Three elected to join AUB Board of Trustees

The Board has governed the University since it was founded in 1866 and includes world leaders who are involved in business, education, medicine and finance.

The announcement was made by Board of Trustees Chair, Thomas Q. Morris, M.D., who said:

"We are delighted with the addition of three new trustees to the AUB Board. They bring expertise and accomplishments that will help us in our deliberations and as we move forward to ensure that AUB succeeds in its mission."

The new members elected are:

Eisa Al-Eisa has been the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Samba Financial Group, a large banking firm in Saudi Arabia, since 2003.

He joined Samba in 1980 and held several senior positions in executive management prior to becoming chief executive officer.

Under Al-Eisa's leadership, Samba has received numerous regional and international awards and has expanded the services offered to its clientele.

Al-Eisa was named the 2007 Middle East's CEO of the Year in Banking and the Financial Industry by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute "in recognition of his administrative and leadership capabilities, his strategic vision and long-standing experience in the field."

Saadeddine Rafik Hariri is a Member of the Lebanese Parliament and General Manager of Saudi Oger, the family's company.

Saudi Oger was established in 1978 and is today a diversified construction company.

In addition to building, construction and maintenance, the Group is also heavily invested in the telecommunications business.

Mr. Hariri continued the Hariri Family's longstanding and generous support of the American University of Beirut by recently making a gift and pledge of $10m to name and endow the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing at the university.

Riad Burhan Taher Kamal is a UAE based engineer and founder of Arabtec Construction LLC, a leading Emirates based construction company which became a publicly traded company in 2004.

Among Arabtec's accomplishments are three unique world projects - the tallest skyscraper, Burj Dubai, the largest racecourse in the Meydan project, as well as Dubai World Central which is set to be the largest airport and hub.

Mr. Kamal's extensive experience in the contracting business includes his latest project in St. Petersburg, Russia.