Egyptian businessman (born 1957)
Samih Onsi Sawiris (Arabic: سميح أنسي ساويرس, Montenegrin: Samih Onsi Saviris / Самих Онси Савирис; born 28 January 1957) is an Egyptian-born Montenegrin businessman, investor and billionaire[1] and the second of three sons of Onsi Sawiris, the other two being Naguib Sawiris and Nassef Sawiris. He is the former executive chairman of the board of directors and CEO of Orascom Development Holding AG.[2]
As of 2015, his net worth was estimated at US$850 million, which at the time made him the 26th richest person in Africa.[3]
Education and career
Sawiris received his Engineering Diploma in Engineering management from Technische Universität Berlin in 1980.[4]
He founded National Marine Boat Factory, followed by Orascom Projects for Touristic Development in 1996 and Orascom Hotels and Development in 1998; the latter two companies later merged to form Orascom Development Holding AG. He has served as CEO and chairman of Orascom Development Holding AG from its incorporation, and stepped down in December 2021.[5][6] His son succeeded him.[5][7] Through his organisation, Sawiris developed holiday resorts in Egypt and Switzerland.[8]
In 2011, he took a 12.5% stake in Swiss football club FC Luzern.[9][10] In 2017, he invested in Bidroom, a membership-based online hotel booking platform.[11]
In December 2019, he acquired Thomas Cook (Germany) through his Raiffeisen Touristik (RT) Group,[12][13] which he had bought 74.9% of its shares back in 2014.[14]
In December 2021, Sawiris stepped down as chairman of Orascom Development Holding and transferred his duties to his son, Naguib Samih Sawiris.[15]
Personal life
Sawiris became a Montenegrin citizen in 2011.[16] He is Coptic Christian.[17]
References
