Early Life and Education

Jacques Rodolphe Saadé was born on February 7, 1937, in Tripoli, Lebanon, to a Syrian Christian Orthodox family. His father, Rodolphe Saadé, was a successful entrepreneur in Syria, managing businesses in tobacco, cottonseed, olive oil, and ice production. His mother, Odette Nauphal, came from a prominent Lebanese family. Growing up in Lebanon and Syria, Jacques developed an early interest in business. After his father’s death in 1958, he took over the family business at age 21. He graduated from the London School of Economics in 1957, equipping him with a strong foundation in economics and commerce. Following his father’s advice, Saadé interned in New York, where he discovered the potential of containerized shipping, a concept then used by the U.S. military. He later remarked, “I thought the container was an excellent idea for transporting goods as it was closed, easy, and quick.”

Career and Founding of CMA CGM

The nationalization policies of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad forced the Saadé family to relocate to Beirut. However, the Lebanese Civil War in 1978 prompted Jacques to move again, this time to Marseille, France, where he founded the Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA) on September 13, 1978. Starting modestly with one ship, four employees, and a single route connecting Marseille to Beirut via Italy and Syria, Saadé envisioned a global shipping empire driven by containerization. His belief in the container’s transformative potential and the rise of international trade fueled CMA’s growth.

In 1983, Saadé expanded CMA’s routes beyond the Mediterranean, crossing the Suez Canal to reach the Gulf of Oman. Anticipating Asia’s rise as a global manufacturing hub, he opened CMA’s first office in Shanghai in 1992, a strategic move that positioned the company as a pioneer in the region. Through acquisitions, including the privatization of Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM) in 1996, the merger of CMA and CGM in 1999, and the acquisition of Delmas in 2005, Saadé transformed CMA CGM into the world’s third-largest container shipping company by 2006. The company now operates over 500 vessels, serving 420 ports across 160 countries, employing 30,000 people worldwide, including 2,400 in Marseille.

Leadership and Vision

Saadé’s leadership was marked by bold decisions and a commitment to innovation. He invested in large, environmentally advanced vessels, such as the CMA CGM Marco Polo (16,020 TEU) in 2012, and prioritized sustainability, exemplified by the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé, the world’s largest LNG-powered container ship named in his honor. Despite a family dispute with his brother Johnny, resolved in Jacques’ favor by 2014, he maintained CMA CGM’s family-oriented values, involving his children, Rodolphe, Tanya, and Jacques Jr., in key roles. In 2017, on his 80th birthday, Saadé appointed his son Rodolphe as CEO, later naming him chairman, while Jacques remained founder chairman until his death.

Personal Life and Legacy

Jacques Saadé was married to Naila, and they had three children: Rodolphe, Tanya, and Jacques Jr. A private individual, he was a polyglot fluent in Arabic, French, English, and Italian, and an avid sailor. Deeply connected to Marseille, he commissioned the iconic CMA CGM Tower, designed by Zaha Hadid, as the company’s headquarters in 2006. Saadé also supported education and philanthropy through the Jacques Saadé Foundation, promoting cultural and educational initiatives in Lebanon and France.

Saadé passed away on June 24, 2018, at age 81 in Marseille. His funeral was held at La Major Cathedral, and tributes from figures like French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe highlighted his visionary impact. His legacy endures through CMA CGM’s global dominance and honors like the naming of an École Nationale Supérieure Maritime officer class after him.

Awards and Honors

• 2007: Seatrade’s “Personality of the Year”
• 2009: Officer of the French Legion of Honor
• 2012: Lifetime Achievement Award, Containerisation International
• 2013: Admiralitäts-Portugaleser, City of Hamburg
• 2014: Honorary Doctorate, Lebanese American University
• 2015: Commander of the French Legion of Honor
• 2016: Commander of the Ordre National du Mérite Maritime
• Lebanon’s National Order of the Cedar

Jacques Saadé’s foresight and entrepreneurial spirit revolutionized global shipping, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and the city of Marseille, where his legacy continues to thrive.