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Meridian International Center Honors ARTOC Group Chairman and Managing Director, M. Shafik Gabr, and Former Airbus Group Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sean O’Keefe with Meridian Global Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, Washington’s top government and corporate leaders, along with countless international leaders, convened for the Meridian Global Leadership Awards to honor two distinguished leaders - M. Shafik Gabr, Chairman and Managing Director of ARTOC Group for Investment and Development, who received this year’s Meridian Global Citizen Award and Sean O’Keefe, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Group, Inc., recipient of the Meridian Corporate Leader Award.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown and chaired by Secretary Ray LaHood, Senior Policy Advisor, DLA Piper and Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, the Meridian Global Leadership Awards reception and dinner were attended by members of the diplomatic and congressional communities, international and domestic policy-makers, CEOs of multi-national corporations, and prominent media figures. High profile figures included - Former President of the Czech Republic, His Excellency Václav Klaus; Former President of the Republic of Colombia, His Excellency Andrés Pastrana Arango; Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA); Congressman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV); Congressman Thomas Petri (R-WI); Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD); and Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the U.S., His Excellency Mohamed Tawfik.
The Meridian Global Leadership Awards honor those who, by their actions and practices, exemplify the positive impact individual and corporate leaders can have in their communities and the world. These individuals are champions of Meridian’s belief that all citizens can be global leaders, and they share Meridian’s commitment to promote international understanding through the exchange of ideas, people, and culture.
M. Shafik Gabr, Chairman and Managing Director, ARTOC Group for Investment and Development, was awarded the Meridian Global Citizen Award for his work, and that of the Shafik Gabr Foundation, in cultural diplomacy and commitment to building bridges of understanding between the Middle East, the U.S., and around the world. Mr. Gabr, an international business leader, philanthropist, and one of the world’s leading collectors of Orientalist art, was introduced by Secretary Ray LaHood, Senior Policy Advisor, DLA Piper and Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary.
The Honorable Sean O’Keefe, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Group, Inc., received the Meridian Corporate Leader Award for his leadership at NASA and the U.S. Navy, dedication to corporate citizenship at Airbus, and commitment to empowering the next generation through leadership in higher education. Regarded as a global leader in the aerospace and defense industry, Mr. O’Keefe was presented with his award by Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday, President & CEO of Meridian International Center.
Mr. Gabr graciously thanked Meridian International Center for the Global Citizen Award and expressed the belief that: “true global leadership emanates from an appreciation for open dialogue, exchange, and collaboration. Globalization has forced all leaders, in all sectors - political, medical, education, business, IT, and finance – to face head-on the fact that we can only enter new markets, engage new target audiences, and optimize our individual and collective performance, by broadening our understanding of people and cultures around the world. This is why East-West: The Art of Dialogue is such an integral part of my life’s work. The young people who participate in this program are the leaders of tomorrow, and when they increase their cultural understanding and master the art of dialogue and collaboration, we can be guaranteed of a more peaceful and prosperous world. I am humbled and honored to accept the Meridian Global Citizen Award and thank Meridian for providing this platform for continuing our work.”
On accepting the Meridian Corporate Leader Award, Mr. O’Keefe stated: “Meridian International Center has distinguished itself for building bridges, for providing the neutral ground on which we can all come together at a time when there are too many excuses for global divisiveness. When I consider the Center’s vital mission, I am truly humbled to be singled out for whatever very modest contributions I may have made to the causes that so many of us believe in.”
Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday recognized the significant contributions of Mr. Gabr and Mr. O’Keefe in setting an example for the next generation of global leaders and preparing them for a dynamic and complex world. According to Ambassador Holliday, “We see the ripples of global change every day, when the world’s top leaders come together at Meridian to develop solutions to the complex challenges facing their organizations, communities, and countries. These challenges will not resolve themselves. They can only be overcome through the work of solid global leaders, like Sean O’Keefe and Shafik Gabr, who have demonstrated through their successful efforts that global leadership requires seeing beyond the immediate confines of our own situations and challenges, to reaching across sectors and borders to collaborate. We are privileged to honor these phenomenal leaders and wish them continued success in their ongoing work to bring about positive change in the world.”
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About Meridian International Center
Headquartered in Washington, DC, Meridian International Center is a premier international leadership organization that provides valuable insight and experiences across borders, cultures, and sectors.
Meridian works with U.S. Department of State, partners in the government, private, NGO, and educational sectors globally to create lasting international partnerships through leadership programs and cultural exchanges. Meridian also connects U.S. and foreign governments with the private sector to respond to global challenges and sustain impact.
Meridian’s mission is to create innovative exchange, educational, cultural, and policy programs that advance three goals:
