Tarek Ben Halim

Tarek Ben Halim (1955-2009) was a Libyan investment banker, who left banking in 2000 to pursue charitable work and promote justice and democracy in the Arab World. In 2004, he founded Alfanar the first Arab venture philanthropy organisation aiming to introduce a more effective and sustainable approach to development in the Arab region.[1]

Tarek Ben Halim
Born4 December 1955
Tripoli, Libya
Died11 December 2009
OccupationInvestment banker
Known forFounder of Alfanar
Spouse(s)Cynthia Oakes
Children3
Parent(s)
RelativesJohn Bertram Oakes (father-in-law)

Early life

Ben Halim was born in Tripoli, Libya on 4 December 1955 to a Palestinian mother, Yusra Kanaan, and Libyan father, Mustafa Ben Halim. His father served as Prime Minister of Libya from 1954 to 1957 and Libyan Ambassador to France from 1958 to 1960.

After the coup that brought Muammar Gaddafi to power in 1969, Ben Halim and his family were exiled, and moved to Beirut before settling in London. He was educated at Atlantic College in Wales, and went on to study Finance at Warwick University before receiving an MBA from Harvard Business School.[2]

Career

He had a career in investment banking which included positions at JP Morgan, Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman Sachs, where he became a managing director. In 2000, Ben Halim was responsible for the $2 billion flotation of Turkcell, which at the time was the largest ever emerging market IPO.[3]

Exile from Libya taught Ben Halim early on about the perils of politics in the Arab world. Combined with the stories of his mother's flight from Palestine, it had a strong influence on his belief in justice and democracy as necessary tools for improving lives and communities in the region.[4]

In a commentary piece published in The Los Angeles Times in February 2003, Ben Halim criticised "self-serving, unrepresentative governments that have, with few exceptions, ruled the Arab world since the 19th century". He hoped that changing the Iraqi regime in 2003 would cause similar changes in leadership across the region. He volunteered to work with the British forces and was appointed Deputy Director of private sector development with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). However, he soon became frustrated with the CPA's approach. "He [Ben Halim] felt that the occupying force seemed more focused on quick gain rather than building a sustainable framework that would survive its departure." He resigned after only a few months.

Alfanar and investment banking.

Ben Halim's time in Iraq strengthened his determination to put into practice what Arab governments had long failed to do – improve livelihoods by responding to community needs. In 2004, he started Alfanar ("lighthouse" in Arabic) to promote a strong, vibrant, professional civil society in the Arab world. Alfanar aims to improve lives in disadvantaged communities throughout the region by fostering the growth of innovative, self-reliant organisations that effectively respond to pressing, long-term community needs.[5]

Death

Ben Halim died on 11 December 2009 aged 54 after being diagnosed with brain cancer 14 months earlier. He was married to Cynthia Oakes, a Princeton graduate and daughter of US journalist John Bertram Oakes.[6] They had three children: Omar, Kais and Leila. His obituary in The Guardian describes him as "a man of high principle and humour".[7]

gollark: Doctor When, Doctor Why, Doctor What...
gollark: ***big hydronitrogen is watching you***
gollark: I meant "wrote that in the book titled 1984", yes.
gollark: The book is 1984.
gollark: <@139395104455524352> George Orwell wrote it in 1984.

References
  1. Alfanar. "Our Founder". Alfanar's founder. Alfanar. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  2. "Tarek Ben Halim". The Daily Telegraph. London. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  3. Thomas, Gina (13 January 2010). "Tarek Ben Halim Obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  4. "Tarek Ben Halim Sought Arab Economic Unity". Archived Edition. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  5. Giving, Inspiring. "A guide to giving". Tarek Ben Halim. Philanthropy UK. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  6. "Cynthia Oakes, Tarek Ben Halim". Weddings. 20 December 1992. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  7. Odriscoll, David. "Tarek Ben Halim". talented financier who cared deeply for Middle East. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
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