Haile
Gebrselassie

From world records to local EV assembly, Haile Gebrselassie has carried the discipline of elite sport into a new generation of Ethiopian enterprise.

Haile Gebrselassie is one of the greatest distance runners of all time. The Ethiopian athlete won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles in the 10,000 metres, and broke 27 world records during an extraordinary career on the track and road.

His second act has been built in business. Through Haile Hotels & Resorts and a wider portfolio of Ethiopian enterprises, Haile has invested in jobs, tourism and long-term national growth.

As Chairman and co-founder of Marathon Motor Engineering, he became one of Ethiopia’s early business leaders to act on the potential of electric mobility. The company’s partnership with Hyundai brought local vehicle assembly to Addis Ababa and produced Ethiopia’s first locally assembled all-electric Hyundai Ioniq in 2020.

The company has also supported the development of local charging infrastructure—moving Ethiopia’s EV story from ambition toward the practical work of vehicles, facilities, skills and services.

At the Africa EV Summit 2026, Haile brings a rare perspective: a global champion who understands that leadership is not measured only by the first breakthrough, but by the systems built to make progress last.