Semsom & Dunkin’ Donuts Lebanon Ceo Named Businesswoman Of The Year

Nov. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Beirut, November 28, 2011 – No other woman has fueled Lebanon’s entrepreneurial spirit more than Semsom & Dunkin’ Donuts CEO, Christine Sfeir, and this point was emphasized once again at this year’s Arabian Business Awards. The prestigious event is an annual staple on the business calendar, honoring esteemed executives throughout the MENA region. An independent panel of judges named Sfeir “Business Woman of the Year” and presented her with a trophy during a glamorous ceremony held on Sunday, November 20th at the Armani Hotel in Dubai.

Sfeir was chosen for her ability to expand the Semsom franchise across the region as well as her entrepreneurial spirit with Dunkin Donuts, according to the judges. At the age of 22, she took over the reigns of the global coffee and baked goods franchise and made it a shining example of success in Lebanon, with over 30 branches and 250 employees. And today, after 3 years, Semsom operates in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, soon in Kuwait as well as Qatar & Iraq in 2012.

“Opportunities for woman are on the rise,” said Sfeir. With the lines between the sexes slowly blurring in the business arena, she noted that the same struggles exist for both men and woman.

Sfeir was one of 15 award recipients at the ceremony, hosted by BBC Television presenter Andrew Neil. Other winners included Emaar Chairman Mohammed Alabbar, Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan, and the Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief Dahi Khalfan Tamin, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.