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Lubna S. Olayan stands as one of the Middle East’s most influential businesswomen, breaking barriers as the CEO and Deputy Chairman of Olayan Financing Company (OFC), which manages The Olayan Group’s wide-ranging operations in the Gulf, from trading and real estate to investments and consumer sectors. Her leadership has driven OFC’s prominence in the region, reflecting her visionary approach to business.
In 2004, Lubna made history as the first woman to join the board of a publicly listed Saudi company, Alawwal Bank, where she now serves as Vice Chairman. Her board roles span globally, including positions with Schlumberger, Ma’aden, and previously WPP plc, solidifying her influence across sectors from energy and mining to advertising. She also serves on advisory boards for institutions like Akbank, Allianz SE, McKinsey & Co., and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, demonstrating her impact on a global scale.
A dedicated advocate for education and social impact, Lubna is a trustee of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Asia Business Council. As Chair of Alfanar, a pioneering UK-based venture philanthropy organization in the Arab world, she channels her leadership into empowering social development.
Recognized by Time as one of the world’s 100 most influential people and consistently featured on Fortune’s list of Most Powerful Women, Lubna has also been honored by Forbes for her contributions to business. Her accolades include an honorary Doctor of Laws from Trinity College Dublin and the prestigious Royal Order of the Polar Star from the King of Sweden.
Lubna holds a BSc from Cornell University and an MBA from Indiana University. Based in Riyadh, she balances her dynamic career with her life as a wife to John Xefos and mother to three daughters, embodying both strength in business and family values.
