Muhammad A. Baasiri

Muhammad Ahmad Baasiri is a Lebanese banker, who served as Vice-Governor for the Lebanese Central Bank – Banque du Liban (BDL) https://www.bdl.gov.lb/ for two consecutive mandates (2009 – 2019). https://www.bdl.gov.lb/tabs/index/1/255/Governorate-Timeline.html 
He was a member of the Higher Banking Commission and president of the National Coordination Committee to combat money laundering.
He is currently overseeing the liquidation of Jamal Trust Bank (JTB) https://www.jtbbank.com/ . Additionally, he is the Chairman of US-MENA Private Sector Dialogue; Member and Co-founder of the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) https://www.lacpa.org.lb/ ; and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) https://www.aicpa.org/ .
Baasiri earned an academic degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut - (AUB) https://www.aub.edu.lb/ , where he lectures.
He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) https://www.aicpa-cima.com/designations-certifications/certified-public-accountant-cpa.html from the University of the State of New York (SUNY) https://www.suny.edu/ .
Baasiri chaired the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon (BCCL) http://www.bccl.gov.lb/ for two consecutive mandates (1990–2000) http://www.bccl.gov.lb/committee/bccl-board-timeline/ . He was then appointed as a resident advisor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) https://www.imf.org/external/index.htm at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) https://cbo.gov.om/ from 2000 to 2001. 
In 2001, he founded the Special Investigation Commission (SIC) https://sic.gov.lb/en/content/special-investigation-comission , which is the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Lebanon: Audit & Investigation Unit, Financial Investigation Administrative Unit, IT & Security Unit, and became the first Secretary-General till his appointment as Vice-Governor at the Lebanese Central Bank – Banque du Liban (BDL) https://www.bdl.gov.lb/ in 2009.
During his tenure, and unprecedented governance, the SIC witnessed significant achievements: 
Lebanon was removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) http://www.fatf-gafi.org/ the Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCT) list, which is the global money laundering and terrorist financing regulator
In 2001 the SIC joined the Egmont Group https://egmontgroup.org/en of Financial Intelligence Units
His efforts were also instrumental in the creation of both the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) http://www.menafatf.org/ in which he served as first president in 2005.
In 2002, he established the SIC Compliance Unit.
He had a major role in the issuance of BDL circular 83 https://www.bdl.gov.lb/circulars/download/3/en in 2001, related to Regulations on the Control of Financial and Banking Operations for Fighting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, and the related amendment later on in 2002, in addition to various SIC regulatory circulars https://sic.gov.lb/en/laws-and-regulations/3 
He was involved in the establishment of the National Committee for Coordinating Anti Money Laundering (AML) policies in 2002 http://www.legallaw.ul.edu.lb/LawView.aspx?opt=view&LawID=218024 . In addition, he had a significant role in creating the AML unit at the Lebanese Internal Security Forces http://www.isf.gov.lb/en and Customs http://www.customs.gov.lb/home.aspx 
In 2003, Baasiri included Terrorism Financing in Law 318, related to Fighting Money Laundering, that was replaced by virtue of Law No 44 https://sic.gov.lb/sites/default/files/laws-regulations/Law%2044%20En.pdf of November 24, 2015.
Baasiri served as Vice-Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank – Banque du Liban (BDL) for two consecutive mandates (2009-2019), he oversaw multiple departments at BDL. Additionally, he was a member of the Higher Banking Commission and former Chairman of the National Committee for Coordinating AML Policies. 
The Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank – Banque du Liban (BDL) Riad Toufic Salamé https://www.bdl.gov.lb/governors/more/1/23/138/Riad%20T.%20Salam%C3%A9 currently appointed Baasiri, to oversee the liquidation of Jammal Trust Bank (JTB), after the latter’s designation by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), on 29 August 2019.
Baasiri has been the Chairman of the US-MENA Private Sector Dialogue since 2005.
In addition, he is a member and co-founder of the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountant (CPAs) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). 
He earned in 1974, the Saba & Co. accounting prize. In 2000, he received official recognition from the Lebanese Government for his service. In addition, he was selected in 2008 as “Professional of the Year” for the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region.
He had numerous publications and lectured at world-renowned fora and universities in Lebanon, addressing various topics on Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
Muhammad Baasiri: Senior Banker and Businessman Becomes Prominent Premiership Candidate, Asharq Al-Awsat, July 2020 https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2383381/mohammed-baasiri-senior-banker-and-businessman-becomes-prominent-premiership 
Muhammad Baasiri: Building and Spreading Compliance Culture, ACAMS TODAY, December 2011 https://www.acamstoday.org/building-and-spreading-compliance-culture/ 
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Category:1951 births
Category:Lebanese bankers
Category:American University of Beirut alumni
Category:State University of New York alumni
Category:Lebanese people