Fuad Sawaya '86
Fuad currently serves as Vice Chairman and Global Head of Consumer Investment Banking at Canaccord Genuity, a globally renowned full-service investment bank. With over three decades of passion, energy, and industry experiences, Fuad has been instrumental in guiding some of the most respected Consumer Branded companies in the US and abroad. His strategic insights have enabled public companies, private equity portfolios, and family businesses to achieve their long-term value creation strategies. Inspired by visionaries like Steve Jobs, Fuad established Sawaya Partners in September 2001. Recognizing the need to differentiate as a boutique firm amidst a sea of large investment banks, he embodied Job’s mantra to "think different." Fuad advocated a business model that prioritized building deep, long-term relationships over mere transactional interactions, thus fostering a trust-driven environment anchored in integrity and dedicated service.
He also understood the importance of fostering a collaborative and nurturing corporate culture, one that promotes employee well-being and professional growth, without compromising on integrity, expertise, and trust. This philosophy gave birth to the 'Invested Banking' ethos, a cornerstone of Sawaya Partners' brand identity. As a strong believer in the power of empathetic leadership, Fuad places equal value on emotional intelligence and professional competencies, fostering an environment where each team member feels seen, heard, and valued. His leadership philosophy stems from the belief that a team's success is built on the collective strengths of its individuals.
Under Fuad’s leadership, Sawaya Partners – now rebranded as CG Sawaya Partners – has emerged as a trusted advisor to esteemed clients, including Johnson & Johnson, Bayer AG, Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Groupe SEB, and Conair. Fuad is a sought-after speaker at Consumer Healthcare conferences across the U.S. and Europe.
Before launching Sawaya Partners, Fuad led JP Morgan's Middle Market Consumer Products Group and PaineWebber, Inc's Consumer Products Investment Banking Group. Outside his professional endeavors, Fuad leads a dynamic lifestyle, having participated in activities ranging from running marathons and completing triathlons, to racing cars across Europe. He is also a licensed private pilot and has a keen interest in Middle Eastern postal history. Above all, Fuad is the proud father of two young men, Philippe and Alex, and cherishes the time spent with his family and two dogs.
Fuad, a proud alumnus (class of '79), holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering degree from the American University of Beirut and an M.B.A. from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. Currently, he contributes his expertise as a member of the Advisory Boards of the Chazen Institute at Columbia Business School and SEAL of Lebanon.
Fuad earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1983 and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Columbia Graduate School of Business in 1986. He lives in New York.