Leadership Across Generations: - IAM

At Sea Bird, many family members are involved in the company.
M
.S. Youssef, founder, chairman and CEO of Sea Bird
Services (SBS) in Alexandria, Egypt, began his career in
Melbourne, Australia, working with LEP Transport in 1972. He
worked his way up, eventually become financial controller of
LEP International.
In 1979 he decided to travel back to his homeland in Egypt
to launch his own freight forwarding company. But while still in
Melbourne, Youssef was fishing from the end of a pier, contemplating
on a name for his enterprise. He glanced up and noticed a
flock of seagulls—and thus Sea Bird Services was born.
Upon his return to Egypt SBS (www.seabird.com.eg) was
registered and opened for business. Youssef secured several
contracts with embassies and petroleum companies that are still
in effect some 31 years later.
Over time, all six of Youssef’s children, his spouse, and his
nephew have studied at the International Logistics Academy in
Egypt and upon completion of their studies have played active
roles in the company, handling such diverse functions as international
operations manager, export manager, traffic controller, and
others.
A pioneer in Egypt’s fledgling logistics market, Youssef has
transformed SBS into one of the country’s largest international
freight forwarding companies. It operates across six continents
and has established a network of multinational van lines worldwide.
Three decades after its founding, SBS continues to dominate
in Egypt as a family-based international freight forwarder.
Youssef predicts that he and the family members who have
made Sea Bird Services a success will continue to carry on the
company’s name both locally and internationally for generations
to come.
Sea Bird
headquarters