Pierre Youssef El Daher (, born 4 October 1957) is a Lebanese businessman and the CEO of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) television.

Business life

El Daher began his career as a businessman by founding

Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (), widely known as LBCI (), Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation () or LBC () is a private television station in Lebanon. LBCI was founded in 1992 by acquiring the assets, liabilities and logo of ...

International (LBCI) alongside other shareholders in 1985.

LBCI The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (), widely known as LBCI (), Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation () or LBC () is a private television station in Lebanon. LBCI was founded in 1992 by acquiring the assets, liabilities and logo of ...

would go on to air across the

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and

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as part of its satellite station

LBC SAT The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (), widely known as LBCI (), Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation () or LBC () is a private television station in Lebanon. LBCI was founded in 1992 by acquiring the assets, liabilities and logo of ...

. After the success of LBCI in 1997 El Daher launched production house PAC ltd, which was created to become an in-house production laboratory, and remained chairman and CEO until 2011. By the end of 2008, it was decided to increase the capital by a large margin. Accordingly, Al Waleed Bin Talal became the largest shareholder as he won the absolute majority in PAC and LBC SAT provided that the increase in capital would be invested to improve the programs network and upgrade productivity. In 2010,

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joined the group and thus PAC and LBC SAT; however, the cooperation did not improve and develop the group. PAC was liquidated in 2012. After long battles before international arbitration courts, he managed to win the lawsuits against Saudi Prince

Al-Waleed Bin Talal Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud (; born 7 March 1955) is a Saudi Arabian billionaire businessman, investor, and a House of Saud royal. In 2008, he was listed on ''Time'' magazine's ''Time 100'', an annual list of the hundred most influential people ...

. A lawsuit was finalized in February 2019, when ICC International Court of Arbitration in

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issued an award in which the companies owned and controlled by Al Waleed Bin Talal lost the arbitrary proceedings filed against Pierre El Daher in person. The subject of the lawsuit is related to claims filed by several Rotana companies pursuant to the services agreement entered into on 22 February 2011 between Pierre El Daher and Rotana TV Company Ltd. As chairman of

, El Daher placed emphasis on research in the media field and to educate students. El Daher was named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2007 by Arabian Business. As CEO of LBCI, El Daher's activities include: Global Media AIDS Initiative at the UN headquarters, raising awareness and fighting AIDS, Rebuilding with Harris Corp. Iraq's media network, a project approved by the

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in 2004, cooperating with

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to highlight the children's voices via a series launched on LBCI named ''Sawtna'', advising schools on matters related to the Communication and Information Studies program. Pierre also launched "''Cheyef 7alak''" initiative, a civic movement with an ultimate goal of raising civil and social awareness, that is based on

citizen journalism Citizen journalism, also known as collaborative media, participatory journalism, democratic journalism, guerrilla journalism, grassroots journalism, or street journalism, is based upon members of the community playing an active role in the pro ...

. It gives Lebanese citizen the power to report irresponsible and dangerous behaviors for a better Lebanon. In March 2021, the

Paris Court of Appeal The Court of Appeal of Paris (, ) is the largest appeals court in France in terms of the number of cases brought before it. Its jurisdiction covers the departments of Paris, Essonne, Yonne, Seine-et-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, and Val-de-Marne. ...

upheld an ICC award, in which Al Waleed Bin Talal would be required to pay $22m to LBCI.

LBC ownership battle

The

Lebanese Forces The Lebanese Forces ( ') is a Lebanon, Lebanese Christianity in Lebanon, Christian-based political party and Lebanese Forces (militia), former militia during the Lebanese Civil War. It currently holds 19 of the 128 seats in Lebanon's Parliamen ...

initiated proceedings in Lebanon claiming ownership of LBCI and alleging criminal violations by El Daher. The Court of Appeal rejected these claims but the Court of Cassation – Criminal Chamber decided to refer the case to the Sole Criminal Judge in Beirut. On 28 February 2019, Judge Fatima al-Jouni issued a decision dropping all charges against LBCI and Pierre El Daher in the lawsuit filed by the

over the ownership of the TV channel, refuting all that has been submitted in evidence and ordering the Lebanese Forces party to pay all costs and expenses.

References

External links

LBCI Official sitePierre El Daher biographyPierre El Daher business lifeCheyef 7alak campaign
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daher, Pierre El Lebanese Maronites Businesspeople from Beirut Living people 1957 births Lebanese media executives University of Southern California alumni