Who We Are

Mission

The LGBC serves as a forum to allow its members to work and lobby for a better business environment and strong economic relations between Lebanon and Germany, identifying initiatives and opportunities that will benefit the general public in both countries.

Vision

Our vision is to become the most widely recognized organization between Lebanon and Germany for the promotion and lobbying of bilateral trade and investment in both countries through offering our existing and potential members best possible quality services.

Elias Philippe Assouad

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. 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.

Antoine Issa

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:

• 2023 – present    Lebanon    Chief Executive Officer – ADIR
• 2013 – 2022    MENA    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – Allianz MENA
• 2013 – 2022    Lebanon    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – Allianz s.a.l.
• 2007 – 2013    KSA    Chief Executive Officer – Allianz Saudi Fransi
• 2003 – 2006    Egypt    Managing Director – Allianz Egypt
• 1990 – 2003    Lebanon    Head of Development & Reinsurance – SNA s.a.l.

Nabil Charles Kettaneh

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, 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.

Eng. Mohamad Kotob

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.

Hagop Dantziguian

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.

Marianne Haddad Adaimi

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.

Patrick Abi Aad

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.

Originally trained as an architect, he applies analytical precision and a design-driven mindset to business growth. For more than 30 years, Patrick has been actively engaged in strengthening Lebanese–German trade relations, with a firm commitment to quality, compliance, and structured processes aligned with German standards.

Alik Der Bedrossian

Board Member — LGBC

Alik Der Bedrossian Melkonian is Regional Marketing Director at DBD Holding, overseeing the Professional Beauty business across the GCC and Lebanon. With over 17 years of experience, she has led internationally renowned beauty brands including Schwarzkopf Professional, Authentic Beauty Concept, STMNT, Alterna, and Matis across multiple Middle East markets.

She holds a Master’s degree in Management from ESA Business School and Université de Poitiers, France, and has held senior leadership positions within the scouting movement, including Chief Scout of Homenetmen Lebanon.

Cesar Aoun

Board Member — LGBC

Cesar Aoun is a senior automotive executive and board member of various companies within Gargour Group, with extensive experience across vehicle distribution, retail, mobility solutions, and strategic brand development in Lebanon and the region.

He serves as CEO Automotive, overseeing partnerships with leading global brands including Mercedes-Benz, smart, Stellantis, Xpeng, Foton, and SANY. Known for driving growth and operational excellence, he has played a key role in expanding Gargour Group’s market presence while advancing sustainable mobility.

George Khayat

Board Member — LGBC

George Khayat is a Chemical Engineer graduate of ESCOM Paris (1980) with over 46 years of leadership in the medical and healthcare sector. As General Manager of Khayat Med since 1980, he has 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 equipped hospitals with advanced medical technologies across ICU, operating rooms, cardiology, radiology, and specialized departments.

Jad Ayoub

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.

Rabih Al Ayoubi

Board Member — LGBC

Full biography coming soon.

Anthony Macary

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. He brings a global perspective and hands-on problem-solving mindset.