Entrepreneurs’ Organization Welcomes New Chairman

Alexandria, Virginia, USA (1 July 2012)-On 1 July 2012, the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) will welcome Samer Kurdi as the organization’s new Chairman of the Global Board of Directors. A nine-year member of EO’s Saudi Arabia chapter, Kurdi has been actively involved in the organization’s leadership since joining EO, including serving on the Global Board for the past two years. His tenure as Chairman in FY2012/2013 will focus primarily on the totality of the entrepreneur; specifically, through an “EO360°” theme that supports all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey and encourages excellence in business and beyond.

“Entrepreneurs play a large role in creating prosperous communities, and now is a uniquely exciting time to be a business owner,” said Kurdi. “EO is committed to helping leading entrepreneurs learn and grow, both as business owners and as people. I am looking forward to a very impactful year within EO.”

Kurdi is the owner and Group Deputy General Manager of Saudi-based Sunbulah Group, a regional pioneer in food processing, manufacturing and distribution. Samer and his wife, Dema, are the proud parents of two girls, Maria and Asiya.

The EO Global Board also welcomes Gus Valen of EO Cincinnati, who joins the Board as Chairman-Elect-Elect. Blair Assaly of EO Edmonton and Jody Dharmawan of EO Indonesia also stepped into Director positions on the Board.

The Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global business network of more than 8,500 business owners in 121 chapters and more than 40 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO enables small and large business owners to learn from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. The organization’s vision is to build the world's most influential community of entrepreneurs, which aligns with its mission of supporting entrepreneurial education and engaging entrepreneurs to learn and grow.

This year, EO is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with events around the world, which will highlight the growth of its entrepreneur network and its role in the lives of members everywhere. As a global business owner network and association, EO helps to transform the lives of the entrepreneurs who transform the world. EO educates, inspires and offers invaluable resources in the form of events, leadership-development programs, an entrepreneur forum and business owner education opportunities, among other resources designed for business growth.

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization also operates the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), the premier award program for undergraduate students that own and run businesses while attending a college or university; and Accelerator, a series of quarterly, high-impact learning events designed to provide top business owners with the tools, knowledge and skills they need to grow their businesses to more than US$1 million in annual revenue.