Omar Kutayba Al Ghanim – GBN Inspiring Leader of the Month

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Official Information

Name: Omar Kutayba Al Ghanim

Designation: Cheif Executive Officer

Organization: Alghanim Industries

Industry / Sector: Conglomerate

Ownership Type: Public sector

Established in: 1932

Contacts:
Tel: +965 XXXX XXXXX
Email: [email protected]
www.alghanim.com

Personal Information

Date of Birth: 1975

Education:

1997 – Bachelor of Science, Business/Commerce, Stern School of Business New York University, New York, USA
2002 – Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Spoken Languages: Arabic & English

Interests & Hobbies: Volunteering, Startups & Writing

Profile

Known for his unusually strong drive to succeed, Omar Al Ghanim succeeded in a relatively short period of time in reaching the top office of his family’s 84-year old business. As the CEO of Alghanim Industries, his prominent role in the global conglomerate has led to high-profile board memberships including chairmanships of both the Gulf Bank and INJAZ Kuwait, which he founded. Serving as a director of INJAZ Al Arab, a regional organization
that focuses on education, training, and getting young people employed across the MENA region, takes up another part of his time.

It was perhaps inevitable that Omar Al Ghanim would end up where he is today, being born into a family with a long history in the region, trading as commercial merchants since the 1800s. His grandfather took over one of his father’s businesses and built a successful company that by the end of 1930s had a strong reputation throughout the Middle East.

Over the years, the company grew and diversified into different sectors. One of the major developments in its history was associating with General Motors and introducing American cars to Kuwait, becoming one of the largest GM agencies in the world.

By the 1980s, the company had several businesses and brands under its umbrella and became associated with more including Hitachi, British Airways, Philips, Kirby Building Systems, and Frigidaire. Later, after the Gulf War, it formed alliances with companies like Xerox, Whirlpool, Haier, Lofra, and American Express. Overall, Alghanim Industries currently operates in 40 countries, running more than 30 businesses, and representing
more than 300 global brands. Its vision is to become the most successful and admired company in the Gulf region, by delivering extraordinary value to its customers and stakeholders.

In 2006, Omar Al Ghanim became the CEO of Alghanim Industries, continuing its expansion and growth. During his tenure, the company has been recognized as one of the Best Employers in the Middle East, one of Asia’s Best Employer Brands, and as having the Best Corporate Governance in Kuwait. The company currently has around 14,000 employees and Omar Al Ghanim believes the main competitive advantage of the company is its team. He makes sure the company has the best people in the right positions, based only on a meritocracy. Mr. Al Ghanim was chosen by his father to lead the company only after he had proved himself by selling second-hand cars, gaining experience across the company and learning a lot in the process.