King’s Academy has announced the appointment of HE Bassem Al-Salem as the new chairman of the board of trustees. Mr. Al-Salem succeeds HE Karim Kawar, who has stepped down from the post in order to dedicate his time to new national responsibilities.

A founding trustee of King’s and father of a member of the pioneering Class of 2010, Al-Salem has had an illustrious career in founding and managing private companies and public organizations in Jordan. He is the co-founder and executive chairman of the board of Capital Bank Jordan, and served as minister of labor and minister of finance between 2005 and 2009.

In addition, he has played a major role in human resource development and labor issues, and has held leadership positions across several boards, including Vocational Training Corporation, Royal Investment Committee for Education, Social Security Corporation, Development and Employment Fund and the King Abdullah Fund for Development, among others.

Al-Salem expressed his pleasure at working closely with the board to continue “King’s tradition of not merely schooling our pupils, but educating them in the full sense of enriching their human capital and critical thinking capabilities.”

In a letter to the community, Kawar thanked the King’s Academy Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, and students and their parents for their collective efforts in helping make the school “recognized globally and a beacon of hope and excellence for our next generation of leaders.”

“I have had a most rewarding experience that I will cherish dearly,” he said. “Going forward, and as I transition to my new role, my devotion and loyalty to King’s Academy will remain as strong as ever.”