Outgoing Aramex boss vows not to be 'backseat driver'

The founder of Aramex, the global delivery company which was the first Arab firm to list on the NASDAQ, has insisted he won’t be a “backseat driver” when he steps down as CEO later this year.

Fadi Ghandour, 53, started Aramex in Jordan from scratch 30 years ago - and has seen it battle both DHL and FedEx to surge into a $700 million company active in 60 countries across the globe with first-quarter profits for this year of $16 million - up 22 per cent on the same period last year.

Ghandour, however, will hand over the reins of his beloved firm to Hussein Hachem, currently the firm’s chief executive for the Middle East and North Africa, come the end of this year. But in a speech in Dubai yesterday, he insisted he’ll let the new incumbent get on with the job.

“No, I will not be a backseat driver,” he told delegates at the Arabian Business Forum at Dubai’s swish Armani Hotel yesterday.

“Hussein has been with me for 20 years. You have to let someone drive with you for a long period of time before throwing them into the front seat.”

Ghandour, however, added he would be “leaving without leaving.” He said: “I will still be a board member, still be vice chairman, still be around.”