Rodolph Saadeh in his office in Beirut in May 2023. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
In February, he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at his group's headquarters in Marseille. In March, it was from U.S. President Donald Trump's Oval Office that he announced an investment plan of $20 billion in the United States. Since he acquired BFM and RMC in 2024, French Lebanese businessman Rodolph Saadeh, CEO of the CMA CGM group, has been thrust even more into the spotlight. Despite his group's continued success, Saadeh prefers to remain discreet and rarely appears in the media. Yet, following his visit to Lebanon last week, he agreed to grant an interview to L’Orient-Le Jour and An-Nahar. It was an opportunity to review his current investments and new projects in Lebanon and to reaffirm his deep belief in globalization, at a time when its concept is being...
In February, he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at his group's headquarters in Marseille. In March, it was from U.S. President Donald Trump's Oval Office that he announced an investment plan of $20 billion in the United States. Since he acquired BFM and RMC in 2024, French Lebanese businessman Rodolph Saadeh, CEO of the CMA CGM group, has been thrust even more into the spotlight. Despite his group's continued success, Saadeh prefers to remain discreet and rarely appears in the media. Yet, following his visit to Lebanon last week, he agreed to grant an interview to L’Orient-Le Jour and An-Nahar. It was an opportunity to review his current investments and new projects in Lebanon and to reaffirm his deep belief in globalization, at a time when its concept is being...