Beirut: The Lebanese Business Leaders Association (RDCL) held its ordinary general assembly on June 2, 2025, at ESA Business School – Clemenceau, Beirut, to elect a new board of directors in accordance with its bylaws.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the newly elected board elected Ms. Joumana Saddi Chaya as President of the Association, marking a significant milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position since the Association’s establishment in 1986. This also makes her the first woman to serve on the board of Lebanon’s economic organizations. The newly elected board members include Cyrille Arida as Vice President, Robert Kanaan as Secretary-General, Hassan Sinno as External Relations Officer, Hassib Lahoud as Membership Officer, Valerie Zakka as Treasurer, and Diane Ayoub, Christelle Boustany, Dalia Jubaili, Nadim Daher, Jean Tawile, and Labib Nasr as Board Members.
The assembly was attended by the Minister of Industry, Mr. Joe Issa El Khoury, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Mr. Karim Souaid, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in Lebanon’s recovery efforts.
Mr. Maxence Duault, Director General of ESA Business School, expressed his delight at the dedication of Lebanese business leaders in overcoming the challenges facing Lebanon. He commended the Association’s commitment to organizing model elections regularly.
Outgoing RDCL President, Mr. Nicolas Boukather, reflected on his tenure, highlighting the challenges faced by the legal private sector in Lebanon. He praised Joumana Saddi Chaya’s election as a pioneering achievement and emphasized the sector’s crucial role in Lebanon’s potential. He called for urgent reforms and expressed confidence in the new board’s vision and teamwork.
Joumana Saddi Chaya, the new President, expressed her honor at being elected and committed to leading with dedication. She thanked the outgoing President for his leadership and the outgoing board for their strong foundation. She emphasized the need for urgent reforms and the legal private sector’s role in driving economic growth and promoting integrity.
The outgoing board presented a comprehensive report detailing the Association’s activities in 2024, including key initiatives and partnerships. The financial report, presented by outgoing Treasurer Mr. Nadim Daher, was unanimously approved.
Notably, the Association used electronic voting for the second time, facilitated by a program developed in collaboration with the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon. Young individuals from the center contributed to organizing the voting process, enhancing cooperation between the parties.