Ayman Hariri
Ayman Hariri is a Lebanese billionaire and progressive investor with a passion for responsible technology. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vero, an ad-free social media platform that lets users share music, videos and photos. He aspired to create a social networking platform that protects user privacy and prioritizes genuine connection over engagement. Previously, he was the former CEO of Saudi Oger, one of Saudi Arabia's biggest construction companies and the source of the Hariri family fortune. While at Saudi Oger, he oversaw some of the biggest projects the company undertook including King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST), Princess Noura University in Riyadh and the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh and other major public projects.
Ayman Hariri Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Co-Founder and CEO
Academic History
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B.S., Computer Science
Today, Vero is a global community of people connecting over shared passions and interests – including TV shows, books, music, photos and more.
He wanted to create a social media platform that reflects and captures the greatest social network – the one that already exists between people. VERO was designed to mimic real world interactions and create a community where people can connect over shared passions.
MORE ABOUT AYMAN
Ayman is a son of the late Rafik Hariri, Lebanon's prime minister, who was assassinated while in office in 2005.
He inherited a stake in his father's Saudi-based construction company Saudi Oger, and sold it to his brother Saad in 2014.
In 2017, he sold his 42% stake in family holding company GroupeMed, which has interests in banking and real estate, for $535 million.
He invests in startups through New York-based firm Red Sea Ventures; among its investments was the smart thermostat Nest, now part of Google.
RECOGNITION
2024 Forbes Richest Billionaires - Middle East
MEDIA
Ayman has been featured or profiled in various media outlets.
He has appeared in World Economic Forum, SALT, Forbes, CNBC, CNN, Vanity Fair, and Real Vision, among others.