Djamel Mohand, the COO of Foodics, departs to initiate a fresh business endeavor
In a significant move for the tech industry in Saudi Arabia, former Foodics COO Djamel Mohand has co-founded a new startup called Governata. This Riyadh-based company, launched in 2025, is the first Arabic enterprise data governance platform in the region.
Governata is designed with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, offering AI-driven data governance solutions that prioritize automation and local regulatory compliance. The platform boasts several advanced features, including an intuitive Arabic-friendly interface, automated compliance tracking, personal data protection, data catalogue and classification, data quality and data lineage, and robust users and access management.
Djamel Mohand, a serial entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience scaling technology startups, leads Governata alongside data governance veterans Jehad Senan and Khalid Almudayfir. Their collective expertise in analytics, AI frameworks, and entrepreneurship promises to drive Governata's growth and success.
The new startup has ambitious plans, including supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by digitizing national data offices and improving data governance efficiencies. Governata also aims to expand globally, with product releases beyond the initial data governance platform, including a unified AI-driven enterprise decision-making solution tailored for the MENA market.
In a statement, Djamel Mohand expressed the mission of Governata to empower organizations to manage data more efficiently and responsibly, enabling faster, more accurate decisions in the digital economy.
Prior to his role at Governata, Djamel Mohand played a key role in Foodics' growth and expansion. As the COO, he managed over 2,000 team members and was instrumental in the company's success. Foodics, the leading SaaS and fintech platform in the F&B sector of the MENA region, has invested in three startups and recently earmarked $100 million for M&A over the next three years.
Before joining Foodics, Djamel worked with Rocket Internet on Jeeny (previously known as Easy Taxi). He left his position as COO at Jeeny in 2019.
Djamel Mohand's departure from Foodics marked the end of a nearly five-year tenure with the company. His new venture, Governata, represents a significant step forward in data governance for the MENA region and promises to shape the industry for years to come.
[1] Governata Press Release, 2025 [2] Foodics Press Release, 2020 [3] Arab News, 2025 [4] Gulf Business, 2025 [5] TechCrunch, 2025
- Governata, the first Arabic enterprise data governance platform in the MENA region, is poised to revolutionize the tech industry in Saudi Arabia by offering AI-driven solutions that prioritize automation, local regulatory compliance, and store data securely.
- With their focus on finance, investing in the growth of businesses, and advancements in technology, the co-founders of Governata, Djamel Mohand, Jehad Senan, and Khalid Almudayfir, aim to empower organizations in the MENA region to make faster, more accurate decisions in the ever-evolving digital economy.
