Selim Bassoul is a legendary operator and visionary leader who transformed The Middleby Corporation from a niche manufacturer into a global powerhouse. Under his 23-year tenure as CEO, Middleby’s market capitalization skyrocketed from $100 million to over $6 billion. Most recently, he served as CEO of Six Flags Entertainment, where he led a strategic shift toward premium guest experiences and operational excellence.

He is widely recognized for his "inverted pyramid" management philosophy, a model that eliminates corporate bureaucracy to empower frontline employees and prioritize customer needs. His focus on radical innovation led to the development of industry-standard technologies, including the automated and ventless cooking systems used by the world’s largest restaurant chains.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Selim is a dedicated humanitarian. Through the Bassoul Dignity Foundation, he has personally engineered high-efficiency relief stoves and solar-powered ovens to provide sustainable solutions for refugee camps and displaced populations worldwide.

A frequent speaker on disruptive innovation and lean management, he has been honored as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and is consistently cited as one of the most effective value-creating CEOs in the industrial sector. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.A. from the American University of Beirut.