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CLASS OF ‘50 – ‘59
Fouad M. Kronfol ‘52
After graduation, he studied
Agriculture at AUB and graduated with a B.S. in 1957, the
second class to graduate from the new faculty. An initial job
with the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture ended in 1958
with the troubles in the country. In March 1959, he joined
UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund) in Lebanon
and embarked on an international career that lasted until
September 1995, with only one break in 1969/1970, when
he took a sabbatical to obtain a M.S. degree in
Development Planning at AUB. With UNICEF, he served in
Beirut, Cairo, Khartoum, New York, Hanoi (Viet Nam), and
finally New York again until retirement. Throughout his
working career, Fouad occupied increasingly senior posts,
including Country Representative in both Sudan and Viet
Nam; Chief of the New York HQ Sections for the Middle
East, and for Africa; and finally as Director of Human
Resources. In 1996, he joined the WHO (World Health
Organization) for a one-year assignment in Geneva and has
undertaken a series of consultancies with UNICEF since
then. During 1996-1998, he served on the Board of
Directors of UNICEF, Canada, and on their behalf under-
took missions for the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Fouad is actively involved as a volunteer with the Canadian
Executive Services Organization. He serves on the Board of
Directors of the Lakeshore Stamp Club (the largest philatelic
club in eastern Canada), and was closely involved with the
re-establishment of the AUB Alumni Association in
Montreal. He is married to Nadia Algranti; they do not have
children.
CLASS OF ‘60 – ‘69
Farid Iskandar ‘60
is an architect with Skidmore, Owings
and Merrill in New York for the 28th year. Farid was plan-
ning to retire from the firm three years ago, but was such a
highly valued team member that he was called back for a
special project. He has been back in full force ever since.
(His retirement lasted just three months!) Farid is currently
working on large developments in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He
lives in New York City with wife Beth. He pays occasional
visits to Beirut, and is always eager to read the news from
IC, especially concerning teachers and friends from the
wonderful old days.
Bassem W. Naamani ‘64
finished his BACC II
Philosophy at IC, and then graduated from the Beirut
Arab University - School of Commerce in the spring of
1970 with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, majoring
in Accounting. While studying at BAU, Bassem
worked in the Accounting Department of the
Makassed Islamic Charitable Association -General
Management, from December 1965 until April 1967,
when he was offered a job at First National City Ban
k
(now Citibank). He stayed with the bank until November
1970, then left to join The Royal Bank of Canada (M.E.) Sal,
Beirut main branch as credit officer, then moved to head of
Audit department until June of 1975, when he was solicited
by Citibank to return and head their credit administration
department. In November 1980, he joined the Saudi
Lebanese Bank (SLB) and helped prepare the opening as
Operations Manager. Bassem occupied several positions
until February 1998, when he was appointed Head of Retail
Division until November 1, 2005, when he chose to benefit
from an early retirement scheme, after spending exactly 25
years at SLB. Currently, Bassem is the financial manager of
a newly established financial company called “International
Finance Co.-Lebanon- Sal, which intends to penetrate the
Retail Market in Lebanon by providing car loans, personal
loans, consumer loans and eventually housing loans.
Bassem would like to share the following: “During my aca-
demic and working years, I met two very interesting people
who later became celebrities. The first was a student with
me during the first and second years at the school of com-
merce-BAU who used to come every day from Saida to
Beirut to attend the classes. His name was Rafic Hariri. And
14 years later, he became the founder of the bank where I
was offered the job of Operations Manager. The second
was a young credit officer working with me at First National
City Bank who became my boss in 1970, and then 16 years
later in 1986 became again my boss as Chairman- General
Manager of SLB, before being solicited to join the first cabi-
net formed by the late Rafic Hariri in 1992. His name is
Fuad Siniora (our present Prime Minister).” For those who
wish to get in contact with Bassem, below is his contact
information: Tel 961-1 350390/4- Fax:961-1-344644
Emails: bmw@cyberia.net.lb; b_naamani@hotmail.com;
bwnamani2@yahoo.com
Alumni Updates