Investor Relations | Corporate Governance | Lebanon | Byblos Bank

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Byblos Bank

Investor Relations

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Corporate Governance

Byblos Bank has been built around transparent business practices, responsible lending policies, and careful investment strategies, all of which have allowed the erection of a clear and effective risk governance structure at board and management levels. Moreover, the Byblos Bank Group conducts regular reviews to ensure that its governance model remains appropriate to both regulatory requirements and market developments – and that all relevant controls are being adhered to. Our systems, codes of conduct, and internal controls are designed to meet the requirements of Basel II and other international standards.

 

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. consists of 10 members serving a term of three years, the majority of whom are independent and non-executive, and come from different financial, economic and/or business backgrounds. The Board is the top decision-making body of Byblos Bank S.A.L. with respect to the implementation of the resolutions of the General Assembly and the carrying out of all ordinary activities of the Group which are not daily in character. The Board’s primary role is to establish the Group’s strategic direction and to approve the nature and levels of risk that the Group is willing to take.

 

The Board reviews strategic options, agrees on strategy, and monitors the implementation of strategy. It is also responsible for the integrity of the Group’s financial reporting, for ensuring that appropriate risk policies are implemented, and for ensuring that the Group is in compliance with all applicable laws.


Board Members

The General Assembly of the Bank’s shareholders held on 20 April 2018 elected a new Board of Directors to succeed the one whose term of office had expired. The new Board of Directors was elected unanimously for a period of three years ending on the date of the Annual Ordinary General Assembly meeting that will consider the financial statements of the fiscal year 2020.
  • Dr. François S. Bassil

    Chairman of Byblos Bank Group
    Dr. François S. Bassil
    Dr. François S. Bassil
    Chairman of Byblos Bank Group
    Lebanese, born in 1934. Holder of a PhD in Law from Leuven University in Belgium. Has been working in the banking sector since 1962. Was a co-founder of Byblos Bank S.A.L., which he has helped transform into Lebanon’s third-largest bank and where he held the positions of Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager from 1979 until July 2015, when he was elected Chairman of Byblos Bank Group. Is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank Africa. Also sits on the Boards of Byblos Bank Europe, Byblos Bank Syria, and Byblos Bank Armenia. In addition, serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Byblos Invest Holding Luxembourg. In June 2015 completed a fourth term as Chairman of the Board of the Association of Banks in Lebanon. Received many honorary distinctions throughout his career, among them the Order of the Crown awarded by H.M. King Albert II of Belgium; Knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great, awarded by Pope John Paul II; Commander in the National Order of the Cedar by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman; and Knight Grand Cross of the First Class of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Francis.
  • Mr. Semaan F. Bassil

    Chairman - General Manager of Byblos Bank S.A.L.
    Mr. Semaan F. Bassil
    Mr. Semaan F. Bassil
    Chairman - General Manager of Byblos Bank S.A.L.
    Lebanese, born in 1965. Holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Business, with a minor in Finance, from Boston University in the US and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Cambridge University in the UK. Has been working in the banking sector since 1990. Has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. since 1992. Was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board and General Manager in 2000 and Chairman – General Manager in July 2015 and serves as a Member of the Board Compliance Committee. Also is Chairman – General Manager of Byblos Invest Bank S.A.L., Vice-Chairman of the Board of Byblos Bank Africa, and a Member of the Board of Byblos Bank Europe and Byblos Invest Holding Luxembourg. Decorated as Officer of the Order of the Crown by H.M. King Philippe of Belgium in August 2017.
  • Mr. Des S. O'Shea
    Mr. Des S. O'Shea
    Director
    Irish, born in 1956. Holder of a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from University College Cork in Ireland, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1980. Has been working in the banking industry since 1981, including eight years as Vice President of GE Capital ending in 2011, and several directorships in private and publicly quoted institutions across the world. Is currently the Chairman of Ulster Bank in Ireland and has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. since 2014 where he serves as Chairman of the Board Risk Committee.
  • Mr. Samir A. Mouawad
    Mr. Samir A. Mouawad
    Director
    Lebanese, born in 1954. Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the California State University and an MBA from the University of San Francisco in the US. Has been working in the banking sector since 1979 and has held various senior positions in local and international banks such as Citibank N.A. and Saudi American Bank. Served as the Deputy General Manager  ̶  Chief Risk Officer at BankMed between 2000 and 2018. Is currently an independent Member of the Board of Lucid Investment Bank and has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. since 2020 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee since May 2021.  
  • Dr. Henry T. Azzam
    Dr. Henry T. Azzam
    Director
    Lebanese, born in 1949. Holder of a PhD in Economics from the University of Southern California in the US. Has been working in the financial sector since 1981. Has assumed key positions with major financial companies in Lebanon and other parts of the Arab world, including Deutsche Bank Dubai. Is well-versed in the money and banking markets and has issued publications and articles revolving around the financial world. Has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. since 2012 and serves as Chairman of the Board Compliance Committee.
  • Mr. Ahmad T. Tabbara
    Mr. Ahmad T. Tabbara
    Director
    Lebanese, born in 1940. Holder of a Bachelor’s Degree and an MBA in Finance from the American University of Beirut. Worked as a consultant to former Prime Minister Salim el Hoss. Is an entrepreneur with shares in a number of family businesses and social initiatives, including the Toufic Tabbara Cultural Center. Has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. since 1999. Also serves as a Member of the Board Risk Committee and the Board Compliance Committee.
  • Mr. Faisal M. Ali El Tabsh
    Mr. Faisal M. Ali El Tabsh
    Director
    Lebanese, born in 1948. Holder of a Master’s Degree in Geology from the American University of Beirut. Is an entrepreneur and owner of M.A. Tabsh Company in Saudi Arabia. Has been a Member of the Board of Directors of Byblos Bank S.A.L. since 2000. Is also a Member of the Board of Byblos Invest Holding Luxembourg and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Byblos Bank Europe. Serves as a Member of the Board Remuneration, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.

Board Committees

The Board has established four committees to assist in carrying out its responsibilities. The Committees are composed of mostly independent/non-executive Directors, satisfying the applicable best-practice requirements. The Board delegates its authority for day-to-day activities to Senior Management through the various established committees.

Risk Committee
Provides oversight of Senior Management’s activities in managing capital adequacy (including the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process, or ICAAP), as well as credit, market, liquidity, operational, reputational, and other risks of the Group. 

Members:

  • Mr. Des S. O'Shea, Chairman
  • Mr. Ahmad T. Tabbara, Member
  • Mr. Semaan F. Bassil, Member
Audit Committee
Monitors the Group’s accounting practices and external reporting, and reviews the audit reports covering the Group’s operations and takes appropriate actions/decisions.
 

Members:

  • Mr. Samir A. Mouawad, Chairman
  • Mr. Ahmad T. Tabbara, Member
  • Mr. Faisal Al Tabsh, Member
     

     

Remuneration, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee

Oversees the remuneration system’s design and operation and other related matters, and ensures compliance with the Corporate Governance principles set by the Bank and regulators, consistent with international standards and guidelines.

 

Members:

  • Mr. Samir Mouawad, Chairman
  • Mr. Faisal Al Tabsh, Member
  • Mr. Ahmad T. Tabbara, Member 

 

Compliance Committee

Oversees the management of the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations (Anti-Money-Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism, sanctions, economic embargoes, etc.) where failure to comply with may result in material financial losses or damage to the Bank’s reputation.

 

Members:

  • Dr. Henry T. Azzam, Chairman
  • Mr. Semaan F. Bassil, Member
  • Mr. Ahmad T. Tabbara, Member

Senior Management

  • Mr. Semaan F. Bassil
    Chairman - General Manager of Byblos Bank S.A.L.
  • Mrs. Joumana Bassil Chelala
    Assistant General Manager, Head of Group Consumer Banking
  • Mr. Marwan Moharram
    Assistant General Manager, Head of Group Risk Management and Head of Group Compliance
  • Mr. Fadi Nassar
    Assistant General Manager, Head of Group Commercial Banking
  • Mr. Sélim Stéphan
    Assistant General Manager, Head of Foreign Banking Units
  • Mr. Alain Wanna
    Assistant General Manager, Head of Group Financial Markets and Financial Institutions
  • Mr. Fadi Abou Abdallah
    Head of Group Internal Audit
  • Mr. Ziad El Zoghbi
    Head of Group Finance and Administration
  • Mr. Fadi Hayek
    Head of Group Human Resources
  • Mr. Nassib Ghobril
    Head of Group Economic Research and Analysis
  • Mrs. Nada Tawil
    Head of Group Communication
  • Mr. Adel Zeidan
    Head of Group Legal Support

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