Robert Fadel

Fadel holds a master degree in finance and economics from the Paris Institute of Political Studies and a post-graduate degree in Public Administration from ENA, the National School of Administration. Mr. Fadel chaired the School's Global Alumni Association in 2000, he also helped to establish an ENA school in Lebanon.[2]

Robert Fadel also worked in the Lebanese private sector, serving as Chairman & CEO of the ABC Group from 2009 to 2017, the leading shopping center and retail company in Lebanon (www.abc.com.lb), of which he remains a member of the board of directors.

Prior to joining ABC, Robert Fadel worked as a consultant in Boston and Paris at the Monitor Deloitte Group, a global consulting firm specialized in business strategy and advice to governments.

Mr. Fadel is a member of the International Crisis Group board of trustees, he is involved in dialogue efforts to prevent or de-escalate select regional and international conflicts.

Crisis group (www.crisisgroup.org) is a leading international NGO focused on conflict prevention and resolution. Besides serving on its board of directors and being one of its trustees, Mr. Fadel works closely with its president and team to initiate dialogues between conflict parties.

Mr. Fadel is also a member of the National Bloc (Lebanon) party (www.nationalbloc.org), one of the oldest and most respected Lebanese parties with an impeccable track record of independence from regional powers as well as the highest standards of ethics and transparency.

Before that, Mr. Fadel was an independent member of the Lebanese Parliament part of the March 14 coalition (2009-2016). He resigned in 2016 to protest against the lack of reforms, rampant corruption and the absence of sectarian diversity in the newly elected municipal council of his city, Tripoli. He made history by being the first MP to resign since the country’s independence.

Robert and his wife Hala are also active philanthropists. Hala set up in 2005 the MIT Arab Business Plan Competition (www.mitarabcompetition.com), which is one of the biggest Business Plan Competition in the world with thousands of Arab startups participating every year from 20 Arab countries.

Robert and Hala support Ruwwad Lebanon (www.ruwwad.net), a leading NGO for disenfranchised communities founded and led by Hala since its inception.

In addition, in memory of his late father, Maurice Fadel, Robert and Hala launched a few years ago the Maurice Fadel Prize (www.mauricefadelprize.com), which provides recognition for the best development projects in the region of Northern Lebanon.

Mr. Fadel is also the founder and President of Bader NGO (2006-2016) a non-governmental organisation which main focus was to promote entrepreneurship in Lebanon and reduce brain drain.

Robert Fadel is also the co-author of “Regards sur la France” (Seuil 2007).

• Robert Fadel's official website
• Crisis Group
• National Bloc
• ABC
• Ruwwad
• Bader
• MIT Arab Business Plan Competition
• Maurice Fadel Prize