Khalid Dalal

He has founded Mohammad and Mahera Abu Ghazaleh Foundation in Amman, named after him and his wife, with a mandate to ensure that art and culture are accessible to the broader public.

The facility is among several art projects Abu Ghazaleh has established or lent support to in several countries, including two in Palestine, his homeland, where he and his art-loving family supported the development of the Palestinian Art Museum and the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.

Born in Jerusalem in 1942, art is the everyday magic word in the world of Abu Ghazaleh, who celebrates his 83rd birth anniversary today Sunday.

The successes he has made in his long career, despite numerous formidable challenges as a business tycoon, require the creativity, foresight, insight, and meticulousness of an artist.

Beneath the numbers, business strategies and a hands-on, sharp style of management lies the real story.

Chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce, one of the world’s leading producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, along with other iconic businesses across the board, Abu Ghazaleh has built a legacy that extends beyond doing mere business.

Honored with the Order of Al Istiqlal of the First Degree by His Majesty King Abdullah II for his contributions to Jordan’s economy and charity work, his success lies in a philosophy, a discipline, and an approach mixed with a passion to tackle the hardest of challenges and come up with a masterpiece achievement.

He likes to breathe life into businesses on the brink, venture into new opportunities, and stand out as man of a magic touch. Put another way, Abu Ghazaleh’s success is the product of an artist’s eye for opportunity, balance, and precision, leading, as a whole, to perfection.

We see how great artists have the ability to detect value in materials others overlook. Abu Ghazaleh has such a great gift.

In mid-90s, when he acquired Fresh Del Monte, the company was severely struggling, but he managed to regain its financial stability. Within a year, he had led its IPO endeavor and landed in the New York Stock Exchange, selling 30 percent of its shares for $255 million. That was only the beginning of a journey that saw the company expand across continents, diversifying its products, and setting new industry benchmarks to become a global leader in the fruit and vegetable industry.

Also like a visionary artist, Abu Ghazaleh knows how to assemble the right elements to reach excellence. His ventures are marked by an ability to identify strengths and talents and nurture them into competitive advantages.

He is able to sustain the sensitive balance of innovation and discipline, with a leadership style that insightfully navigates the complexities, skillfully manages risk and masterfully streamlines operations, to eventually create something that is endurable, resilient and lasting.

In another manifestation of creativity, he embraces change as art is dynamic, rather than static. He leverages AI, for example, in operational efficiency or expands into new product lines, always adopting novel tools and mediums.

That applies to his ventures in the realms of aviation, healthcare, insurance, agriculture, and food industries. Each new initiative adds a new brush stroke to the bigger picture of his legacy, one that is defined by both breadth and depth.

From seizing opportunities, to the art of leadership, to being a prominent cultural philanthropist, Abu Ghazaleh has truly mastered the craft of bringing visions to life, embodied in a collection of masterpieces that will always tell the story of a talented artist.

Throughout history, heroes have inspired us with their remarkable achievements. Mohammad Abu Ghazaleh is an epitome of heroism, and deserves to be recognized for demonstrating that, with knowledge, vision, hard-work, perseverance, integrity, and honesty, even the most ambitious dreams can become realities.

Khalid Dalal is a former advisor at the Royal Hashemite Court, former director of media and communication at the Office of His Majesty King Abdullah, and currently works as a senior advisor for media, strategic communication, PR, speechwriting, international cooperation, marketing, business development, and fundraising locally, regionally, and globally.