Hassan Ezzeldine
Executive Chairman
Since the beginning of Hassan Ezzeldine’s endeavor at Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon in 2018, he invested in the company’s growth and development by opening more branches and creating a range of job opportunities across Lebanon.
Despite the challenges faced in Lebanon throughout 2019 and 2020, he focused on providing solutions to sustain the business throughout the economic instability.
Staying true to his original mission, Hassan Ezzeldine focused on alternative methods to continuously enable shoppers to attain their needs by maintaining reasonable prices across the different retail stores under Gray Mackenzie.
To combat the economic challenges, Ezzeldine suggested focusing on strengthening the capabilities and resources that Lebanese businesses can depend on. The empowerment of Lebanese capabilities revolved around encouraging local food production, adopting a flexible COVID-19 lockdown strategy, and more.
For many years, Hassan Ezzeldine was the Director of Operations and Managing Partner at Huta Group in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He returned to Beirut, Lebanon in 2015 as an investor for several different projects.
Our Executive Team
Antoine Gerges
Chief Financial OfficerAntoine Gerges
Chief Financial Officer
Antoine Gerges is Chief Financial Officer of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon SAL.
In his role, he is responsible for managing the financial actions of the company, including tracking cash flow, conduct financial planning as well as analyze the company's financial strengths and weaknesses and propose corrective actions.
Antoine has over 26 years of experience in the financial field in the areas of business planning, forecasting and analysis, feasibility studies and financial projections, implementation of new integrated software, consolidation of accounts, regional management and budgeting.
Antoine holds an Executive MBA in Finance & Strategy from the University of Sorbone and Paris Dauphine and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Holy Spirit – Kaslik, Lebanon.
Mohamad Chamseddine
Chief People and Support OfficerMohamad Chamseddine
Chief People and Support Officer
Mohamad A. Chamseddine is Chief People & Support Officer of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon SAL.
With more than 23 years of corporate HR experience, he has extensive expertise in the areas of strategic HR, organizational development, talent management, business partnering, and talent acquisition. He has led HR teams, established HR departments, advised on organizational restructuring, led corporate right-sizing initiatives and steered HR due diligence missions both locally and regionally.
Mohamad’s HR experience spans diversified market sectors such as Financial Services, Retail, and ICT and includes key HR roles in BBAC Bank, Bank Audi SAL, Astrolabe IT SAL, Jubaili Bros, and more. His leadership covered thousands of employees across countries in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, Qatar and KSA.
He has a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, Chartered Fellow FCIPD from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, Co-active Coach Curriculum from the CTI, Certified in Occupational Testing Levels A & B, SHL from The British Psychological Society and Certified in Job Evaluation & Grading from Hay Consulting.
Ralph El Kahi
Chief Marketing OfficerRalph El Kahi
Chief Marketing Officer
With 20 years of extensive experience in retail, marketing, brand building, advertising and communications, Ralph El Kahi has worked with leading brands in different MENA markets as an expert in business development and project concept creation. As an exceptional strategist, his strengths include conducting marketing activities using business management skills, analyzing trends and forecasting sales.
Prior to joining GMRL Group in 2009, Ralph worked in communication and retail industries in Kuwait for 8 consecutive years between local and multinational companies including DDB Worldwide, Impact BBDO and Alghanim Group.
At
At GMRL, Ralph seized opportunities to create, implement and achieve several objectives and achievements while sustaining a successful retail and digital transformation. His previous roles in the group include overseeing the marketing functions of Spinneys in Jordan, Qatar and Egypt.
Graduated from USEK business marketing school, he started his career back in 1998 in Beirut with the opening of his own media house.
Youssef Kalash
Chief Technology OfficerYoussef Kalash
Chief Technology Officer
Youssef Kalash is the Chief Technology Officer of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon SAL.
He has more than 20 years of corporate business technology experience acquired while working in the capacity of a Consultant, Project Manager and Certified Trainer with organizations, functional departments, business units and teams, supporting them to meet their business objectives, implement their strategies, optimize their workflow, enhance their productivity, and improve their efficiency by bridging business and technology.
Youssef has cooperated with large organizations, senior management, and professional teams, successfully designed, planned, implemented, managed, and maintained complex large, budgeted projects and innovative business solutions across many industries and market sectors located in Lebanon, UAE, KSA, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, Europe, US and Canada.
He is currently finishing his EMBA, as he holds a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Management, a Bachelor of Computer Science, and a group of Professional Certifications such as PMP, ITIL, Six Sigma, ISO IA, MCT, MCP. He is also a member of the Project Management Institute, a member of the National Convention of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a Certified Trainer associated with prominent Training Centers.
Darine Beem
Chief Business Officer Commercial - FMCG - GMRL Retail OperationsDarine Beem
Chief Business Officer Commercial - FMCG - GMRL Retail Operations
Darine Beem is Head of Commercial FMCG-GM of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon SAL.
Having been in the retail industry for over 24 years, she has a strong background in business planning, sales, negotiations, retail category management, inventory management, supply chain management, and product assortment planning.
Darine has led the company's strategy evolution, founded departments, counseled on organizational business development, including new business models, and improved solution integration in several industries.
Her experience prior to joining GMRL was heavily focused on financial, operational, warehouse, and supply chain management. Her retail experience includes essential roles at Carrefour and GMRL.
She holds certificates in retail and commercial management, as well as a diploma in English literature.
Ahmad Saad
Chief Business Officer Development & ProductionAhmad Saad
Chief Business Officer Development & Production
Ahmad Saad is Head of Commercial Development of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon SAL.
With more than 20 years of experience in the retail industry, in international trade, and in the Fresh Food commercial department, he led many development projects in his career related to the Fresh food field, including product & brand development, concept development and upgrades.
Ahmad has experience in the retail industries of various countries and markets across the GCC.
Ahmad has a BA in marketing from Notre Dame University.