60 December 2016 www.bahrainthismonth.com interview Waleed Kanoo Waleed Kanoo is well known for being an astute businessman, but there is much more to him than meets the eye. As well as being the chairman of Motor City Holdings BSC and sitting on various boards, including the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bahrain, the American Chamber of Commerce in Bahrain and the Bahraini Family Business Association, he also has a carefree side. Waleed says he gives his heart while he’s in the office and tries to make business hours the most productive part of his day. However, when he’s not making big-money deals, he can be found cruising the Kingdom’s highways, clad in leather, atop his prized Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He says: “When I ride, all the BUILDING ON LEGACY stress of the day drifts away. It gives me time to think and unwind and there’s nothing better than the open road.” Changing from his smart business attire into a biker jacket is an important part of the process. He explains: “When I get dressed to ride, it’s another me, it’s the ‘free’ Waleed. When I’m at work, I need to be perceived as professional and successful and the clothes really do make the man. However, at the end of the day, I’m only human and there is more than one side to me.” Waleed says that riding motorcycles brings people from all different walks of life together. “If you ask someone to describe a biker, there’s a good chance they say someone with tattoos and long hair – that is a stereotype,” he explains. “There are CEOs, doctors, engineers, musicians, young and older people, all enjoying CHARLIE HOLDING This leading businessman talks to BTM about his plans for 2017 and why you should never judge a book by its cover. the same thing.” The EK Kanoo company was founded by Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo – who was born in 1920 when the automotive industry was still in its infancy. He set the foundation of the company, becoming a true business pioneer and, by 1950, he was firmly established as a leading importer of automobiles and automotive parts in Bahrain. His early entrepreneurial success culminated in a partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation in 1967, which enabled him to establish firm foundations for his company. In 1974, Ebrahim’s sons, Mohamed and Fuad, assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of the business, steering it into a new era and turning it into one of the most successful automotive companies in the region.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==