21 Facts About Jihad Azour

Jihad Azour is a Lebanese economist and politician who served as Lebanon's minister of finance under Fouad Saniora's government from 2005 to 2008.

Jihad Azour is a Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de la Legion d'honneur.

Jihad Azour holds a post-graduate degree in international economics and finance, as well as a Master's degree in applied economics from the Paris Dauphine University.

Jihad Azour has been a member of the board of directors of Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement Compagnie Generale Maritime ; Carnegie Middle East Advisory Council; Lebanese American University; and Iktissad Wal Aamal Group.

Jihad Azour was a consultant to McKinsey and Company, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain.

In 2014, Jihad Azour became a member of the investment committee of the Berytech VC Fund, a Beirut based venture capital fund.

Jihad Azour has been associated with initiatives including Mobile Innovation Hub ; MiHub, a joint program with the World Bank Group to promote startups and technology sector in Lebanon; and BADER.

In 2003, Jihad Azour joined La Fassad, the Lebanese chapter of Transparency International, a non-profit, non-governmental anti-corruption organisation.

Jihad Azour is the founding member of the Lebanon chapter of the Young Arab Leaders.

In 2005, Jihad Azour was advisor to the International Monetary Fund's department of fiscal affairs on reforming Qatar's tax structure.

Jihad Azour taught courses at the American University of Beirut including "Macroeconomic management in Lebanon", and on "Modern Commercial Banks' Management".

In 2012, Jihad Azour became a member of the board of international advisors of the university.

Jihad Azour oversaw the publication of pertinent reports including a quarterly report on the status of the pledges made at the Paris III conference, on the use of funds, and on the progress made to the economic and social reform program.

Jihad Azour managed a liability and external borrowing program through international capital markets.

Jihad Azour led an effort to modernize Lebanese capital markets through the listing more than 12 Eurobonds issued by the Lebanese Republic on the Beirut Stock Exchange.

From 2006 to 2008, Jihad Azour chaired the G8-MENA Ministerial Group which regroups ministers of finance and central bank governors of the G8 and MENA countries.

Jihad Azour is the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund where he oversees the Fund's work in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Caucasus.

Jihad Azour temporarily suspended his duties at the IMF to focus on his candidacy for the Lebanese presidency.

Jihad Azour received 60 votes, not reaching the two-thirds majority required for election to the presidency.

Jihad Azour is a member of the Eastern Catholic Maronite church.

Jihad Azour is the nephew of the late minister and member of parliament, Jean Obeid.