Sam A Jaoude, is the CEO of Madenlebanon LLC, a consulting firm specialized in marketing, branding and distribution of the Lebanese-made products in the USA and western world. He created LMMP USA with FDA Consultants to help the western world understand the Lebanese systems, to build trust and transparency and to provide the confidence needed in Lebanese manufacturing.
As a Lebanese American, Sam understands the corporate culture of North America while still relating to the Lebanese culture. Having worked for corporate America for more than 25 years has given Sam the business acumen to open doors to both ethnic and mainstream America.
An accomplished FMCG international food agent and consultant, Sam’s vast expertise is widely sought in marketing, branding and distribution in the FMCG retail industries. He is also an internationally-recognized speaker.
Sam’s clients are owners and operators from small family-run businesses to big name brands. He worked and currently works with many of the top brands in Lebanon as their consultant and agent.
CEO and co-founder of FIG holding and owner and general manager of IIC sarl Beirut, Lebanon
A food passionate, Aline Kamakian began her career as an insurance broker at the age of 18 to put herself into college. Graduated from Université Saint Joseph with a double major in Masters in Finance and Marketing, Aline’s skills as an insurance broker allowed her to build one of Lebanon’s top 9 Brokerage Firms IIC – Insurance & Investment Consultant.
All through her successes, Aline never forgot her love for food but most importantly she never forgot her Armenian roots!
She opened in June 2003 “Mayrig” an avant guardiste traditional Armenian restaurant to introduce to all those who appreciate homely, healthy and tasty food, the forgotten flavors of Ancient Armenia.
Since then, Aline has ventured into new concepts, catering in 2004, Batchig in 2013, Made by Mayrig in 2014. She opened new branches of Mayrig in Dubai in 2013 and in Riyadh in 2016, in Maldives in 2017 and Yerevan in 2018; with more projects to see light by the turn of the year…
Aline concentrated most of the years 2010 and 2011 to co-writing her first cook book “Armenian Cuisine” where her research for traditional recipes took her on a journey to Cilicia, present day Eastern Turkey, the ancient Armenia that her grandparents fled following the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Aline released her cooking channel on youtube “Cook with Aline” where she takes the viewer on a quick journey and cooks from the vicinity of her home, dishes that represent her childhood and heritage. www.youtube.com/alinekamakian
Aline was also voted Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 in the BLA – Brilliant Lebanese Awards organized by BLC bank. She is a board member of the Lebanese Franchise Association as well as a board member of the LLWB – Lebanese League of Woman in Business and a successful candidate of the 2014 Vital Voices Fellowship Program.
Tony B. Maroun is a prominent Lebanese businessman. He is the Chairman – CEO of Atyab S.A.L. – Zeit Boulos, a leading Lebanese food company and one of the country’s main producer of Olive Oil. He is a Certified Olive Oil Taster by the International Olive Oil Council, and a member of LIBNOR’s Standards Commission for Olive Oil, as well as member of the Lebanese Advisory Committee of the International Olive Oil Council (COI)
Tony B. Maroun knows how to turn an opportunity into a success story. It is not by coincidence that the small business that his father Boulos Maroun launched and developed was turned into a national success story thanks to his hard work and dedication.
After a BA in Economics from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and then an MBA, and with a career spanning almost 30 years, Tony B. Maroun has contributed to the revolution of the food industry in Lebanon and played a major role in exporting quality Lebanese food to the world.
He is a household name in the local and regional food industries, especially when it comes to Olive Oil production, and is an active member in several unions and associations in the country, such as the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), the Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount-Lebanon (CCIABML). He was named honorary President of the Jounieh and Keserouan – Ftouh Traders Association and is a founding member of the Mount-Lebanon Traders Union.
Under his guidance, Zeit Boulos grew exponentially in Lebanon and became one of the leading Lebanese food brands. Indeed, it is widely regarded as a national treasure and as an ambassador of Lebanese cuisine.
Hasmig Dantziguian Khoury is the current Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at a leading bank in Beirut, Lebanon, where she was hired, over 10 years ago, to initiate the unit with a comprehensive strategy stretching from Corporate Governance through Economic, Community and Human Development reaching Environmental Protection. She values community work and actively participates in its enhancement on multiple levels such as education, health, social, environmental and cultural all while maintaining high ethical standards.
Hasmig speaks at regional conferences/workshops on sustainability; mentors thesis papers and other organizations; and has won recognition from both the public and the private sector for initiatives achieved professionally. She is knowledgeable in various benchmarks in the industry such as the ISO 26000 and the UN Global Compact and is an accredited reporter of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Hasmig was appointed as a member in the Lebanese Republic Economic and Social Council since 2017 and is an active member of the Environment Committee within the Council.
She comes from a varied professional background of managing different types of companies in diverse fields. She has acquired experience in service to society through decades of volunteer work to various international and local associations and NGOs such as Rotary International and the Armenian General Benevolent Union. Initially she is a McGill University graduate in Public Relations.
Proud mother of Andrew, Peter and Angela, her hobbies include skiing, walking, music, reading, painting and cooking which she is pleased to share in her book, “Cooking from the Heart” published in 2010.
Salim Haddad is a veteran of the advertising, public relations events management, corporate and public communication industries in Lebanon and the Mena region
Holder of a BA in economics and a BBA from the American University of Beirut, he founded MCAA ( Marketing Communication and Advertising ) in 1994.
Salim is as well a board member of BUMC (the exclusive distributor of Toyota & Lexus in Lebanon).
Throughout his career, he has contributed to the execution of many campaigns for international brands like Toyota, Lexus, Reebok, Starbucks, H&M, Victoria’s Secret and Caterpillar, as well as many international financial and insurance companies with the flag ship being Chedid Re the Middle East and Africa leader in Re-insurance brokerage and a company listed amongst the world’s top 20 in the field.
Salim has contributed to the promotion of many Lebanese products on the international scene like Massaya Wine and Arack, Saifan olive oil and many other.