Nassef Sawiris

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Nassef Sawiris
Born (1961-01-19) January 19, 1961 (age 60)
Cairo, Egypt[1]
EducationDeutsche Evangelische Oberschule
Alma materUniversity of Chicago
OccupationBusinessman
TitleCEO, Orascom Construction Industries
Executive chairman, Aston Villa F.C.
Spouse(s)Sherine Sawiris
Children4
Parent(s)Onsi Sawiris
RelativesNaguib Sawiris and Samih Sawiris (brothers)

Nassef Onsi Sawiris (Arabic: ناصف أنسي ساويرس; born January 19, 1961) is an Egyptian billionaire businessman, and the youngest of Onsi Sawiris' three sons (his brothers are Naguib and Samih). As of October 2021, his net worth was estimated at US$8.7 billion,[2] making him the richest Arab[3] and second richest African.[4]

Early life[]

Nassef Sawiris received his secondary education from the Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule Kairo. He then continued at University of Chicago where he received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1982.[2] Sawiris is a member of Egypt's Coptic Christian religious minority.[5]

Career[]

Sawiris joined the Orascom group in 1982 and oversaw the construction activities of Orascom Construction following the transfer of management control from his father Onsi Sawiris in 1995. He became CEO of Orascom Construction Industries following the company's incorporation in 1998.[6] He served on the board of Besix, following OCI SAE acquiring a 50% stake in the company in 2004, and a member of the enumeration and nominations committee until 2017.[7]

He was on the board of directors of the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchanges from 2004 to 2007, and was also a board director at the Dubai International Financial Exchange DIFX from July 2008[8] to June 2010. [9]

In January 2013, he became CEO OCI NV[10] when they acquired the former parent company OCI SAE.[11] In 2015, he was elected a board member of LafargeHolcim,[12] having served on Lafarge SA's board since 2008.

In October 2015, it was reported that Sawiris had acquired a stake in Adidas AG[13] via his investment company NNS Holding Sàrl Luxembourg.[14] In 2016 he was appointed supervisory director of Adidas AG, Herzogenaurach, Germany.[15][16]

It was announced in July 2018 that Sawiris would replace Tony Xia as chairman of Aston Villa F.C. following the purchase of a 55% controlling stake by NSWE, a company jointly owned and controlled by Sawiris' group NNS and American billionaire Wes Edens.[17] In August 2019, after Aston Villa were promoted to the Premier League, Tony Xia's remaining shares were bought out by NSWE, assuming full control over the club in the process.[18]

In October 2020, Sawiris founded Avanti Acquisition Corp, a Special-purpose acquisition company.[19]

Other activities[]

Personal life[]

Sawiris is married to Sherine, they have four children, live in London, and maintain a residence in New York City.[2][24] He is a Christian.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Forbes profile: Nassef Sawiris". Forbes. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Meet 2021's Arab Billionaires". Forbes. 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. ^ Team, Forbes Wealth. "The Forbes Billionaires' List: Africa's Richest People 2021". Forbes. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Naguib Sawiris: 'If God wanted women to be veiled, he would have created them with a veil'". Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Our History". orascom.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Group Activity Report 2107" (PDF). besix.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  8. ^ "DIFX appoints Nassef Sawiris as Director". Nasdaqdubai.com. 13 July 2008.
  9. ^ "Corporate Governance". Nasdaqdubai.com. 13 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Board of Directors". oci.nl. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Our History". oci.nl. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Board of Directors". LafargeHolcim. 13 July 2008.
  13. ^ "The wealth of Egyptian billionaire "Nassef Sawiris" has increased more than 70% in less than a year". NewsArea Middle East. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Egyptian Billionaire Sawiris Discloses 6% Stake in Adidas". Wall Street Journal. 30 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Supervisory Board". Adidas AG. 31 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Supervisory Board CV" (PDF). Adidas AG. 31 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Club Statement". AVFC.co.uk. 20 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Aston Villa owners buy out Tony Xia in debt financing play - SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Billionaire Nassef Sawiris and GBL-Backed SPAC Seek European Deals". Bloomberg.com. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Board of Trustees". University of Chicago. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  21. ^ "University of Chicago Receives $20 Million for Egyptian Students". Philanthropy News Digest. 29 March 2015.
  22. ^ Global Board of Advisors Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
  23. ^ "International Leadership Board". Cleveland Clinic Giving. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Meet Sherine Magar Sawiris, The Wife Of Egyptian Billionnaire Nassef Sawiris". urbanwomanmag.com. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
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