Aharonian Ara

Ara Aharonian, a French-Armenian pioneer entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader, was born in Beirut in 1956. He is the grandson of Kaspar Menak, a former French army officer and an emblematic figure of the Armenian community in Lebanon. Honoring his remarkable heritage, Ara was named a Knight of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

After earning a BA in Economics from the AUB in 1979, Aharonian moved to France, where he completed a master’s degree in business administration at INSEAD in 1981. In 1988, he founded Francare, among other companies, which became a European leader in industrial equipment for the mining and Oil and Gaz industries, as well as medical technologies, with extensive operations across Africa, Middle East and South East Asia.

A man of integrity, compassion, and action, Aharonian has played a significant role in philanthropy and community service. He served as an active member and General Secretary of AGBU France and contributed to the Fondation Alliance Arménienne in Geneva, a philanthropic organization focused on child protection, supporting vulnerable elderly populations, and addressing the root causes of emigration from Armenia. Additionally, he has been a major benefactor and President of the Fund dedicated to the renovation of the Sainte-Croix Cathedral of the Catholic Armenians of France.

Together with his supportive wife, Sylva, daughter of the late philanthropist Garo Krikorian of Sudan, the couple is committed to preserving and passing on their rich immaterial heritage to future generations.
They are blessed with two sons: Gary, a lawyer, and Leon, an engineer, who serve as pillars and the future of the various enterprises Aharonian has established.

Sources / Links
https://www.paris.fr/pages/la-cathedrale-sainte-croix-des-armeniens-retrouve-sa-splendeur-6901
https://www.insead.edu/
https://francare.com/