Crisis Group Welcomes Lubna Olayan to its Board

The International Crisis Group is honoured to announce the appointment of Lubna S. Olayan as a new member of its Board of Trustees. By joining the Board, Ms Olayan will bring a unique perspective to our deliberations regarding Crisis Group’s global mission of preventing, mitigating and resolving deadly conflict.

Lubna S. Olayan is Chair of the Executive Committee and Deputy Chair of Olayan Financing Company (OFC), the holding company for The Olayan Group’s trading, real estate, investment, consumer and industrial-related operations in the Gulf region. She also chairs the Board of Olayan Saudi Holding Company (OSHCO), an OFC affiliate through which consumer and industrial-related operations are conducted.

In 2004, Ms Olayan became the first woman to join the board of a Saudi publicly listed company when she was elected to the Board of Alawwal Bank. Following the merger of Alawwal with SABB, HSBC’s Saudi affiliate, she serves as chairman of the newly merged entity. Ms Olayan is also currently a member of several international advisory boards, including those of Akbank, Allianz SE, McKinsey&Co and Bank of America. In addition to serving as president of the Suliman S. Olayan Foundation, Ms Olayan chairs Alfanar, a UK-based charity that is one of the first venture philanthropy organisations in the Arab world. In 2020, Ms Olayan took on the role of chair of the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force during Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Lubna on the board. She brings crucial experience in business and philanthropy that will help Crisis Group grow and achieve our conflict-prevention mission”, said Crisis Group’s Co-Chair of the Board Frank Giustra.

International Crisis Group’s Board consists of 46 individuals from around the globe.

“As a prominent Saudi businesswoman, Lubna has shattered the glass ceiling for many women in the Middle East. Her dedication to education and betterment of women will be an important addition to support Crisis Group’s work”, added Susana Malcorra, Crisis Group’s Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees.