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Alain Bejjani

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Alain Bejjani
Bejjani in 2021
Born1973
Beirut, Lebanon
EducationCollège Notre Dame de Jamhour
Occupation(s)Business executive, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Group

Alain Bejjani (born 1973) is a Lebanese business executive.

Early life and education

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Bejjani was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1973.[citation needed]

He subsequently studied at the Lycée Champlain in Paris. Bejjani earned a Bachelor's in Civil Law and Master's in Civil and Corporate Law from Université Paris XII in 1994.[1][2] He received a Masters in Lebanese Law from Lebanese Law University in 1995, and was admitted to the bar in Lebanon in 1997.[2]

Career

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Bejjani was a founding partner of the law firm Melkane, Rached, Bejjani & Associates in Lebanon from 1999 to 2006.[3] He was also Executive Vice Chairman of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon from 2001 to 2005.[3][4]

In 2006 he joined the Majid Al Futtaim Group, initially as Vice President Legal at Majid Al Futtaim Properties.[5][6] Beginning in 2009 he was Head of Business Development for Majid Al Futtaim Properties;[6][5][7] in this position he oversaw acquisitions and development and gained an extensive knowledge of the company.[6]

In 2014 he was made Chief Corporate Development Officer and Brand Officer of Majid Al Futtaim. He was responsible for driving the company's brand and business vision, strategy, innovation, and intellectual property.[8][9][3]

In February 2015 Bejjani was appointed CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Group, replacing the departing Iyad Malas.[9][3]

He formed a 25-year aspirational vision for the company, "creating great moments for everyone, every day", and established a five-year plan focused on customer experience, digital capability and data analysis, and leadership and talent development.[10] He established a Leadership Institute for employees.[11][12][13]

Bejjani led a digital transformation of the company,[14][15][16][17] including by using data analytics to transform and individualize customers' shopping experience;[18] training the company's employees in data, analytics, and technology;[18][19] collaborating with Smart Dubai in data enrichment, policy, education, technology, and new technologies such as blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), and the Internet of Things,[18] hiring Silicon Valley data specialists to expand MAF's digital and e-commerce operations;[20] acquiring e-commerce companies;[21] partnering with Will.i.am's tech firm to deploy A.I.-powered conversational and contextual voice assistant technology at retail outlets;[15][22] and bringing Dreamscape Immersive virtual reality to cinemas in the Middle East.[23]

He also led the company's drive to environmental sustainability.[24] In 2017 Majid Al Futtaim became the first Middle Eastern company to adopt a Net Positive strategy, pledging to become net positive in water consumption and carbon emissions by 2040.[25][26][27] In 2018 it signed a sustainability Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, partnering to address the causes and impacts of climate change, to transition into a climate resilient green economy, and to achieve a better quality of life.[26] In April 2019 MAF established a Green Finance Framework and a Green Finance Steering Committee, to oversee the selection of projects for its green portfolio.[28] In May 2019 Bejjani led the company's listing of a 10-year corporate benchmark 'green' sukuk worth $600 million on NASDAQ Dubai;[29][28][30] it was the world's first financial instrument of its kind to concentrate on sustainability-focused investments,[31][32] with the proceeds to be used to fund environmentally friendly projects in sectors such as green real estate, renewable energy, sustainable water management, and social impact initiatives.[21][28][32][29]

Bejjani also led Majid Al Futtaim Group's expansion[33] particularly in major expansions in Egypt,[7] and in Saudi Arabia, where the company rolled out shopping centers and numerous cinemas including the first Saudi multiplex.[34][4][35][36]

In January 2023, Bejjani was replaced with the CEO of the firm’s property arm, Ahmed Galal Ismail.[37]

Other positions

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Bejjani is on the International Advisory Board of the Atlantic Council.[38] In 2019 he was one of the eight co-chairs of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.[39][40][41]

In addition to being on the board of directors of Majid Al Futtaim Group,[42] he is on the boards of directors of several MAF joint ventures,[43][5][44] and he is on the investment committee of IM Capital.[45] He is one of the judges of the Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award, which rewards technology innovation in Lebanon.[46][47]

Recognition

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In 2017[48] and 2018[49] Bejjani was listed in Business of Fashion's BoF 500, the top people shaping the global fashion industry. In 2018 he was number 2 in Forbes Middle East's list of the 50 most influential expats in the United Arab Emirates.[50][51][52] The Middle East-based Construction Week magazine listed him in its Power 100 in 2018[14][53][17] and 2019,[29] in the top 100 GCC real estate developers in 2018[16] and 2019,[54] and in the 20 most influential Arab leaders in Middle East construction in 2019.[55] In 2019 Arabian Business listed him in the Stars of 2019,[56] the GCC 100 Inspiring Leaders 2019,[57] and the DXB 100, influential people who are helping shape Dubai.[58] In 2019 Forbes Middle East also included him in the top 50 international CEOs leading local companies.[4]

Personal life

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Bejjani is based in Dubai.[18] He is married and has two daughters.[43] He speaks English, Arabic, and French.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Authors". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  2. ^ a b c Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory, Volume 1. Martindale-Hubbell. 2000. ISBN 9781561603770. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "UAE's Majid Al Futtaim Confirms CEO Iyad Malas' Resignation". Gulf Business. February 3, 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Top 50 International CEOs Heading Local Companies". Forbes Middle East. October 16, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Base Prospectus". Dubai Financial Services Authority. June 12, 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b c "Interview: Majid Al Futtaim chief Alain Bejjani". Arabian Business. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Majid Al Futtaim Is On An Expansion Spree In Egypt And Here's Why". Forbes Middle East. February 15, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Alain Bejjani replaces Iyad Malas as CEO of Majid Al Futtaim". Dhow net. February 3, 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  9. ^ a b "MAF CEO steps down". Gulf News. February 3, 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  10. ^ Keller, Scott; Schaninger, Bill (July 3, 2019). Beyond Performance 2.0: A Proven Approach to Leading Large-Scale Change. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781119596660. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Alain Bejjani: Chief Executive Officer". Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  12. ^ "MAF's H1 2019 financial results show resilient performance". Gulf Today. Aug 29, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Majid Al Futtaim revenue up 7% on development, sustainable growth". Khaleej Times. August 6, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Alain Bejjani". Construction Week Online. October 13, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  15. ^ a b "MAF head optimistic about 2019 as technology drives its growth". The National. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Construction Week's Top 50 GCC Developers 2018: Dubai / Alain Bejjani". Construction Week Online. September 18, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  17. ^ a b "2018 Construction Week Power 100: 56 Alain Bejjani". Construction Week Online. 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d "Majid Al Futtaim CEO plots path to 21st century retail". Arabian Business. February 5, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Continued financial growth for UAE's Majid Al Futtaim in H1 2017 as it prepares for future of retail". Zawya. July 31, 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Help wanted: UAE retailer trawls Silicon Valley for data specialists". Reuters. October 19, 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Majid Al Futtaim considering 'long target list' of e-commerce M&As". Logistics Middle East. May 19, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  22. ^ "A.I. advances and world trade take centre stage at 7th World Government Summit". Euronews. February 25, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Majid Al Futtaim brings new VR experience to Dubai". Trade Arabia. December 18, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  24. ^ "2018 Construction Week Power 100: 51-60". Construction Week Online. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Majid Al Futtaim becomes first Middle Eastern company to adopt Net Positive strategy". WorldGBC. April 19, 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Majid Al Futtaim signs sustainability MoU with UAE ministry". Construction Week Online. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  27. ^ "INTERVIEW: UAE's Majid Al Futtaim steps up green finance agenda as sukuk draws 'wide interest'- CEO". Zawya. May 16, 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  28. ^ a b c "UAE's Majid Al Futtaim lists world's first green sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai". Construction Week Online. May 15, 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  29. ^ a b c "2019 CW Power 100: Majid Al Futtaim's Alain Bejjani ranked #68". Construction Week Online. July 1, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  30. ^ "MAF's UAE CEO addresses green finance agenda". SME10X. June 10, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Alain Bejjani: CEO, Majid Al Futtaim". Construction Week Online. July 1, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Majid Al Futtaim lists world's first benchmark corporate Green Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai". NASDAQ Dubai. May 15, 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  33. ^ "Majid Al Futtaim H1 Revenues Hit $4.27bn". Al Bawaba. July 31, 2017.
  34. ^ "Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim plans $4bln worth of shopping centres in Saudi- CEO". Zawya. May 19, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  35. ^ "Majid Al Futtaim boss: 'We'll be everywhere' in Saudi cinema expansion". Arab News. January 24, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  36. ^ "Leisure group 'walks the walk' with biggest cinema in Saudi Arabia: Chief executive". Arab News. November 1, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  37. ^ "Dubai Conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim Abruptly Removes CEO Bejjani". Bloomberg.com. 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  38. ^ "International Advisory Board". Atlantic Council. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Revealed: who is taking part in the World Economic Forum MENA?". Arabian Business. April 3, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  40. ^ "World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa". World Economic Forum. April 6, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  41. ^ "World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa Urges Leaders to Develop Full Potential of the Region through Collaboration". World Economic Forum. April 7, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  42. ^ "Board of Directors". Majid Al Futtaim. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  43. ^ a b "Alain Bejjani". Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Summit. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  44. ^ "Alain Bejjani: Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Team". IM Capital. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  46. ^ "Launch of the Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award in Lebanon!". Arabnet. Oct 15, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Meet the Judges". Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  48. ^ "BoF 500: The People Shaping The Global Fashion Industry". Business of Fashion. 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  49. ^ "BoF 500: The People Shaping The Global Fashion Industry". Business of Fashion. 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  50. ^ "50 Most Influential Expats In The UAE 2018". Forbes Middle East. 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  51. ^ "Forbes Middle East just ranked Lebanese executives among the 50 most influential expats in the UAE!". The961. August 14, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Revealed: 50 most influential expats in UAE". Khaleej Times. August 14, 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  53. ^ "2018 Construction Week power 100". Construction Week Online. 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  54. ^ "Top 100 GCC Real Estate Developers: Majid Al Futtaim". Construction Week Online. September 24, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  55. ^ "The 20 most influential Arab leaders in Middle East construction". Construction Week Online. March 29, 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  56. ^ "Stars of 2019". Arabian Business. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  57. ^ "GCC 100 Inspiring Leaders 2019". Arabian Business. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  58. ^ "DXB 100 2019". Arabian Business. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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