Board of Directors
- Mr. Ghassan T. Assaf
- Chairman General Manager
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Mr. Assaf holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Finance and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester - UK. He started his career at Citibank in New York - USA, in 1980, and then joined BBAC in 1985, where he was appointed Chairman General Manager in 1996. Mr. Assaf is also the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee at the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), and he is board member of Allianz SNA and The Capital Insurance & Reinsurance Company. He also serves on the Board of Directors of many local and international organizations, including: National Deposit Guarantee Institution (NDGI) in Lebanon, ‘Kafalat’ financial company, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Lebanese-Brazilian Business Council (LBBC). Mr. Assaf carries out many social and humanitarian activities by supporting and participating in several institutions, including: the health establishment of the Druze Community - Ain w Zein, Toufic Assaf Benevolent Cultural Center, Balamand University, and other institutions engaged in public benefit activities.
- H.E. Judge Abbas El Halabi
- Non-Executive Member
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Former Judge. Former Vice-Chairman of the Board (23 June 2005-18 December 2020). Member of the Board of Directors since 1987. H.E. Judge El Halabi is currently a non-executive member since he was appointed Minister of Education and Higher Education in September 2021.
H.E. Judge El Halabi holds a degree in Lebanese and French laws from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut (USJ), a degree in European Community Law from the “Centre Européen Universitaire” Nancy-France, a diploma from the Lebanese Institute for Judicial Studies and D.E.S. in private law from the University of Paris X, Nanterre-France.
- Assaf Holding Company s.a.l.
- Non-Executive Member
- Mr. Marc Maamari
- Non-Executive Member
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Mr. Maamari was appointed to the Board in 2008. He is the General Manager of two companies, the first deals with the trade and manufacturing of electronic systems, while the other deals with Internet and telecom projects. Mr. Maamari holds a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from Aston University in Birmingham - UK and a Master’s degree in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania - USA.
- MR. FAROUK MAHFOUZ
- Non-Executive Member
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Mr. Mahfouz was appointed to the Board in 2011. He was a member of the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon for 20 years and the representative of the National Deposit Guarantee Institution (NDGI) in Lebanon. Prior to that, he worked as a consultant to the office of the Lebanese Prime Minister and to several other ministers in the Cabinet, and headed many committees dealing with various public interests.
Mr. Mahfouz is a holder of Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Accounting, Economics and Political Science from the Beirut Arab University and the Lebanese University.
- Dr. Fouad Zmokhol
- Independent Member
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University dean, president, entrepreneur, speaker and professor, Dr. Zmokhol is a savvy businessman whose impeccable ethics and sharp leadership skills have inspired many. President of the Association of Lebanese Business People in the World (RDCL World), his role has taken him to many cities, championing collaboration, networking and synergy between Lebanese business people at home and in the diaspora. Dr. Zmokhol is known for his diplomatic skills and outstanding ability to build bridges and fruitful alliances.
Dean of the School of Business and Management at Saint Joseph University (USJ), Professor of managerial strategies, entrepreneurship and leadership, he believes in sharing expertise and grooming the next generation. He has mentored many young entrepreneurs, inspiring them to perfect their skills and invest locally. A true patriot, Dr. Zmokhol is an advocate of leading by example. As a driven and passionate leader, he works hard to help maintain a healthy Lebanese business environment, encouraging local and foreign investments, while creating a healthy collaborative environment in several sectors.
He is the co-owner of Zimco holding, one of the leading commercial printing groups in Lebanon and the Middle East, driving innovation and performance in the printing industry. He was also the managing partner and CEO of SAPDIB (Africa), manufacturing and distributing F&B products in the area.
As a strategic business advisor, consultant and certified independent board member by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dr. Zmokhol sits on the boards of several prominent local private institutions and international organizations.
A sought-after keynote speaker at national and international conferences, he is known to leave the audience wanting more. Speaking about geopolitical and business issues, his conferences shed the light on several current events, giving crucial feedback to businesspeople. A published author of various articles, he is often mentioned in the media for his innovative business approach. An award-winning businessman, he is also an avid tennis, skier and hiker.
- DR. WAssim Shahin
- Independent Member
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Dr. Wassim Shahin is the Dean of the Adnan Kassar School of Business at the Lebanese American University (LAU) and a Professor of Business Economics. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics, specializing in Money and Banking and International Finance from Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.
Dr. Shahin has an esteemed academic background, having held faculty positions in the USA before returning to Lebanon. He is the founding Dean of the School of Business on the LAU-Byblos Campus, where he served from 1996 to 2011. He then assumed the role of Assistant Provost at LAU before returning as Dean of the School of Business on both the Beirut and Byblos campuses in 2018.
Dr. Shahin has authored, co-authored, and edited five books, several monographs, and over thirty-five academic articles published in major refereed journals. He is the founding editor of ‘Review of Middle East Economics and Finance’ and serves on the editorial Board of several academic journals.
In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Shahin has been actively involved in various professional associations. He served as the President of the Middle East Economic Association and was a long-standing member of its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the American Economic Association and a research fellow at the Economic Research Forum.
In the financial services industry, Dr. Shahin serves on the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Deposit Guarantees and Loan Guarantees (Kafalat) in Lebanon, where he is a member of the credit, audit and risk management committees. He was an independent board member of Near East Commercial Bank in Lebanon, serving on its risk management committee, before it was acquired by Saradar Bank. Additionally, he has acted as an advisor to the Association of Banks in Lebanon on compliance issues and served as Chairman of the Board of Innovation in Small and Medium Enterprises (iSME) from 2015 to 2022.
Dr. Shahin has provided consulting services to various governments and banks. He has organized and lectured in executive training seminars for bankers, government service officials, and staff in the financial services industry. He has also participated in conferences as a presenter, discussant, and session chair.
- MR. Borhan KREITEM
- Independent Member
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Mr. Borhan Kreitem has over 30 years of hands-on experience in various fields of the manufacturing industry, SMEs, and the oil & gas industry, establishing and managing operations in Qatar. He was the CEO and General Manager of the Specialized International Services (SIS), a Qatar-based private investment company actively involved in diversified sectors, locally and globally, including contracting, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
As an Independent and International Development Consultant, Mr. Kreitem worked with the World Bank, the European Commission, and several United Nations Organizations and Development Agencies. Mr. Kreitem holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from the American University of Beirut, a Postgraduate Degree in Chemical Engineering from Aston University, Birmingham, and a Master's Degree in Technology & Development from Imperial College, London.