About Nassef Sawiris

Early Life and Childhood

Nassef Onsi Sawiris was born on January 19, 1961, in Cairo, Egypt. He is the youngest of three sons of Onsi Sawiris and Yousiriyya Sawiris. His father, Onsi, was a businessman who founded a construction company in 1950. By the time Nassef was a child, the company had grown into one of Egypt’s leading contractors, working on infrastructure projects such as roads and waterways in the Upper Nile region.

Growing up in a business-oriented family, Sawiris was exposed to entrepreneurship and industry from an early age. His family valued hard work and innovation, which played a role in shaping his career. The Sawiris family is considered one of the wealthiest in Egypt, with significant influence in various industries.

Education

Nassef Sawiris received his early education at the Deutsche Evangelische Oberschule in Cairo, a school known for providing a rigorous academic curriculum. After completing his secondary education, he pursued higher studies in the United States. He attended the University of Chicago, where he focused on economics. In 1982, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics, which laid the foundation for his later career in business and industry.

Career & Business Achievements

Nassef Sawiris joined the Orascom Group in 1982 and later took charge of Orascom Construction's activities after management control was transferred from his father, Onsi Sawiris, in 1995. He became the CEO of Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) when it was incorporated in 1998. Under his leadership, OCI expanded its operations, including the acquisition of a 50% stake in the Belgian construction company Besix in 2004, where he served on the board until 2017.

From 2004 to 2007, Sawiris was a board member of the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchanges. He also served as a board director at the Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) from 2008 to 2010. In 2013, he became the CEO of OCI N.V. after it acquired its former parent company, OCI S.A.E.

Sawiris has held various positions in major multinational corporations. He was a board member of Lafarge S.A. from 2008 and later joined the board of LafargeHolcim in 2015. In 2015, he acquired a stake in Adidas AG through his investment company, NNS Holding Sàrl Luxembourg, and was appointed as a supervisory director of Adidas in 2016.

In 2020, he founded Avanti Acquisition Corp, a special-purpose acquisition company, though it was dissolved in 2022 after failing to secure an acquisition.

Investments and Business Holdings

Sawiris owns a significant stake in several global companies. His largest asset is a 39% stake in OCI N.V., a major nitrogen fertilizer producer with plants in the United States. He also has investments in Orascom Construction, which is listed on the Cairo Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Dubai.

He holds a nearly 6% stake in Adidas and a 5% stake in Arkema, a French specialty materials producer. Additionally, he has invested in Madison Square Garden (MSG) Sports, owning approximately 6% of the company, which manages the NBA’s New York Knicks and the NHL’s New York Rangers.

Sports Investments

Sawiris has invested in several sports teams, particularly in football. In 2018, he partnered with Wes Edens to acquire a controlling stake in Aston Villa, which was facing financial difficulties at the time. Under their ownership, the club secured promotion to the Premier League and has since received significant investment, including plans to expand Villa Park.

In 2023, Sawiris’s company, V Sports, acquired a 46% stake in Vitória S.C., a Portuguese football club, with commitments to invest in the team’s infrastructure.

Beyond football, he also owns a 6.3% stake in MSG Sports, which includes the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

Awards & Recognitions