Omar Alghanim
{{Short description|Kuwaiti businessman}}
Omar Kutayba Alghanim (born 1973) is a Kuwaiti businessperson."[https://gulfbusiness.com/revealed-top-5-powerful-arabs-kuwait/ Revealed: Top 5 most powerful Arabs in Kuwait]," February 22, 2020, gulfbusiness.com; Gulf Business"[https://spearswms.com/liquid-lunch-omar-alghanim/ Liquid Lunch: Omar Alghanim talks his family firm, and how it’s inspired his next venture]," Edwin Smith, November 21, 2021; Spear's Wealth Management Survey He has been chairman of Gulf Bank and CEO of Alghanim Industries.
Early life, education, career
Born in 1973 in Kuwait, Alghanim spent much of his youth in the United States. After he earned his undergraduate degree, he joined Morgan Stanley in London. After graduating Harvard Business School, at age 29 he moved from an investment banking training program at Morgan Stanley for the Alghanim family business in Kuwait."[https://www.arabianbusiness.com/exclusive-inside-mind-of-omar-alghanim-582001.html Exclusive: Inside the mind of Omar Alghanim]," Ed Attwood, February 16, 2015; Arabian Business According to Spear's, he joined Alghanim Industries in 2003, a diversified conglomerate with branches including automotive, banking, consumer electronics, and oil in gas. He became CEO in 2005, and left in 2019.
In March 2013, Omar Kutayba Alghanim was appointed chairman of Kuwait’s Gulf Bank KSC. The appointment came after Mahmoud Al Nouri stepped down for health reasons."[https://www.reuters.com/article/kuwait-bank/gulf-bank-appoints-omar-alghanim-as-chairman-statement-idUKL6N0C81H020130316 Gulf Bank appoints Omar Alghanim as chairman-statement]," March 16, 2013; Reuters
He won the Arabian Business Businessman of the Year award in 2013,"[https://www.arabianbusiness.com/gulf-bank-boss-takes-top-honours-at-kuwait-awards-519403.html Gulf Bank boss takes top honours at Kuwait awards]," September 22, 2013; Arabian Business and Arabian Business then named him among the 100 Most Powerful Arabs of 2014."[https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lists/world-s-100-most-powerful-arabs-2014-543949-htmlitemid544040 Omar Alghanim]," 2014; Arabian Business
In 2015, as CEO of Alghanim Industries and chairman of Gulf Bank, he won the Visionary of the Year Award at the CEO Middle East Awards held in Dubai."[https://www.arabianbusiness.com/gcc/and-winner-is-2015-s-richest-most-powerful-those-destined-be-stars-of-future-616216 And the winner is… 2015’s richest, most powerful and those destined to be the stars of the future]," Dec 25, 2015; Arabian Business
In 2016, he received the Knowledge and Education Development CEO Excellence Award from the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute."[http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/omar-alghanim-wins-prestigious-ceo-award-receives-knowledge-education-development-ceo-award/ Omar Alghanim Wins Prestigious CEO Award - Receives Knowledge and Education Development CEO Award]," June 19, 2016; Arab Times Online
In June 2018, he succeeded Abdulaziz Abdulla Al Ghurair as head of the Family Business Council - Gulf."[https://www.arabianbusiness.com/culture-society/398716-family-business-council-gulf-names-new-chairman Family Business Council – Gulf names new chairman]," June 13, 2018; Arabian Business
In 2018, he was responsible for and signed an initiative agreement along with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, to raise $10 million and immediately donate $1.5 million to educate and train Syrian refugees."[http://www.asiabiznews.net/asia-tender-business-news/Kuwait/143993-Alghanim-Signs-MoU-With-UNHCR-To-Train-Syrian-Refugees-In-MENA.html Alghanim Signs MoU With UNHCR To Train Syrian Refugees In MENA ]," Jan 31, 2018; Asia Biz News
As of 2019, he continued to control Alghanim Trading, which also had a stake in the Gulf Bank."[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-03/gulf-bank-shareholder-aims-to-build-880-million-stake-in-lender Gulf Bank Shareholder Aims to Build $880 Million Stake in Lender]," Abbas Al Lawati, Feb 2, 2019; Bloomberg
He ranked second of the seven Kuwaitis in the Gulf Business annual Arab Power list for 2020, ranking 32 overall, having ranked 34 the year prior. As of 2020, he remained chairman of the Gulf Bank. He was also a member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) MENA sustainability board.
As of 2021, he was working on a project for the Family Business Network (FBN), sitting on its board and chairing its Gulf chapter. He was also on the board of the NGO INJAZ Al-Arab, after co-founding the organization in 2002. Around 2021, he formed the impact investment fund Yakoa in London.
References
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Category:21st-century Kuwaiti businesspeople
Category:New York University Stern School of Business alumni