BrazilWinner announced for EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in Jordan
The founder of International General Insurance Wasef Jabsheh has been chosen as EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year for Jordan.
Recognising outstanding business achievements in vision and leadership, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year (EoY) programme has grown over the past 30 years to now include local editions in more than 145 cities across 60 countries worldwide, with national recipients since 2001 then competing for the coveted global crown – awarded this year to affordable housing pioneer Rubens Menin of Brazil.
Joining the world award ceremony to be held in Monte Carlo next June will be Wasef Jabsheh, the founder and CEO of specialist commercial insurer International General Insurance (IGI), named this year’s EoY for Jordan. With a Middle Eastern representative yet to claim the world title, Jabsheh, and an as yet determined Saudi winner, will be up against international entrepreneurs such as Jeffrey Tiong of Singapore, and Australia’s Jo Horgan.
Since the firm’s founding by Jabsheh in 2001, and with assets now in excess of $880 million, IGI has grown its operations across the globe to include hubs in Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Americas, with bases in Bermuda, Casablanca, Kuala Lumpur and London launched in addition to its activities in Amman and Dubai. Specialising in marine and energy insurance for over 40 years, Jabsheh previously held prominent regional positions with Kuwait Insurance and Abu Dhabi National Insurance among others.
In the other EoY categories, Nour Al Hassan, the founder of machine learning and AI linguistics platform Tarjama, which provides greater work opportunities for women and youth and now has 500-plus clients and a staff of over 100, was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Rajai Muasher on hand to present the awards at last week’s ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman.
“Award programmes such as Entrepreneur Of The Year are incepted to uncover outstanding entrepreneurs who directly contribute to elevating the business landscape in the Kingdom, while serving as role models for generations to come by demonstrating impeccable acumen, leadership and vision,” said EY Jordan partner Waddah Barkawi. “The dynamic startups they establish are key drivers for advancing the local economy and giving rise to Jordan as a prime hub for business and entrepreneurship on the global map.”
In June, EY introduced its Entrepreneurial Winning Women programme to the Middle East and North Africa for the first time.
