Farid T. Salem

Farid Salem has been with the CMA CGM group since its origins.

Born and educated in Beirut, Lebanon, he holds a master’s degree in Law and Economics and began his career as a director and partner of the Lebanese company Packfreez in 1964. He successfully headed the importation and distribution activity of food products in Lebanon and then the industrial fishing operations in Madagascar and in 1974, following the Madagascar government’s nationalisation of fishing companies, he founded Polyfreez to focus on the importation and distribution of seafood products in Lebanon. In 1976, he broadened the company’s activity in Kuwait, where he was Director of Fisheries for United Fisheries of Kuwait, with a fleet of 50 freezer trawlers.

Contacted by Jacques Saadé in 1978, Farid T. Salem helped create and launch CMA (Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement) in Marseille.

In 1986, Jacques Saadé appointed him Chief Executive Vice President of CMA, then, in 1999, of CMA CGM Group, following the merger with Compagnie Générale Maritime.In 2010, Farid T. Salem was appointed Executive Officer of CMA CGM and Director of the Board.

He has been appointed Special Advisor to the Chairman and CEO sept 1rst 2018.