Nabil Itani
Chairman - General Manager

Born in 1953, Mr. Nabil A. Itani is Chairman and General Manager of Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Lebanon’s national investment promotion agency. His career spans over three decades of professional achievement, significant contribution to the architectural profession, and diligent service to his native Lebanon. An accomplished architect and architectural consultant, his professional experience is wide-ranging and far-reaching, encompassing design and supervision of landmark projects in Lebanon and the Arab World, as well as prestigious affiliations, academic posts, publications, and conference presentations. His valuable contributions in official committees and in the drafting of major proposals have had positive ramifications on investment, architectural, and administrative practice in Lebanon. 

Haoulou H. Tleiss
Vice - President

Mr. Haoulou Tleiss was born in Jdeide on December 6, 1968. He holds an Associate degree in Computer Science, in addition to a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the Detroit College of Business, Davenport University. He is also registered currently in the same college, in order to acquire a Masters Degree in Business Management. Prior to his graduation, he was the founder and chairman of the board of HMI Investments, a real-estate development company. He also gained managerial experience at Mobil Oil Corporation, and then went on his own to become a leading businessman in the field of rest areas in the State of Michigan.  After he graduated in year 2000, he became the administrative manager of Focus, a private company that encourages and promotes small and medium enterprises. Mr. Tleiss has been since 1995 an active member in various leagues, clubs, and boards in the State of Michigan, in addition to the Arab American Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his appointment as Vice-President of IDAL, Mr. Tleiss resumed his responsibilities in the USA, but based himself in Lebanon since year 2002.

Georges A. Kassab
Vice - President

Mr. Georges Kassab was born in Koleiat on July 27, 1952. He holds a Bachelor degree in Lebanese and French Law, and a Masters degree in political science from Saint Joseph University. After his graduation in 1979, he immediately proceeded as being the founding partner and general manager of the Beirut Shipping and Trading Company. Later on, he became executive and commercial manager of the Industrial Corporation for Aluminum. Afterwards, he became partner and general director, in charge of administration, finance, and public relations, of consulting companies that deal with legal, economic, tourism, and investment fields in Lebanon, Romania, and Egypt. Prior to being appointed Vice-President at IDAL, Mr. Kassab was board member in the representative offices of Samsung – Africa (Benin & Togo), and has been in charge of managing the company for one year. Mr. Kassab is a member in the order of lawyers in Beirut and was elected as deputy in the Lebanese Parliament representing the Kesrwan area in 1991.

Ramzi A. El Hafez
Board Member

Mr. Ramzi El Hafez was born in Tripoli on August 4, 1959. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Mr. Ramzi El Hafez is the founder of InfoPro, a publishing and business research company with a portfolio of more than 25 products including "Lebanon Opportunities", the "Business Handbook", and others. He is the founder of the Center of Economic Information, an NGO dedicated to economic research on Lebanon. Previously, he has founded several computer and software companies in Europe and the United States. Mr. El Hafez is a board member and secretary of the National Council of Tourism and serves on the board of directors of the Entrepreneurial Development Foundation, Al-Majmou’a micro-credit organization, the Institute for Media Arts. He is also a member of the Rassemblement des Chefs d'Entreprise Libanais (RDCL) and the International Association of Advertising. 

Mourched F. Hage Chahine
Board Member

Mr. Mourched F. Hage Chahine was born on September 28, 1966 in Zahle. He graduated from Saint Joseph University in Agronomist Engineering. Mr. Hage Chahine deals with numerous activities in the fields of agriculture, imports and exports of goods to Europe and the Middle East, in addition to being a sole dealer of several brands. He also is the owner and manager of a petroleum company. Prior to working on his own, Mr. Hage Chahine had many training experiences in major companies like Tanail, Inra Liban, Bayer, and Dulcee. 

Wassim G. Audi
Board Member

Mr. Wassim Audi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (1980) from ‘Louisiana University’ at Lafayette. Mr. Audi has over 22 years of professional experience in construction management for major civil engineering works, of which 15 years of service in renowned companies (NCI; Saudi Oger; ARAMCO; …) in Saudi Arabia. His workings comprised structural analysis and implementation of both industrial and multistory buildings that included a geosynthetic-reinforced embankment on soft soils; shallow and deep foundations; concrete and sheet-pile retaining structures; excavation bracing; highway construction and maintenance, and site response analyses. Mr. Audi was appointed as the project manager for the Solid Waste Environmental Management Projects (SWEMP) of the World Bank in Lebanon in 2001. He participated in the construction quality control of landfills, assessed the environmental hazards and its contamination risks that effect water quality; identified the chemical composition for a given water source; examined pollution control, disposal of prescribed substances, recycling, incineration, and landfill of wastes.

Farid N. El Kheshen
Board Member

Mr. Farid El Kheshen was born on February 20, 1960. He graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1986, where he acquired a Bachelor and a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. El Kheshen began his professional life as an environmental engineer in the New York Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Collection; four years later, he became Section Chief of the Contract Support Unit. Mr. El Kheshen came back to Lebanon in 1995. in the year 1996, he held the position of project manager with Zakhem Engineers, supervising the rehabilitation and upgrading of all infrastructures utilities in Beirut Southern Suburbs (Doha – Aramoun).

Nacib M. Hoteit
Government Commissioner

Dr. Nacib Hoteit was born in Nabatiyyeh on April 3, 1960. He has been a member in the order of engineers since 1987. He began his education in the Beirut Arab University and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Architecture. He then proceeded and acquired a Higher Education Diploma in Landscape Engineering from the Lebanese University. In 2000, he earned his Doctorate in Architecture from the University of Moscow (MYZ). Dr. Hoteit’s experience includes the implementation of thirty elementary schools in the Bekaa region, in addition to the execution of several real-estate projects and gardens. Dr. Hoteit was President of the former Council for Project Execution. He also was a professor in the Lebanese University from 1991 till 2004. Prior to his appointment as Government Commissioner at IDAL, he used to be the director of Al Nassib Center for studies in engineering and consultancy.