Majid Al Futtaim Holding, the Dubai-based shopping malls operator, has appointed Alain Bejjani as CEO, replacing Iyad Malas, who will step down with immediate effect.

Bejjani was the Chief Corporate Development and Brand Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding (profile) responsible for driving the brand and business vision, strategy, innovation and intellectual property at a group level as well as its portfolio management.

He joined Majid Al Futtaim Properties in 2006 as Vice President Legal, and was thereafter appointed to be Head of Business Development for Majid Al Futtaim Properties in 2009. His role further expanded to include leading the re-branding of Majid Al Futtaim as well as the Corporate Branding function.

Bejjani serves on the Board of Directors of several of Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ joint ventures including The Wave, Muscat; Waterfront City in Lebanon; Enshaa PSC in Dubai; The Emirates Egypt Malls Company; and Sharjah Holding.

Prior to joining the company, Alain Bejjani was Executive Vice-Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) since 2001 and was a Founding Partner of legal advisory, Bejjani, Melkane, Rached Law Offices in Lebanon.

He is a founder and board member of the Lebanese Chapter of the Young Arab Leaders and a board member of the Lebanese Economic Forum. He is also a member of the Beirut Bar Association, as well as an executive committee member and central coordinator at the Lebanese International Business Council.

Bejjani completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Université Paris XII. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Law, and a Masters Degree in Civil and Corporate Law.