Naguib Sawiris is Egypt’s most famous and recognizable business man. Sawiris can easily be seen as jack of all trades, a man who has succeeded in every business he tried from telecommunications to entertainment.
At the end of 2019 he was rated by Forbes as the seventh richest African. Currently, he has a net worth of approximately $US 3 billion.
The 65-year-old Egyptian studied Engineering in Switzerland before returning home to take over the family business, Orascom.
Since joining Orascom, the family business, in 1979, Naguib Sawiris has contributed to the growth and diversification of the company into what it is today – one of Egypt’s largest and most diversified conglomerates.
Sawiris has founded Orascom Telecom Holding and has dynamically led the growth of the company to be the leading regional Telecom player until the multibillion-dollar merger deal with Russia’s VEON that created the world’s 6th largest mobile telecommunications provider in 2011.
Sawiris is currently Executive Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding, a holding company investing in industries that are critical to shaping the future, including financial services, agri-industries, real estate development, logistics and transport.
With his avid interest in gold mining, Sawiris has has succeeded in acquiring US mining company La Mancha Resources Inc in 2012 that engages in mining activities in five African countries as well as Australia.
In addition, he entered into the media sector and currently serves as chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding and Italian internet company Italiaonline, and has majority ownership over Lyon-based television news network Euronews.
Sawiris is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, industry awards and civic honors, including the “Legion d’Honneur“ (the highest award given by the French Republic for outstanding services rendered to France).
He was also awarded the Honor of Commander of the Order of the “Stella della Solidarietà Italiana” (Star of Italian Solidarity). In 2006, the prestigious “Sitara-e- Quaid-e- Azam” award was conferred upon him by General Pervez Musharref for services rendered to the people of Pakistan in the field of telecommunication, investments and social sector work.
