Radwan Khawatmi

Born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1952, he arrived in Italy in the 1970s to pursue his studies. He obtained a PhD in Industrial Science and Commerce from the American University.

At the age of just 27, he joined Indesit, rising through the ranks to become head of international sales (Indesit was then a company employing 18,000 people). Under his leadership, overseas turnover rose from 500 million lire to 30 billion.

Following his time at Indesit, he decided to set up his own business and founded Hirux International in Parma, a company in the household appliances sector; today it is a leader in the production and distribution of household appliances in the Middle East and North Africa, with a turnover of 50 million euros. His company was named a leader for Italian excellence worldwide, a highly coveted award in the business world, in 2015 in Munich.

He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Pio Manzù Centre and head of the Middle East Department; he was the organiser and architect of Palestinian President Arafat’s visit to the Italian Parliament.
An expert and connoisseur of Middle Eastern issues, particularly regarding Syria and the Islamic world.

Winner of the Franca Florio Award – Region of Sicily in 2010, and winner of the MoneyGram Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2009.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Aga Khan Foundation.