The key ingredient to Orascom Development continued growth and success is firmly attributed to the company’s integrated management philosophy. Furthermore, our success stems from our dedicated management team, our long experience in the region and in the business, and our commitment to excellence. We have gone to great lengths to identify and recruit the qualified professionals with the skills and experience needed to ensure that our current destinations and future projects remain effectively managed. Our management team currently consists of the following individuals:

Gerhard Niesslein - CEO

Gerhard Niesslein (58, Austrian-Canadian citizen) is a well experienced, broadly networked real estate expert. He served in leading positions at various companies in Canada and Germany during the last 35 years. After real estate related positions at e.g. Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank he became a member of the Board of Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba) responsible for real estate financings, investments and funds. In 1999, he became CEO of DETE Immobilien GmbH (the real estate business of Deutsche Telekom). And since 2008, he is CEO of IVG Immobilien AG, Bonn, one of the big real estate companies in Europe with assets under management of approx. EUR 22 billion. Gerhard Niesslein studied law at the University of Vienna and earned a doctorate in 1977.

Amr Sheta - Co-CEO

Egyptian national, born 1967, serves as executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Co-CEO. He also serves as a member of the boards of a number of subsidiary companies of the Orascom Development Group. Mr. Sheta has 19 years of experience in corporate as well as investment banking with emphasis on private equity. He started his career at Chase National Bank-Egypt in 1989 and was promoted to manager of the credit department in 1993. In 1996, he was involved in setting-up the bank’s investment banking arm Commercial International Investment Company (CIIC). From 2000 to 2005 he was running CIIC’s proprietary private equity fund with a portfolio worth approximately EGP 2 billion. Mr. Sheta has been associated with the Orascom Development Group in various capacities since 1989. Since 1998 he has been member of the board of directors of OHD and its Vice Chairman and Co-CEO since 2006. Mr. Sheta holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and a Master Degree in Management from the American University in Cairo. He also holds a diploma in Project Appraisal and Investment Management (PAIM) from Harvard Business School.

Mahmoud Zuaiter - CFO

German national, born 1967, SVP Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Zuaiter’s career spans 14 years of experience with the InterContinental Hotels Group, culminating in the position of Director of Finance for the Middle East and Africa. He played a role in operations in Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt. Mr. Zuaiter joined Orascom Development Group in 2004. Educated in Germany, Mr. Zuaiter holds an MBA from Columbus University, and is a qualified financial accountant.

Julien Renaud-Perret - Chief Development Officer

French national, born 1968, Chief Development Officer. Mr. Renaud-Perret joined the Orascom Development Group in 2006 as a member of the Executive Management in charge of Orascom Development Group's activities outside of Egypt. Prior to that, he was a member of the executive committee of Club Méditerranée responsible for the group strategy and implementation with respect to resort development and asset management. Mr. Renaud-Perret started his career with Euro Disney SCA, where he held positions in finance and strategic planning. He was educated in France and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Hamza Selim - VP Destination Management

Egyptian national, born 1961, SVP Destination Management. Mr. Selim is our Senior Vice-President of Destination Management and also the Managing Director for the destination 'El Gouna'. Prior to joining Orascom Development Group in 2005, Mr. Selim worked extensively with the Hyatt Regency, serving as the general manager for its Taba Heights property, as well as in the capacity of area general manager for Egypt. Other positions held with Hyatt include regional director of marketing for the Middle East and general manager for hotels in Jeddah and Dubai. Mr. Selim holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Raymond Cron - Head European Destinations

Swiss National, born 1959, Head of European Destinations. As of 1 January 2009, Mr. Cron joined the Orascom Development Group as Head of European Destinations responsible for all the Group's European projects. Prior to that, Mr. Cron was Director General of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) in 2003. From 1989 onward, he held top management positions in major construction companies in Switzerland and in 1996 he was appointed Managing Director and member of the executive board in a key Swiss construction enterprise. Mr. Cron graduated at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, followed by postgraduate studies in business management at BWI/ETH in Zurich.


Further, without being members of the executive management, the below mentioned persons are responsible for the following operations:


Abdalla El Nockrashy

American national, born 1960. Head of International Real Estate Prior to joining the Group, he served as Executive Vice President with PGI in the United States for three years. Before that, he spent six years with Polaris Industries as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. Early on his career, Mr. El Nockrashy spent thirteen years with Goodyear Tires and Rubber Company. He holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BA degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.

Claude Chesnais

French national, born 1951, VP Hospitality Operations Mr. Chesnais is responsible for the Group's entire hospitality and hotel operations. Prior to that, he was Executive VP for the Middle East with Helnan International Hotels and lately Iberotel Egypt, a company within TUI group. Mr. Chesanis started his career with Hilton International, where he held various managerial responsibilities for over 25 years, reaching VP for the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula based in Dubai.