Alain Bejjani Explained

Alain Bejjani
Birth Date:1973
Birth Place:Beirut, Lebanon
Occupation:Business executive, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Group

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

Early life and education

Bejjani was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1973.

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.

Career

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.[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;[7] in this position he oversaw acquisitions and development and gained an extensive knowledge of the company.

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]

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

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;[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, hiring Silicon Valley data specialists to expand MAF's digital and e-commerce operations;[20] acquiring e-commerce companies; partnering with Will.i.am's tech firm to deploy A.I.-powered conversational and contextual voice assistant technology at retail outlets;[21] and bringing Dreamscape Immersive virtual reality to cinemas in the Middle East.[22]

He also led the company's drive to environmental sustainability.[23] 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.[24] [25] [26] 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. 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.[27] In May 2019 Bejjani led the company's listing of a 10-year corporate benchmark 'green' sukuk worth $600 million on NASDAQ Dubai;[28] it was the world's first financial instrument of its kind to concentrate on sustainability-focused investments,[29] [30] 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.[31]

Bejjani also led Majid Al Futtaim Group's expansion[32] particularly in major expansions in Egypt, and in Saudi Arabia, where the company rolled out shopping centers and numerous cinemas including the first Saudi multiplex.[33] [34] [35]

In January 2023, Bejjani was replaced with the CEO of the firm’s property arm, Ahmed Galal Ismail.[36]

Other positions

Bejjani is on the International Advisory Board of the Atlantic Council.[37] In 2019 he was one of the eight co-chairs of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.[38] [39] [40]

In addition to being on the board of directors of Majid Al Futtaim Group,[41] he is on the boards of directors of several MAF joint ventures,[42] [43] and he is on the investment committee of IM Capital.[44] He is one of the judges of the Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award, which rewards technology innovation in Lebanon.[45] [46]

Recognition

In 2017[47] and 2018[48] 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 Easts list of the 50 most influential expats in the United Arab Emirates.[49] [50] [51] The Middle East-based Construction Week magazine listed him in its Power 100 in 2018[52] and 2019,[53] in the top 100 GCC real estate developers in 2018 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.

Personal life

Bejjani is based in Dubai. He is married and has two daughters. He speaks English, Arabic, and French.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Authors. World Economic Forum. en. 2020-05-05.
  2. Book: Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory, Volume 1 . . 2000 . 9781561603770 . 13 February 2020.
  3. Web site: UAE's Majid Al Futtaim Confirms CEO Iyad Malas' Resignation . February 3, 2015 . Gulf Business . 13 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Top 50 International CEOs Heading Local Companies . October 16, 2019 . . 13 February 2020.
  5. Web site: Base Prospectus . June 12, 2017 . . 14 February 2020 .
  6. Web site: Interview: Majid Al Futtaim chief Alain Bejjani. . 13 February 2020.
  7. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim Is On An Expansion Spree In Egypt And Here's Why . February 15, 2018 . . 13 February 2020.
  8. Web site: Alain Bejjani replaces Iyad Malas as CEO of Majid Al Futtaim . Dhow net . February 3, 2015 . 13 February 2020.
  9. Web site: MAF CEO steps down . . February 3, 2015 . 13 February 2020.
  10. Book: Beyond Performance 2.0: A Proven Approach to Leading Large-Scale Change . July 3, 2019 . Keller . Scott . Schaninger . Bill . John Wiley & Sons . 9781119596660 . 14 February 2020.
  11. Web site: Alain Bejjani: Chief Executive Officer . Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award . 14 February 2020.
  12. Web site: MAF's H1 2019 financial results show resilient performance . . Aug 29, 2019 . 13 February 2020.
  13. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim revenue up 7% on development, sustainable growth . . August 6, 2015.
  14. Web site: Alain Bejjani. Construction Week Online . October 13, 2018. 13 February 2020.
  15. Web site: MAF head optimistic about 2019 as technology drives its growth . 26 January 2019. . 13 February 2020.
  16. Web site: Construction Week's Top 50 GCC Developers 2018: Dubai / Alain Bejjani . Construction Week Online . September 18, 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  17. Web site: 2018 Construction Week Power 100: 56 Alain Bejjani . Construction Week Online . 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  18. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim CEO plots path to 21st century retail . . February 5, 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  19. Web site: Continued financial growth for UAE's Majid Al Futtaim in H1 2017 as it prepares for future of retail . July 31, 2017 . . 13 February 2020.
  20. Web site: Help wanted: UAE retailer trawls Silicon Valley for data specialists . October 19, 2017 . . 13 February 2020.
  21. Web site: A.I. advances and world trade take centre stage at 7th World Government Summit . February 25, 2019 . . 13 February 2020.
  22. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim brings new VR experience to Dubai . December 18, 2019 . . 13 February 2020.
  23. Web site: 2018 Construction Week Power 100: 51-60 . Construction Week Online . 13 February 2020.
  24. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim becomes first Middle Eastern company to adopt Net Positive strategy . April 19, 2017 . . 13 February 2020.
  25. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim signs sustainability MoU with UAE ministry . Construction Week Online . 14 February 2020.
  26. Web site: INTERVIEW: UAE's Majid Al Futtaim steps up green finance agenda as sukuk draws 'wide interest'- CEO . May 16, 2009 . . 13 February 2020.
  27. Web site: UAE's Majid Al Futtaim lists world's first green sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai . May 15, 2019 . Construction Week Online . 14 February 2020.
  28. Web site: MAF's UAE CEO addresses green finance agenda . June 10, 2019 . SME10X . 13 February 2020.
  29. Web site: Alain Bejjani: CEO, Majid Al Futtaim . July 1, 2019 . Construction Week Online . 13 February 2020.
  30. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim lists world's first benchmark corporate Green Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai . May 15, 2019 . . 13 February 2020 . 14 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200214015401/https://www.nasdaqdubai.com/press/majid-al-futtaim-lists-world-s-first-benchmark-corporate-green-sukuk-on-nasdaq-dubai . dead .
  31. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim considering 'long target list' of e-commerce M&As . May 19, 2019 . Logistics Middle East . 13 February 2020.
  32. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim H1 Revenues Hit $4.27bn . July 31, 2017 . Al Bawaba.
  33. Web site: Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim plans $4bln worth of shopping centres in Saudi- CEO . . May 19, 2019 . 13 February 2020.
  34. Web site: Majid Al Futtaim boss: 'We'll be everywhere' in Saudi cinema expansion . January 24, 2019 . . 13 February 2020.
  35. Web site: Leisure group 'walks the walk' with biggest cinema in Saudi Arabia: Chief executive . November 1, 2019 . . 13 February 2020.
  36. News: 2023-01-14 . Dubai Conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim Abruptly Removes CEO Bejjani . en . Bloomberg.com . 2023-01-14.
  37. Web site: International Advisory Board . . 2019-09-04 . 13 January 2020.
  38. Web site: Revealed: who is taking part in the World Economic Forum MENA? . . April 3, 2019 . 13 February 2020.
  39. Web site: World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa . April 6, 2019 . . 13 February 2020.
  40. Web site: World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa Urges Leaders to Develop Full Potential of the Region through Collaboration . . April 7, 2019 . 13 February 2020.
  41. Web site: Board of Directors . Majid Al Futtaim . 13 February 2020.
  42. Web site: Alain Bejjani . Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Summit . 13 February 2020 . 13 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200213181154/http://scccs.ae/en/speaker/alain-bajani/ . dead .
  43. Web site: Alain Bejjani: Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim . . 14 February 2020.
  44. Web site: Team . IM Capital . 14 February 2020.
  45. Web site: Launch of the Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award in Lebanon! . Arabnet . Oct 15, 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  46. Web site: Meet the Judges . Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award . 14 February 2020.
  47. Web site: BoF 500: The People Shaping The Global Fashion Industry . Business of Fashion. 2017 . 13 February 2020.
  48. Web site: BoF 500: The People Shaping The Global Fashion Industry . . 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  49. Web site: 50 Most Influential Expats In The UAE 2018 . . 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  50. Web site: Forbes Middle East just ranked Lebanese executives among the 50 most influential expats in the UAE! . The961 . August 14, 2018 . 13 February 2020.
  51. Web site: Revealed: 50 most influential expats in UAE . August 14, 2018 . . 13 February 2020.
  52. Web site: 2018 Construction Week power 100 . 2018 . Construction Week Online . 14 February 2020.
  53. Web site: 2019 CW Power 100: Majid Al Futtaim's Alain Bejjani ranked #68 . July 1, 2019 . Construction Week Online . 13 February 2020.
  54. Web site: Top 100 GCC Real Estate Developers: Majid Al Futtaim . September 24, 2019 . Construction Week Online . 13 February 2020.
  55. Web site: The 20 most influential Arab leaders in Middle East construction. March 29, 2019 . Construction Week Online . 13 February 2020.
  56. Web site: Stars of 2019. Arabian Business. 13 February 2020.
  57. Web site: GCC 100 Inspiring Leaders 2019 . . 14 February 2020.
  58. Web site: DXB 100 2019 . . 14 February 2020.

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