From left to right: Antoun Sehnaoui senior, Maurice Sehnaoui, Nabil Sehnaoui and Antoun Sehnaoui junior. (Credit: Illustration L'Orient-Le Jour/Moussa Maalouf)
It is a name every Lebanese knows, yet one that some hesitate to utter too loudly when asked about it, almost invariably insisting on special precautions and complete anonymity. Banker — chairman and CEO of SGBL — philanthropist and media tycoon, a "kingmaker" of MPs as much as of deals, Antoun Sehnaoui has become one of Lebanon's most influential figures. From the management of the banking crisis to negotiations with Israel, if one scratches just beneath the surface, his name is never far away. Operating behind the scenes, pulling strings and imposing his narrative and methods on those who stand in his way, he inspires both fascination and fear.How did he manage to position himself at the heart of so many of the country’s defining issues while scarcely setting foot in Lebanon anymore? Why is so little known about him, his...
It is a name every Lebanese knows, yet one that some hesitate to utter too loudly when asked about it, almost invariably insisting on special precautions and complete anonymity. Banker — chairman and CEO of SGBL — philanthropist and media tycoon, a "kingmaker" of MPs as much as of deals, Antoun Sehnaoui has become one of Lebanon's most influential figures. From the management of the banking crisis to negotiations with Israel, if one scratches just beneath the surface, his name is never far away. Operating behind the scenes, pulling strings and imposing his narrative and methods on those who stand in his way, he inspires both fascination and fear.How did he manage to position himself at the heart of so many of the country’s defining issues while scarcely setting foot in Lebanon anymore? Why is so little known about...
