Salim Sfeir


Salim Georges Sfeir is a Lebanese – Swiss banker and financier. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of Beirut S.A.L in Beirut, Lebanon since 1993 and the Chairman of Association of Banks in Lebanon since June 29 2019.

Early life and education

Salim Sfeir was born in Sept. 18, 1944 and raised in Beirut. He received his B.S.S. degree in Economics from the Université de Montréal and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. As an educator, Sfeir lectured at Lebanese University, Beirut University College, Haigazian College, l’Université Saint-Joseph and Le Centre d’études bancaires.
In the years to follow, he was appointed Trustee on the board of directors of the Lebanese American University, Beirut and Byblos; Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of the Holy Spirit ; Member of the Board of Trustees AMIDEAST; and Vice-Chairman of the American Friends of the Middle East, Beirut.
Sfeir has been associated with the newly commissioned Salim Sfeir Building at the School of Business Administration at USEK, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, being awarded honorary degrees at both USEK and the American University of Science and Technology.

Career

Sfeir began his career in finance with the Bank of Nova Scotia. By 1980, he joined Bankmed in Beirut as Deputy General Manager. Three years later, he formed Wedge Bank as General Manager, and in 1987 launched Wedge Bank Switzerland as Chief Executive and Vice Chairman.
The turning point came with the management buy-in of Bank of Beirut in 1993. This local bank eventually expanded to nine countries on four continents. Today, Bank of Beirut comprises more than 100 branches and strategic business units internationally.
Sfeir was committed to his community, including particularly the Lebanese diaspora. The Bank of Beirut global network has been centered on and built around the diaspora of Lebanon.
In close association with His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Al Rahi, the patriarch of the Maronite Church, Sfeir formed the World Maronite Foundation for Integral Development, whose mission is to harness the full potential of the Church and its adherents, to ensure funding from Lebanese nationals and the diaspora.
In 2019, Sfeir was unanimously elected as chairman of the influential Association of Banks in Lebanon.

Honours and awards

Sfeir has been recognized through many honors internationally, including: