance operational efficiency, and boost overall productivity. Our unwavering commitment to partnership and results has earned us a remarkable customer retention rate of 99.99%—a true testament to the trust and satisfaction of those we serve.

What does “future-proofing a business” mean in your service approach?

Conscious of the rapid pace at which technology evolves, we ensure that the technology solutions we provide to customers have the flexibility and adaptability to keep pace with any future enhancements. This enables us and our customers to easily integrate or maybe even upgrade to any new developments that may arise at any time.

Future-proofing means building scalable, adaptable solutions that can evolve with the market. Whether it’s preparing for future integrations, new security threats, or emerging technologies, our solutions are designed with longevity and agility in mind.

What’s your vision for IT Max Global in the next 3-5 years?

Our vision in the next three to five years is anchored upon our mission to empower private and public organizations with IT solutions, managed services and digital transformation, so as to provide them with the bandwidth to focus on their core business. Through our success in our mission, will we be able to achieve our aspiration of becoming a leading, integrated technology partner that impacts customers with innovative solutions across all industries. So, in the next three to five years, our focus is to remain steadfast on our mission and service delivery excellence to customers in order to realize our aspiration of being the preferred technology partner of both the private and public sectors.

How important is it for companies like IT Max to champion women leaders in tech, and how are you contributing to that cause?

Gender equality is very important for IT Max. And for us, this is all about creating opportunities for personal and professional growth for everyone regardless of gender. Championing women in technology is not just something that women themselves must espouse. There must be a conscious and collective effort of everybody within the IT Max family to ensure that leadership opportunities in technology are available for everyone, again, regardless of gender or race. Accordingly, we at IT Max have built and nurtured a work culture that promotes such efforts and are proud to say that women at IT Max occupy key management positions and have been instrumental, not just in our success, but more importantly in the success and growth of our customers’ businesses.

Lastly, what’s your advice to companies beginning their digital transformation journey?

Start now. The digital age isn’t coming—it’s already here. Companies that delay transformation risk falling behind in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive environment. My advice is to begin with a clear understanding of your business goals and customer needs. Then, engage a partner who can guide you through the journey. At IT Max, we’re ready to walk that path with you—from strategy to implementation to training. Our role is to make transformation manageable, measurable, and meaningful. Increasingly, this includes helping organizations leverage AI-powered solutions—from intelligent automation and predictive analytics to enhanced customer experiences—ensuring that technology not only supports but amplifies business outcomes.