An exceptional Procurement Executive, Muflih AlSubaie currently leads as the Executive Procurement Director of Saudi Esports Federation (SEF). With over 17 years of experience in Procurement, management, and organizational reviews, Muflih has a track record of improving policies and supporting business needs with efficient outcomes. At SEF, Muflih AlSubaie led procurement initiatives and collaborated with top procurement consultation entities while driving financial gains for the company.
The Beginning: Early Life and Background
Muflih AlSubaie began his career in healthcare, first as a Graduate Trainee at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, then in patient services at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. Those years taught him operational discipline and stakeholder empathy.
In 2009, Muflih moved into procurement at King Abdulaziz Medical City, and in 2012, he joined the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), where he learned how governance and timing shape outcomes. He adds, “From 2014 to 2020, I led procurement and supplier relations at HAMASCO in logistics and transportation, where I developed and refined my vendor strategy and risk management skills.”
Eventually, in 2020, Muflih entered esports with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), building the procurement operating model and digital backbone. Currently, as the Executive Procurement Director of SEF, he is focused on governance, supplier ecosystems, and technology that raises transparency and speed.
Transformation of SEF over the Years
At SEF, procurement has shifted from a transactional function to a strategic value engine. They built governance, standardized scopes for complex esports events, and embedded supplier 360° evaluation. SEF even professionalized onboarding and due diligence, and tightened alignment with Finance and Legal. Sharing their performance, Muflih mentions, “Outcomes to date include double-digit savings, high stakeholder and supplier satisfaction, and a stronger local vendor bench, with >16% savings, 95% stakeholder satisfaction, and 92% vendor satisfaction referenced in my track record.”
Impact on the Regional Ecosystem
Creating knowledge transfer with tier-1 partners and “Dedicated Small-Scale IPs,” SEF has facilitated emerging local e-league operators to learn from real tournaments without risking flagship events.
Muflih mentions that SEF focuses on transparent governance & communications as well. By clarifying SoWs, cost drivers, and due diligence, the company implemented explicit supplier communication protocols: a clear front door, a Smartsheet-based deliverables flow, formal change-control through Procurement, and standard payment terms from receipt of a compliant VAT invoice. These mechanisms reduce errors and increase trust.
“Moreover, we’re aligning sourcing and event practices with national goals, so the esports economy grows responsibly and competitively,” he adds.
What makes an efficient leader: Qualities for Successful Leadership
Muflih emphasizes three qualities critical for success in his industry: integrity with guardrails, data fluency, and market curiosity, as a structured analysis reveals value others miss and de-risks negotiations. And lastly, having a partnership mindset is quite crucial. “Treat suppliers as an extension of strategy; co-create solutions instead of transacting line items,” he reflects.
Embracing Innovation and the Digital Revolution
SEF is developing an AI-assisted cost and scope engine, which will normalize event scopes, infer cost drivers, compare quotes “apples-to-apples,” flag anomalies, and run quick scenarios pre-market. The groundwork is laid so the release materially improves predictability, comparability, and negotiation quality.
Muflih mentions, “I’m also developing a simple decision-support engine that produces a fit-for-purpose authority matrix from a few inputs and # of transactions. It calculates an average transaction value, creates dynamic financial tiers, maps tiers to approval levels, and assigns a default procurement method per tier, plus a quick DoA fit check to flag friction or risk. It’s a practical starting point, not a one-size-fits-all policy.
My innovation philosophy. Nothing is “holy.” If evidence shows a better way, policy, DoA thresholds, committee cadence, or even the RFx format, we change it with discipline and documentation.”
Navigating through Challenging Phases
Addressing the aspiring professionals who are facing similar challenges as Muflih in this industry, he shares, “Redefine procurement; be the enabler who turns strategy into supply-side reality, not a gatekeeper. Also, align on gates, savings definitions, and risk thresholds early.
Industrialize the basics — strong SoWs, onboarding, and risk checks precede innovation. And remember to pilot a category and show measurable wins in one quarter.”
Muflih further suggests that they build the ecosystem, while leading humanely, which is non-negotiable.
Follow Muflih AlSubaie on LinkedIn to learn more.
Find Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) on LinkedIn and visit their website http://www.saudiesports.sa/
Also Read:-
Sana Guetari Trabelsi: Empowering a Holistic Educational Approach with Edutainment Solutions
