On February 25, Ibrahim Mehleb was named as Egypt’s new prime minister, succeeding Dr. Hazem el-Beblawi. Mehleb was minister of housing in the recently resigned Hazem El-Beblawi government.
Early Life & Education:
Born in 1949, Mehleb graduated with a degree in engineering from Cairo University in 1972.
He then worked for Arab Contractors in 1972, the leading state-owned constructions company in Egypt.
Early Career:
Mehleb was gradually promoted in Arab Contractors, first as director of Bridges Constructions department in the company, then its technical manager in Saudi Arabia, then board member, then vice president, until he became the Chairman of the Board.
He has been the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of The Arab Contractors Osman Ahmed Osman & Co since November 2001.
Under Mehleb’s leadership, the company carried out major projects in Cairo, including the construction of major bridges.
He served as the Chief Operating Officer of Abdullah A. M. Al-Khodari Sons Company. He served as Manager of Bridge Department since December 1994. He served as Technical Manager of Saudi Arab Contractors Company from 1985 to 1987
In July 2013, he was appointed as the Minister of Housing in the military-installed Beblawi government.
Memberships:
Mehleb was a member of the Policies Committee of the dissolved National Democratic Party (NDP). He was appointed by the ousted president Hosni Mubarak as a member of parliament in the Shura Council (the Upper House) in 2010.
He held a number of other posts, including the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Egyptian Contractors Union, board member of Civil Engineering Research Center at Cairo University, board member of Housing and Construction Research Center, vice president of the Business Organizations for Preserving the Environment, board member of the Governors Council in the Arab Water Council, and board member of Suez Bank.
He was also a member of a number international organizations such as the International Bridges and Constructions Organization in Switzerland.
Remarks:
“I think he will be a very practical prime minister, but of course it is a very difficult position given the economic problems and the very high expectations of the public,” said Angus Blair, chairman of business and economic forecasting think-tank Signet, who recently heard Mahlab speak at a seminar.
“He was very frank about the problems Egypt faces and very clear that you have to bring the population with you on what needs to done in policies that would have to be undertaken to improve the economy,” he said.
Sources: Reuters, Ahram Online, Middle East Monitor, Businessweek, and Amwal Al Ghad English.
