About Us

Applied Information Management (AIM) is a freelance, business development consulting firm with a niche focus on the information technology sector and start-ups. AIM was founded and is operated by Sam Bahour.

Sam is a Palestinian-American based in Al-Bireh/Ramallah, Palestine. Sam relocated with his family to Palestine from the United States in 1995 to assist in the privatization of the Palestinian telecommunications sector. He was part of the core team that established the Palestine Telecommunications Company. He served as PALTEL’s first Director of Information Systems after successfully participating in securing a 20-year fixed line and mobile operator’s license for PALTEL from the Palestinian National Authority.

Afterwards, Sam established a private business, AIM, the first ICT-specific consulting firm in Palestine in the fall of 1997. AIM has evolved into a management consulting firm specializing in business development with a niche focus on the information technology sector and start-ups. Sam also served as MIS Manager for the Arab Palestinian Investment Company, the second largest private sector investment group in Palestine. He also founded the Palestine Diaspora Investment Company (PDIC) in the spring of 2000.

Strategy Does Not Just Happen: It is created

While in the United States he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Technology from Youngstown State University (Ohio) and was employed in several national software development firms, all working in the direct marketing industry.

His combination of managerial and technical experience, coupled with his MBA degree from the joint international program from Northwestern and Tel Aviv Universities, has given him a keen appreciation for working in the dynamic Palestinian market. Sam has extensive experience in the field of telecommunications operations, policy and regulation.

Sam served as General Manager of the Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers P.L.C., a publicly-traded subsidiary of the Arab Palestinian Investment Company, in which he took from concept to operations. The Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers is building the first of a chain of modern shopping centers in Palestine – the first, the PLAZA Shopping Center, opened in July 2003 in Al-Bireh in the midst of the most difficult economic times Palestine has ever faced under Israeli occupation. Today it is an economic landmark. Until recently Sam served as a Board of Trustees member at Birzeit University.

He is a Director at the Arab Islamic Bank, among other civil society roles. He writes frequently on Palestinian affairs and has been widely published. Sam is co-editor of HOMELAND: Oral History of Palestine and Palestinians. Sam may be reached at info@aim.ps. He blogs at www.epalestine.ps.