Ahmass Fakahany
Ahmass Fakahany is a business executive and global hospitality entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Altamarea Group, a restaurant group with over 20 locations. Prior to that, he spent 21 years at Merrill Lynch, ultimately rising to President and Chief Operating Officer of the firm, where he oversaw operations in 40 countries and 63,000 employees.
Early life and education
[edit]Ahmass Fakahany was born in Cairo, Egypt. He left Egypt at the age of four and spent his formative years in Switzerland and England. At 17, he moved to the United States to pursue higher education and begin his career.[1]
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, graduating summa cum laude in 1979.[2] He later received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Business School.[2]
Career in finance
[edit]Ahmass Fakahany spent 21 years at Merrill Lynch, where he held several senior executive roles.[3] He served as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer of Global Markets and Investment Banking, and Vice Chairman, before being named Co-President and Chief Operating Officer in 2007.[citation needed]
Restaurant business
[edit]After retiring from Merrill Lynch, Ahmass Fakahany founded the hospitality firm Altamarea Group in 2009. In 2017, Inc. magazine named it one of the fastest-growing private companies in America.[4] As of 2025, the group has rapidly grown to own and operate over 20 restaurants worldwide, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Dubai, Istanbul, Riyadh, and New Delhi , including its flagship, Marea, in New York City.[4]
In 2019, Altamarea expanded internationally with Marea Dubai at the DIFC. The restaurant was included in the Michelin Guide for Dubai in 2022.[4][5]
Altamarea’s portfolio includes fine-dining venues such as Ai Fiori and Osteria Morini in New York, as well as quality-casual Italian concepts like Nicoletta and Ristorante Morini in Washington, D.C., Miami, New York, New Jersey, Istanbul, and Riyadh. The group has also developed international concepts such as Mohalla, a modern Indian street-food restaurant, and 11 Woodfire, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Dubai.[4]
In 2022, the group opened 53, a contemporary Asian restaurant located in Midtown Manhattan.[6]
Also in 2017, Fakahany launched Atelier House Hospitality, a hospitality consultancy affiliated with Altamarea Group.[4]
Fakahany also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Boston University, a role he assumed in September 2022.[7][8]
Awards and honors
[edit]- James Beard Foundation Award – Best New Restaurant (2010): Marea won this prestigious accolade in 2010.[9]
- Michelin Guide Recognition:
- AAA Five Diamond Award (2011–2023): Marea maintained AAA's elite Five Diamond status for over a decade.[12]
- National media honors: Marea received a three‑star review from The New York Times and was listed among the "Best New Restaurants" by *Bon Appétit*, *Esquire*, and *GQ*.[13]
- 2015 Richard Melman Innovator of the Year Award: Ahmass Fakahany received this award from *Restaurant Hospitality*.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ BU Trustees Next Chair: Ahmass Fakahany, BU Today, 6 December 2021
- ^ a b Board of Trustees Welcomes Three Members from Questrom, Boston University Questrom School of Business, 5 October 2016
- ^ Ahmass L. Fakahany to Retire from Merrill Lynch, Global Custodian, 7 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Ahmass Fakahany Profile – Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
- ^ a b Revealed: Dubai’s First Michelin‑Starred Restaurants, Gulf Business, 21 June 2022 Cite error: The named reference "GulfBusiness" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ NYC’s Newest Restaurant 53 Is An Art‑Filled Dining Destination Next To MoMA, Forbes, 18 April 2022
- ^ Ahmass Fakahany – Board of Trustees, Boston University
- ^ BU Trustees Next Chair: Ahmass Fakahany, BU Today, 6 December 2021
- ^ The 2010 James Beard Foundation Award Winners, James Beard Foundation, 3 May 2010
- ^ Michelin Guide – Marea, NYC
- ^ Michelin Guide – Ai Fiori, NYC
- ^ AAA Unveils 2019 Five Diamond Award Honorees, AAA Newsroom, 31 January 2019
- ^ Marea – Review, The New York Times, 29 July 2009
- ^ Michael White, Ahmass Fakahany capture 2015 Richard Melman Award, Restaurant Hospitality, 21 September 2015