On September 6, 2012, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik organized a ceremony in which The Doctorate Honoris Causa in Business and Commercial Sciences was awarded to Mr. Talal Makdessi, Chairman and General Manager of The Holding Group (THG), the largest holding group specialized in Communication and Information in the Arab world. The ceremony was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr. Gabriel Caccia, Rev. Fr. Abbot Tannous Nehme, Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order, and numerous political, religious, military, municipal, educational and social dignitaries.

Following the Lebanese National Anthem and the welcome speech by Ms. Lea Yahchouchi, Prof. Nehme Azoury, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Commercial Sciences, shed light on the different achievements of the Honoree in the field of business, underlining the fact that the latter is a man who has proved that success in the business field is based on individual initiatives and an adventurer’s instinct.

In his speech, Rev. Fr. Hady Mahfouz, USEK President, highlighted the fact that Mr. Makdessi was able, amidst difficulties, to persevere, innovate, and contribute to the development of Society and the general welfare of others. “Due to his business skills and potential, he founded a number of companies in the field of advertising, marketing and media within Lebanon and abroad. Therefore, he can be considered as a reference in business, and that is why, in 2007, he was elected Man of the Year in Lebanon and in KSA, in the fields of Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising”. Fr. Mahfouz also mentioned many charity activities accomplished by the honoree, including funding the irrigation lakes project in Baalbeck, providing infirmaries, contributing to school tuition fees, distributing fruit trees, food and fuel to people in need, besides contributing to the revitalization of several sports clubs across Lebanon. At the end of his speech, Fr. Mahfouz thanked the honoree for his efficient contribution to the USEK environmental cause and the accomplishment of the first part of the Carbon Neutral University project launched in 2010.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Mr. Talal Makdessi thanked the University for this initiative and considered the Honoris Causa awarded to him as a token of loyalty and appreciation of what he has achieved throughout long years of work. He stressed that self-confidence, rejection of subordination, and non-acceptance of ‘reality’, are the pillars of success in the business world, while subordination and dependence represent the main foundation of politicians. He also mentioned that, in order to successfully develop, a company should rely on managers who must be chosen first and foremost according to their competence.

Mr. Makdessi also pointed out that “… our children are leaving their home country, emigrating, escaping. The well-educated people of our country are distinguished wherever they go because they liberated themselves from subordination, and therefore occupy high positions and excel everywhere, in the fields of sciences, arts, medicine, industry…” Mr. Makdessi concluded that “… we should stop exploitation, stop collecting wealth. Look at what happened and is happening around you and learn…”