April 24,
2017, Cairo – Two new members have joined the Board of Trustees of The American
University in Cairo (AUC): Naguib Sawiris, chairman of Orascom TMT Investments,
and Ambassador Hamza B. AlKholi, chairman and CEO of the Alkholi Group in Saudi
Arabia.
A
prominent businessman and investor, Naguib Sawiris holds a master’s in
technical administration and Diploma of Mechanical Engineering from the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Since he became part of the family
business Orascom in 1979, Sawiris led its expansion to become one
of Egypt’s most diversified and successful conglomerates, establishing its
railway, information technology and telecommunications sectors. His
company, Orascom Telecom Holding, became the world’s sixth largest mobile
telecommunications provider in 2011 after merging with VimpelCom Ltd. He
disposed of his interest in Vimpelcom, and kept some of his telecom operations
under the name Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT), the company he then
went on to expand into an Investment Holding, with interests in financial
services, energy and agri-industries, among other sectors. He served as CEO of
OTMT for some time, stepping down in December 2016.
“Naguib
Sawiris is a man who needs no introduction,” said Atef Eltoukhy ’74, chair
of AUC’s Board of Trustees. “His successful business ventures inside and
outside of Egypt speak volumes of his extraordinary capabilities, talent and
competence. We look forward to working with him on the board as AUC prepares
for its next 100 years.”
Sawiris
has been recognized internationally, receiving honorary degrees, industry
awards and civic honors, such as the Legion d’Honneur of France, Honor of
Commander of the Order of the Stella della Solidarieta Italiana in Italy and
Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam award in Pakistan. He currently serves as the CEO and
deputy chairman of Nile City Investments, chairman of Gemini Development and
board chairman of EuroNews. In addition, he acts as non-executive director
of Endeavour Mining Corporation, Commercial International Bank of Egypt and
Beltone Financial Holding.
Serving on numerous international and local
boards, committees and councils, Sawiris served as a member of the
International Advisory Committee to the New York Stock Exchange and the
International Advisory Board to the National Bank of Kuwait. He is currently a
member of the London Stock Exchange Group’s Africa Advisory Board, Board of
Trustees of Nile University and the French University in Egypt, board of the Egyptian
Counsel for Foreign Affairs, Consumer Rights Protection Association, Cancer
Society of Egypt and the Arab Thought Foundation.
Hamza
AlKholi studied pharmacy at King Saud University. His company, the AlKholi
Group, currently oversees numerous subsidiaries in various industries, including aviation, hotels and resorts, real estate
development, chemicals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment,
fertilizers, banking, construction, contracting, management and operations
maintenance, information services and technology, and telecommunications.
AlKholi
has named the Dr. Hamza AlKholi Information Center at AUC, a single-stop
resource for prospective students and parents. He has also made various
contributions in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia, including the
establishment of the Dr. Hamza Alkholi Chair for
Development of Medical Education at the Al Imam Ibn Saud Islamic
University in Saudi Arabia and the Prince Salman Center for
Disability Research. In recognition of AlKholi’s achievements, the
government of Grenada appointed him as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary, and the Republic of France gave him the accolade of Chevalier
de la Legion d’Honneur as well as the rank of Officier de la Legion
d’Honneur.
“Hamza
AlKholi is a successful businessman and dedicated philanthropist who is active
on many fronts,” said Eltoukhy. “His expertise, coupled with his international
outreach, will surely serve the board well as it works to advance AUC’s mission
of excellence and global reach.”
AlKholi
has served as permanent delegate of Grenada to the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization. He is also a founding member of various
organizations, including the Arab Business Council, U.S./ Middle East Project
and the Arab Thought Foundation. He was also a member of the founding team of
the World Economic Forum. Among the international organizations of which he is
a member are the Clinton Global Initiative, International Crisis Group, Foreign
Policy Association and the End Human Trafficking Now advisory board.
For
more information about the university news and events follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aucegypt
And
Twitter @AUC
