Our Founder.
Tarek Ragheb is an international executive with diverse backgrounds spanning government services, corporate expertise, entrepreneurship and NGOs
Ragheb is the Founding Chairman of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) and former Senior Consultant to Gulfstream Aerospace. Before AfBAA, Ragheb was the Senior Advisor to Gulfstream subsequent to having been Gulfstream’s Vice President International for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has had a career in the private sector serving in leadership positions in major U.S. Aerospace and Defense companies and has held the position of Vice President for General Electric Aerospace and Military Engines Operations in North Africa and the Middle East.
Born in Egypt, Ragheb later immigrated with his family to the United States in the late 60s, where he would pursue his education and join the U.S Air Force and U.S State Department. Ragheb served in the State Department as a Political Military Attaché at the U.S Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During his tour at the Embassy Ragheb authored a 1986 briefing on Arab Peninsula Affairs, which was briefed to the President of the United States.
After his government service, Ragheb moved to work in the private sector and join GE Aerospace as Vice President Middle East in 1988, and subsequently President Martin Marietta Middle East, and finally Gulfstream Aerospace in 1994 for a 20-year career in business aviation, which he ended as Senior Vice President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa. While at Gulfstream Aerospace, Ragheb led a highly motivated sales team that became one of the most successful in the industry.
Tarek Ragheb has also contributed as Non-Executive Director of Investment and Advisor for Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Ltd and served as President for Martin Marietta for the Middle East region. In addition, Mr. Ragheb founded De Birs Yachts, a leading design and manufacturing shipyard, ITS information services and finally Al Hora Group operating several duty free shopping zones in 3 international airports in the Arab Republic of Egypt.