Omar K. Alghanim, Family Business Council–Gulf

Omar Alghanim is the Chair and Founding Board Member of the Family Business Council–Gulf.

Omar has lived, studied, and worked around the world, in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. He brings a global outlook to business, while remaining true to the ethos and history of GCC and MENA.

Omar has held a number of senior positions, including CEO of Alghanim Industries and Chairman of Gulf Bank. Beginning with his first job as an M&A analyst with Morgan Stanley, Omar has developed a leadership style founded on meritocracy, ensuring careers progress based on performance and successful ideas, rather than on social connections.

A member of the Leadership Council at the Harvard University Center for Public Leadership, Omar’s efforts have been recognized by Harvard Business School, which uses Alghanim as a case study for MBA students. His distinctive management style was also successful at Gulf Ban, where he oversaw double-digit growth for seven years in a row, making the bank one of the fastest growing in the region.

He co-founded INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA and served on its board for many years. Omar also gives back to his alma mater, Harvard, by serving on the Leadership Council of its Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership, as well as the Business School Board of Dean’s Advisors and MENA Advisory Board.

Omar previously served as the World Economic Forum’s Chair of the MENA Regional Business Council.