Summary:
Alfred E. Riachi Biography
ALFRED E. RIACHI is an internationally organizational development strategist. Has been in the field since 1990, studied in the U.S. where obtained Doctorate of Philosophy in Strategic Planning and Marketing from University of California in Los Angeles-UCLA, and Post Doctorate Studies in Macro Management from Stanford University, in addition to that, holder of MBA – International Marketing and MBA- in Corporate Finance from (UCLA); also enrolled in a professional program dedicated to executives at HARVARD University in Consumer Behavior and Profile Analysis. Furthermore, has completed several professional certificates and received a Chartered Marketing Management Analyst (CMMA), Certified Operation Management Analyst (COMA) and completed level one as Certified Financial Analyst (CFA).
Started the career in IBM, where ended up acting as a Regional Marketing Director for the U.S. markets then moved to Global Business Services-GBS (Subsidized entity for IBM), which is considered as one of the top International consulting firms where was appointed as a Vice President for Organizational Development and served many of the utmost U.S. and global fortunate 500 corporates, governments, and NGO’s.
A few years ago, founded Benchmark Advisors and then Benchmark Venture Capital. Was also involved in the academic field, where taught business courses for the MBA program in IV universities, i.e. UCLA, Stanford (USA) AUB, USJ (Lebanon), also worked for a stint as a VP for academic development.
Has given and or participated in various seminars and conferences around the globe, where published several papers and publications, and recently developed a model in business titled the Six Dimensions of Competitive Advantage/The Six D‟s. He is also a co-author with Dr. Paul Kilburn, Dr. Philip Kotler, Mr. Seth Godin, and Dr. Jim Blyth of the book: „The Holistic Marketing Guide‟.
In addition to other activities, was sitting on the board in the American Marketing Association AMA was well-founded of the Economic & Social Assembly of Lebanon, Continual Holistic Decentralization Congress, and the Lebanese Federation of Ju-Jitsu. Relevant Experience:
2008-2010: Dean of Faculty of Business Administration at the American University of
Technology-AUT. The job description and achievements are as follows:
Board member in the Faculty Council, a higher authority that determine the university strategies and policies
Developing the Faculty curriculum within the updated standards.
Organizing and managing the issues and relationships between the faculty and faculty students in a manner that lead to overcome any potential/existing problems that were/could occur, during the academic year/years.
Organizing and managing the Faculty issues and relationship between the faculty and the faculty members (instructors) in order to oversee their and assess their performance and conduct within the faculty norms.
Employed and head-hunted major skilled professors in order to enhance the educational level.
Created direct relationships with the faculty students through the Faculty Council which include members elected by the students.
Developing the communication process between the faculty and the instructors in a manner led to enhance the performance of both parties the faculty and the faculty members.
Promoting the faculty relationship with its students in order to enhance the student‟s loyalty to the faculty and consequently the university.
Creating the structure of the Online MBA program, in order to achieve competitive edge among the current and prospective rivals.
Creating the structure of the Business Research Center.
Creating the structure of the financial department through establishing the faculty dealing room.
Initiated relationships with the professional educators such as Becker to offer CFA courses for the senior students, and the American Marketing Association-AMA.
Initiated the Placement office with the collaboration of the senior students.
Promoted the university advanced programs through personal contacts and acquaintances.
Raised donations from personal contacts.
Organized various conferences with top-notch speakers on updated topics.
Initiated the Faculty strategy in order to join the AACSB.
Attended and participated as a speaker on behalf of the university in many conferences and assemblies held both locally and abroad.
2011-Present: Founder of Benchmark Venture Capital aiming to help entrepreneurs in formulating their feasibility studies and offer them, investors, within the Lebanese markets.
2008-Present: “Founder Senior Consultant “BENCHMARK” (Lebanon and MENA)
Developing, overseeing, and controlling all the company‟s operations, plans, business process and overview in order to achieve cumulative and progressive bottom and top line results.
Surveying all the company projects and studies (whether feasibility/marketing researches) with the coordination and participation of BENCHMARK senior consultants and executives for the benefit of reaching précised and accurate outcomes.
Providing, and participating in training the potential company clients in the field of my personal expertise.
March 1997- Feb 2002:”V.P. of “IBM Consulting-Global Business Services (GBS)” one of the top consultancy firms in the U.S. the job description was as follows:
Controlling, Supervising, and managing the marketing functions in the org. i.e. research dept.
Direct consulting dept. and the human development dept. with the association of the CEO.
1994-1997: Regional Sales & Marketing Director, IBM, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Saint Francisco, and Saint Diego. The job description was as follows:
Developing marketing strategies and plans
Responsible for all the decisions around the group of similar product
Responsible for controlling, training and motivating the sales force and the sales back-up team.
Participating in the credit control process
Controls media purchases, deals with advertising agencies, generally handles the flow of information to the company‟s customers and consumers.
Monitor the company‟s public image and apply corrective measures. Organize events and activities.
Collect evidence about the consumer‟s needs, product validity, and monitoring competitors‟ activity.
Preparing, forecasting, and controlling the budget performance in coordination with the CFO
Analyzing and assessing the market and reporting conclusions to the V.P. for marketing.
Academic Credentials:
Education:
B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) graduated from University of California in Los Angeles – UCLA-1990 M.B.A. (International Organizational Marketing) graduated from University of California, in Los Angeles – U.C.L.A-1994, with distinction MBA- Finance – UCLA 1995
Ph.D. (Strategic Planning) – a joint Program between Berkley, U.C.L.A 2007, with equivalence from The Ministry of Higher Education, Lebanon under number: 2147/2007 (وج.ع).
Post Ph.D. (Macro Management) Stanford University 2008 (No Equivalence).
Professional Qualifications:
C.F.A. (“Chartered Financial Analyst”-Completed Level One) C.M.M.A. (“Chartered Marketing Management Analyst”-Completed) C.O.M.A. (“Chartered Operation Management Analyst”-Completed) APD, (Advanced Professional Degree) “Consumer Behavior and Profile Analysis”, graduated from Harvard University, 1997 Completed.
Memberships/Affiliations:
Member of the editorial board at the International Journal of Marketing Practices & Principle (IJMPP) since 2011-present
President of the Socio-Economic Assembly for Lebanon-ESAL (Previously SEAL)
Member of the World Economic Association
Founder and Secretary-General of the Continual Federal Congress Lebanon
Member of the Board of Trustees at MUC University
Former board member in the American Marketing Association
Former board member in the “Global Business Consultants Federation”
Secretary-General and Founder of the Lebanese Federation of Jiu-Jitsu
List of courses conducted:
Gave seminars and workshops to many of the Lebanese, regional and international
organizations on the following topics:
Executive Management was given to Banque Du Liban-BDL and Blom Bank, 2014, 2015 and 2017, Beirut.
Interpersonal Skills given to Blom Bank, 2016-2017, and the Lebanese Association for Certified Auditors, 2018.
Offered Enhancing Quality at work for the Lebanese Association for Certified Auditors, 2018 and the Central Bank of Lebanon- BDL, 2011.
Team Building & Conflict Management given to the International Rescue Committee-2018.
Offered Formulating (Building) Strategies) the Central Bank of Lebanon-BDL, 2015, 2017
Setting Responsibilities given The American University of Beirut, 2017.
Team Leadership, Leading Effective People offered the Ministry of Administrative Affairs of Qatar, 2016.
“Retail Sales Management offered to Fattal Holding- 2016-2017, Beirut
“Customer Service Excellence” offered to Fattal Holding 2015 2017.
“Key Account Sales Management” Given to Vincinti- 2012, 2013, and Blom Bank, 2015 .
Trained the Audit Bureau in Qatar 2018, Offered Advanced Negotiations Skills.
Offered for DEWA (Dubai Energy and Water Authority) several training programs in Initiative (Basic, Intermediate Advanced) and Strategic Planning. (2016-2017).
Offered various workshops for the ILO (Outreach Marketing, Advanced Communication Skills, and Presentation Skills).
Offered Strategic Planning Workshop for the Ministry of Administrative Affairs, Qatar (2015)
Guerilla Marketing, given in public to various companies, 2010, 2012 2012 2013
“Advanced Business Plan Development”- Given in Public, 2008, 2009
“Customer Service Excellence”- Given at the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, 2008-2009 and Lebanese Association for Certified Auditors, 2018.
“Managerial Marketing”, Given at the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, 2008, 2009
“Business Canvas Model”, given to faculty of Engineering Saint Joseph University 2012-2020 and The Lebanese Chamber of Commerce 2019.
“Guerilla Marketing” – Given in Public and to Hamra Trading and Shopping Center (GS, Bossini, Timberland, Boss, Geox, etc.), 2009.
“Time V/S Quality”- Given to “Bank Du Liban”-2007.
“Sales People Evaluation”- Given to “ The American University of Beirut”- 2006
“How to Pitch” given to the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce 2018 and Blom Bank 2017
“Developing Marketing Strategy” – Given to “ Chekerjian Investment Group” 2007
“Conducting a Market Research” – Given to “Fattal Holding”- 2005.
“E-Marketing and Business Models”- Given to “Bank Audi”-2004.
Marketing for Entrepreneurs given to the Economic Assembly for Lebanon and 2016 and Saint Joseph University 2011-2017.
“Creating a Brand Equity”- Given to “Bonja Co., 2005.
“Secrets of Closing a Sale”- Given to Vincinti- 2006.
“Consumer Behavior in B to C and B to B- Given to “- Al-Obeikan Investment Group KSA-2003.
“Defining Consumption Strategies” Given to “ BBDO-UAE-2006
“Delivering Customer Service” Given to -“Alliance Bank”-USA-2004
“Preparing a Business Plan”- Given to -“ Korrsen & Associates” USA 2003
“Managing Projects”- Given to Avery Dennison” USA-1999.
“Feasibility Study, Advanced approach” “- Given to – “McCormack” USA-2003
Oil & Experience
Wrote various articles and hosted on TV about discussing the oil and gas potentials: https://www.eliktisad.com/news/ how/47033/%D8%A7%D9https://youtu.be/a9xZXJlK1yw
Organized a conference titled the “Future of Gas in Lebanon” with the Collaboration of Faculty of Engineering at Saint Joseph University-ESIB, Socio Economic Assembly-SEAL for Lebanon and Istashria for Strategic Studies held on January 2017 http://nna leb.gov.lb/ar/show/news/266127/nna-leb.gov.lb/nna-leb.gov.lb/en
Teaching Oil and Gas Master students at the faculty of Engineering (ESIB) Saint Joseph University- USJ the Department of Oil and Gas that is supervised by Dr. Wassim Raphael contact number: 000613731450, email: Wassim.raphael@usj.edu.lb Prof. where offering Micro Planning and Development.