Lebanese German Business Council
Lebanese German Business Council
Meet the Board of Directors leading the Lebanese German Business Council.
Our board is composed of dedicated professionals committed to strengthening Lebanon–Germany business and cultural ties.
President
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Vice President
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General Secretary
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Treasurer
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Board Member
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President — LGBC
Eng. Elias Assouad has led TECMO since 1973, transforming it into a regional leader in turnkey factory projects and industrial innovation. Under his leadership, TECMO pioneered advances in industrial refrigeration, packaging solutions, automation, and energy recovery, while introducing vacuum packaging for dairy, dates, coffee, and peanuts. He has delivered landmark projects including factories for Al Wadi Al Akhdar, Nabil Food, and 17 complete date‑processing lines in Iraq.
Beyond industry, Elias launched Dunkin’ Donuts and BW Café in Lebanon, and founded Mecanix Sal, Mecanix Shops, and Mecanix Maintenance as extensions of TECMO’s capabilities.
He currently serves as President of the Lebanese German Business Council and the Lebanese German Council for Archaeology and Culture, representing Der Mittelstand, BVMW in Lebanon. Elias is also an executive member of the AUB Alumni Association. His distinguished honors include the VerdrienstKreuz First Class Decoration awarded by the President of the German Federal Republic and honorary membership in the Order of Engineers in Lebanon.
Vice President — LGBC
Current Position: Chief Executive Officer of ADIR – Adonis Insurance and Reinsurance s.a.l., Lebanon
Since January 2023, Antoine Issa is the CEO of ADIR, whereby he managed to transform the Company and change the Strategy from a predominantly Life Bancassurer to a multi-distribution and multi-line of business fast growing market player.
Prior to ADIR, he worked for 32 years with the Allianz Group in the Middle East and North Africa as Regional CEO for MENA, looking after Allianz Operating Entities in the area mainly Lebanon, Egypt, KSA, Jordan and Bahrain and seeking development of new markets. He possesses a deep knowledge of Life and Non Life insurance markets in the region where he held several positions in several countries:
General Secretary — LGBC
Born in Beirut in 1946, Nabil Charles Kettaneh is Chairman of Kettaneh Group S.A., one of Lebanon’s leading business conglomerates. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University of Beirut (1972) and an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau (1974).
His career began at Siemens Munich Distribution Center before joining the family business Est. F.A. Kettaneh S.A. in 1974 as General Secretary, eventually rising to Chairman. He has served as Chairman of Kettaneh Group S.A. since the 1980s, overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes the Volkswagen distribution franchise in Lebanon.
Nabil is a dedicated advocate for Lebanon–Germany business relations and serves as General Secretary of the Lebanese German Business Council.
Treasurer — LGBC
Eng. Mohammad Kotob is a civil engineer and the owner of MJK Development & Construction. He serves as a Board Member of the Lebanese Dutch Business Association (LDBA) and as Board Member and Treasurer of the Lebanese German Business Council.
He is a member of the Lebanese Contractors Syndicate for Public Works & Buildings and the Order of Engineers & Architects – Beirut. Through these roles, he represents leading European companies and brings international expertise to local projects. His work reflects a strong commitment to quality, professionalism, and engineering excellence.
Board Member — LGBC
Hagop Dantziguian is Chief Operating Officer of Dantziguian Hrayr Automation Systems (DHAS), the integrated security and building-automation firm founded by his father, Eng. Hrayr K. Dantziguian, in the early 1970s. A second-generation leader in low-current and security systems, he directs operations, strategy, and business development across the MENA and African markets, with expertise spanning surveillance and CCTV, access control, fire alarm and safety systems, building automation, and military-grade screening and vehicle-scanning solutions. Alongside his professional work, he serves as Treasurer on the Board of AGBU Lebanon and as Treasurer of the Syndicate of Security and Safety Professionals in Lebanon. As Past President of Rotary Club Beirut Cedars, he coordinated cross-border grants with German Rotary partners to deliver over half a million dollars in medical equipment to hospitals affected by the August 4 Beirut blast. He holds an MBA and a Master's in Marketing from ESA Business School and a Bachelor's in Computer Science from the American University of Beirut, and speaks five languages.
BOARD MEMBER — LGBC
Marianne Haddad Adaimi is an academic leader committed to advancing higher education in Lebanon. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Business Administration and Finance from St. Joseph University, an Executive MBA in Health Management from Paris-Dauphine, and a PhD in Modeling of Management Systems from the University of Bordeaux.
She co-founded in 2017 the Lebanese German University (LGU), the first German-oriented university in Lebanon, where she currently serves as Vice President, overseeing academic departments, administration, and strategic planning.
Marianne is an active member of the Lebanese German Association for the Promotion of Culture and has served on the LGBC board since 2018.
Board Member — LGBC
Patrick Abi Aad is the Chief Executive Officer of ABIACO, ABIACOTWO and ABIAADCO, a group of companies with operations spanning the MENA region and Singapore, specializing in the import and distribution of premium, A-class food products and delicatessen sourced from leading European and Global suppliers.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Patrick brings deep expertise in cross-cultural commerce, complex negotiations, and international business strategy. His leadership is defined by a long-term strategic vision, the ability to position premium brands successfully in competitive markets, and a consistent focus on operational excellence and world-class delivery.
Originally trained as an architect, he applies analytical precision, disciplined execution, and a design-driven mindset to business growth. For more than 30 years, Patrick has been actively engaged in strengthening Lebanese–German trade relations, fostering sustainable partnerships between European producers and international markets, with a firm commitment to quality, compliance, and structured processes aligned with German standards.
Board Member — LGBC
Alik Der Bedrossian Melkonian is a Regional Marketing Director at DBD Holding, overseeing the Professional Beauty business across the GCC and Lebanon. A shareholder in both DBD Holding and SLID SAL, she brings over 17 years of experience in marketing, business development, brand management, and strategic business leadership.
Throughout her career, Alik has led the growth and development of internationally renowned beauty brands, including Schwarzkopf Professional, Authentic Beauty Concept, STMNT, Alterna, and Matis, across multiple markets in the Middle East. She holds a Master’s degree in Management from ESA Business School and Université de Poitiers, France.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Alik serves on the Board of the Lebanese German Business Council and has held several senior leadership positions within the scouting movement, including serving as Chief Scout of Homenetmen Lebanon. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, and regional business development, committed to fostering strong commercial relationships between Lebanon and Germany.
Board Member — LGBC
Cesar Aoun is a senior automotive executive and board member of various companies within Gargour Group, with extensive leadership experience across vehicle distribution, retail, mobility solutions, and strategic brand development in Lebanon and the region.
He currently serves as CEO Automotive, overseeing the Group’s automotive operations and partnerships with leading global brands including Mercedes-Benz, smart, Stellantis, Xpeng, Foton, SANY and other international manufacturers.
Known for driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence, he has played a key role in expanding Gargour Group’s market presence while advancing customer experience, sustainable mobility, and long-term business transformation.
Board Member — LGBC
George Khayat is a Chemical Engineer graduate of ESCOM Paris (1980) with over 46 years of leadership experience in the medical and healthcare sector. As General Manager of Khayat Med since 1980, he has successfully directed large-scale turnkey hospital projects across Lebanon.
His expertise covers project management, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, and after-sales service. With extensive experience in PSA oxygen generator systems since 1982, he has played a key role in equipping hospitals with advanced medical technologies across ICU, operating rooms, cardiology, pulmonary function labs, radiology, homecare, medical furniture, and specialized departments.
Board Member — LGBC
Dr. Jad Ayoub is a healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in management, strategy, and international collaboration. Since 2010, he has served as Managing Director of Bioscientia International, part of Sonic Healthcare, where he has led the expansion of diagnostic services across international markets, advancing global healthcare capabilities. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the American University of Beirut, an Executive MBA from ESCP Europe, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Bocconi University. He has also completed advanced innovation programs at Harvard Medical School, McCombs School of Business (Texas), and École Polytechnique (France). As Chairman of the German Health Alliance (GHA) Working Group MENA, Dr. Ayoub drives strategic healthcare initiatives between Germany and the MENA region, fostering collaboration and knowledge transfer. His recent research focuses on digital transformation in Pharma and Medtech, assessing its impact on patient outcomes in Germany, the GCC, and the Levant. This work, based on surveys of senior international industry executives, led to the creation of the Digital Transformation Assessment Tool (DTAT) — a strategic framework guiding healthcare organizations in their digital journeys.
BOARD MEMBER — LGBC
Full biography coming soon.
Board Member — LGBC
Anthony Macary is a logistics leader with over 20 years of experience navigating complex and high-risk environments across the Middle East and Africa. As Managing Partner at Trans Global SAL, he has driven the company’s regional expansion, delivering large-scale project and multimodal logistics solutions in challenging markets.
Earlier in his career, he spent close to a decade with a German logistics firm, shaping his structured, efficiency-driven approach. Having worked extensively on the ground across multiple regions, he brings a global perspective and hands-on problem-solving mindset.