Nadim Kassar

Nadim Kassar gained first-hand experience in the family run A. A. Kassar trade and investment company, which was first established in 1949.^{[citation needed]} Alongside his work experience during this period, Nadim Kassar attended American University in Beirut and was awarded a BA in Business Administration in 1986. After graduation from the University, he continued working for the family business, eventually rising to the position of general manager.^{[citation needed]} To complement his role in the family company, Kassar also spent his afternoons working at Fransabank, gaining skills and experience in banking and finance. This involvement and interest developed to the point where he decided to move across to Fransabank in 1990, where again he rose to occupy the key position of general manager.^[4]

He founded Fransabank El Djazair in Algeria, currently the only Lebanese bank in that country, as well as founding Fransabank's investment arm, Fransa Invest Bank.^{[citation needed]} During his time as general manager, the bank has also grown its network of outlets to 107 branches strategically sited across the country. 2010 saw the bank achieve a record performance with profits up by almost 40%, and this at a time when many banks across the world were struggling to succeed.^{[citation needed]} The bank's ratio of capital reserves were also maintained though this difficult period at a healthy 12%, protecting the bank from sudden worldwide fluctuations in economic and financial activity.^[5]

In 2008, Nadim Kassar was given an award by the Arab Women's Forum for his contribution to Fransabank, and in 2011, the bank's 90th anniversary year, he also sponsored an award-winning Lebanese film, 'Stray Bullet', to encourage the development of modern culture in Lebanon.^{[citation needed]} Other professional achievements include the introduction of Microsoft PC loans to help with the spread of computer access and providing access to PayPass to speed up card transactions.^[6]

In addition to his banking career and family, Nadim Kassar takes time to pursue a number of recreational interests ranging from skiing and other outdoor sports, traveling widely and riding on the famed and lively Arabian horses.^[4]