Riad Salameh

Riad Toufic Salameh (Arabic: رياض توفيق سلامة; born 17 July 1950) is a Lebanese economist. He previously was governor of Lebanon's central bank, Banque du Liban, from August 1993 until July 2023. He was appointed Governor by decree, approved by the Council of Ministers for a renewable term of six years. He was reappointed for four consecutive terms; in 1999, 2005, 2011 and 2017. Riad Salameh left his position on 31 July 2023 upon the end of his term, and due to the Lebanese parliament's failure in electing a new president and forming a new government capable of appointing a successor he was succeeded by his first deputy Wassim Mansouri in an acting capacity Although credited for maintaining the stability of the Lebanese pound until 2019, Salameh has been accused of corruption, money laundering and running the largest Ponzi scheme in history; he was additionally labeled "the world’s worst central banker". He is currently under sanctions by Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.