Fifteen Lebanese citizens, including the top-ranked individual, are in the top 100 leaders of the largest international companies operating in the MENA region, according to American business magazine Forbes Middle East.
In the 12th edition of Forbes Middle East, titled “Global Meets Local,” which recognizes the leaders of the largest international companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Lebanon has made a strong showing.
For the first time, a Lebanese national has secured the top rank. Fourteen other Lebanese executives, including two women, have also made it on the list. Samer Abu-Ltaif, Vice President of Microsoft globally and President of Microsoft in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, tops the ranking, which includes 104 leaders of 40 nationalities, assessed based on their regional impact, achievements, performance, leadership and company size. Lebanon leads the way with 15 executives, followed by India (8), the United Kingdom (7) and France (7).
Who are these fifteen Lebanese individuals?
– Samer Abu-Ltaif: Vice President of Microsoft globally and President of Microsoft for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
– Hussein Freijeh: Vice President of Snap Inc. for the MENA region.
– Rawad Sarieddine: Vice President of CrowdStrike for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
– Yasser Abdul Malak: CEO of Nestlé for the Middle East and North Africa.
– Ahmad Nasser: Managing Director of The Hershey Company for the MENA region.
– Thierry Sabbagh: President of Nissan and Infiniti for Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
– Samir Cherfane: Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis Automotive for the Middle East and Africa.
– Naji Skaff: President of Xylem for the Middle East, Turkey, India, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
– Ronald Boueri: Regional Managing Director of Olympus MEA.
– Khaled al-Dabag: CEO and Head of Investment Banking of Barclays for the MENA region.
– Nadim Najjar: Managing Director of the London Stock Exchange Group for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.
– Olfat Sami Berro: Middle East Area Head of Roche Pharmaceuticals.
– Joe Naoum: Managing Director of Stryker (American medical technology multinational) for the MENA region.
– Elda Choucair: CEO of Omnicom Media Group for the MENA region.
– Aziz Koleilat: Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and General Manager of GE Aerospace for the Middle East, Turkey, Eastern Europe and Russia/CIS.
Female representation in this ranking is limited, with only two out of fifteen Lebanese executives being women. This highlights the male dominance in high-level positions, particularly in the region.
