Aligning Strategy, Execution, and Impact in the UAE
Mariusz Mlodawski
Country Director
Cemex UAE
Aligning Strategy, Execution, and Impact in the UAE
Mariusz Mlodawski
Country Director
Cemex UAE
Mariusz Mlodawski - Most Influential Business Leaders in the UAE 2025
In the UAE, a region where construction shapes skylines and cities evolve at pace, (Mariusz Mlodawski) has spent the last eight years shaping not just a company, but the very way urban growth is built. As Country Director of CEMEX UAE, he oversees cement, ready-mix concrete, urbanisation solutions, and chemicals, translating complex operations into measurable impact across one of the Middle East’s most competitive markets.
Stepping into a country leadership role, Mariusz adopted a mindset focused on overall performance, defining a clear strategic framework and ensuring that all departments align behind shared objectives and KPIs. He realised that success is not about having the best answers but about building a leadership team capable of delivering consistently outstanding results. These experiences reinforced his conviction that strong leadership is built on clear purpose, structured governance, and empowered teams. Today, he sets ambitious goals, reinforces accountability through transparent performance management, and fosters a culture where people are trusted to make confident, responsible decisions that reflect CEMEX’s values.
What sets Mariusz apart is his ability to see the business as a system. Every decision, whether commercial, operational, or strategic, is made in the context of long-term value creation. Over two decades in the industry, he has combined deep technical knowledge with a keen understanding of market dynamics, enabling him to drive growth, implement innovative solutions, and embed sustainable practices seamlessly into operations.
Renowned for bridging strategy with execution, Mariusz navigates challenges with precision and pragmatism. Beyond metrics, his work is defined by shaping processes, cultivating high-performing teams, and embedding a culture where innovation and efficiency coexist, which ensures CEMEX UAE thrives in a market that never stands still.
Speaking with TradeFlock, Mariusz shares details about his work and strategies.
What early leadership challenges shaped how you lead today?
I wouldn’t point to a single challenge, but a defining moment came when I stepped into a new role just as CEMEX was redefining its strategy. I was accountable not only for delivering results in a new position but also for rapidly aligning my role, my team, and our execution model with a strategy that was still taking shape. The challenge wasn’t about authority; it was about coherence, making sure a new role and a new strategy moved forward together without losing momentum. That experience shaped how I lead today. It reinforced that leadership during transformation requires clarity before certainty and alignment before speed. I focus on translating strategy into a few decisive priorities, communicating them clearly, and anchoring change in purpose and measurable outcomes. Alignment, accountability, and adaptability guide how I connect strategy to execution, especially in periods of change.
Which emerging opportunities excite you most in the coming years?
The coming years offer a unique opportunity to advance sustainable growth and urban resilience in the UAE. At CEMEX, we aim to be the partner of choice for sustainable construction, delivering solutions and materials that contribute to resilient, inclusive, and future-ready cities, aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambition. I am especially inspired by the chance to turn this ambition into measurable results through safety, operational excellence, sustainability, and an enhanced customer experience.
How did your leadership approach change moving from Europe to the UAE?
In Europe, construction markets are typically mature and structured, with stable growth patterns. The UAE, however, is dynamic, fast-paced, highly competitive, and culturally diverse. The most critical leadership shift for me has been adapting to this environment, combining agility with disciplined execution, while maintaining global standards.
Success requires not just strategy but also understanding the local market, building trust across diverse teams, and working closely with customers and partners, all while staying true to CEMEX’s commitments to safety, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Having lived and worked in the UAE for nearly nine years, I have witnessed its remarkable transformation. At CEMEX, we are proud to operate in alignment with Dubai’s and the UAE’s long-term urban development and infrastructure ambitions, contributing to resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities that reflect both vision and responsibility.
"Motivation is rooted less in the difficulty of the challenge and more in its impact, strengthening organisational resilience, nurturing leaders, and creating sustainable value for customers, communities, and shareholders.
On a personal level, what fuels your approach to challenging leadership roles?
What drives me most is the ability to influence outcomes where strategy, people, and capital intersect. Complex leadership challenges are opportunities to exercise clear judgement, execute with discipline, and bring diverse stakeholders together around a shared vision. At this stage, motivation is rooted less in the difficulty of the challenge and more in its impact, strengthening organisational resilience, nurturing leaders, and creating sustainable value for customers, communities, and shareholders. Complexity, when guided by purpose and clarity, becomes a powerful engine for transformation.
