DATE
3 min read •
A statement from Arthur D. Little regarding the deaths of Harland Riker and Kamal Saad
![](/sites/default/files/styles/insights_thumbnail_field_m/public/gettyimages-597644104-min.jpg?itok=Z7c3tM8q)
With great sadness, Arthur D. Little announces the deaths of Harland Riker and Kamal Saad, two of our most influential and well-loved alumni.
Harland Riker 1928-2019
Harland Riker was born in Massachusetts on August 1, 1928. After graduating with honors from the School of Engineering at Tufts University he was commissioned in the US Navy, where he spent three years on active duty. This ignited the spirit of adventure and love for travel that would mark his whole life and career.
After completing his tour of duty, he married his wife Ann and attended Harvard Business School, before first joining ADL in Boston. His determination to work internationally led him to leave ADL and join George Fry & Associates, where he spent four years in Iran, building a management training program that would later become the Industrial Management Institute. On his return to the US, he was recruited back to ADL to create a similar program for emerging leaders from Africa. This grew into ADL’s Management Education Institute, which eventually became the HULT International Business School.
During his more than three decades at ADL, Harland led the company’s international expansion in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia, opening and overseeing more than 20 offices worldwide, and transforming the firm into a global consulting practice. As a business leader, Harland had a special ability for nurturing talent and building teams and was known for giving the same attention to everyone, whether the managing director or the receptionist. Respected for his sharp intellect, wise judgment and skills as a diplomat, he rose to become President of ADL International.
After retirement, Harland supported a number of charitable and philanthropic causes, serving on the boards of multiple charities. He also wrote his memoirs, the second volume of which will be published posthumously. He died on March 1st, 2019, surrounded by his family.
Kamal Saad 1931-2019
Born on January 29, 1931 Kamal Saad was raised in Beirut, Lebanon. After graduating from the American University of Beirut in Chemistry and Mathematics, he joined the Lebanese Industrial Research Institute (IRI), an organization that provided management and technical services alongside laboratory testing and research. Kamal spent 13 years at IRI, serving as Director of Research and Testing Laboratories, then Technical Director and Deputy Managing Director.
He joined ADL in June 1966 and spent 32 years at the consultancy, in a wide variety of roles across Europe and the Middle East, helping shape the company during the 1970s and 1980s. He was instrumental in developing ADL’s reputation for leadership in innovation, including co-authoring the seminal book, Third Generation R&D. This provided a pragmatic method for linking R&D to long-term business planning, breaking down organizational barriers that isolate R&D from the rest of the company and creating managed portfolios of R&D projects that match corporate goals.
Kamal served as a Corporate Board member for three years and a European Board member for 20 years. After leaving ADL in 2000, he returned to Beirut, where he provided consultancy to a wide variety of organizations. Showing his strong, continued links to ADL, he was a regular attendee at ADL Old Guard reunions and recently visited the company’s new Lebanese office, presenting a picture of company founder Arthur Dehon Little to hang on the walls. He passed away in Beirut on February 27, 2019.
On behalf of the whole of ADL, we would like to extend our sympathies to Harland and Kamal’s families, friends and all those that knew them. Thank you both again for all your work, advice and wisdom that has helped develop ADL – we will remember you with gratitude and strive to build on your legacy.
On behalf of the whole of ADL, we would like to extend our sympathies to Harland and Kamal’s families, friends and all those that knew them. Thank you both again for all your work, advice and wisdom that has helped develop ADL – we will remember you with gratitude and strive to build on your legacy.
![](/sites/default/files/gettyimages-597644104-min.jpg)
3 min read •
A statement from Arthur D. Little regarding the deaths of Harland Riker and Kamal Saad
![](/sites/default/files/styles/insights_thumbnail_field_m/public/gettyimages-597644104-min.jpg?itok=Z7c3tM8q)
DATE
![](/sites/default/files/styles/insights_thumbnail_field_m/public/gettyimages-597644104-min.jpg?itok=Z7c3tM8q)
With great sadness, Arthur D. Little announces the deaths of Harland Riker and Kamal Saad, two of our most influential and well-loved alumni.
Harland Riker 1928-2019
Harland Riker was born in Massachusetts on August 1, 1928. After graduating with honors from the School of Engineering at Tufts University he was commissioned in the US Navy, where he spent three years on active duty. This ignited the spirit of adventure and love for travel that would mark his whole life and career.
After completing his tour of duty, he married his wife Ann and attended Harvard Business School, before first joining ADL in Boston. His determination to work internationally led him to leave ADL and join George Fry & Associates, where he spent four years in Iran, building a management training program that would later become the Industrial Management Institute. On his return to the US, he was recruited back to ADL to create a similar program for emerging leaders from Africa. This grew into ADL’s Management Education Institute, which eventually became the HULT International Business School.
During his more than three decades at ADL, Harland led the company’s international expansion in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia, opening and overseeing more than 20 offices worldwide, and transforming the firm into a global consulting practice. As a business leader, Harland had a special ability for nurturing talent and building teams and was known for giving the same attention to everyone, whether the managing director or the receptionist. Respected for his sharp intellect, wise judgment and skills as a diplomat, he rose to become President of ADL International.
After retirement, Harland supported a number of charitable and philanthropic causes, serving on the boards of multiple charities. He also wrote his memoirs, the second volume of which will be published posthumously. He died on March 1st, 2019, surrounded by his family.
Kamal Saad 1931-2019
Born on January 29, 1931 Kamal Saad was raised in Beirut, Lebanon. After graduating from the American University of Beirut in Chemistry and Mathematics, he joined the Lebanese Industrial Research Institute (IRI), an organization that provided management and technical services alongside laboratory testing and research. Kamal spent 13 years at IRI, serving as Director of Research and Testing Laboratories, then Technical Director and Deputy Managing Director.
He joined ADL in June 1966 and spent 32 years at the consultancy, in a wide variety of roles across Europe and the Middle East, helping shape the company during the 1970s and 1980s. He was instrumental in developing ADL’s reputation for leadership in innovation, including co-authoring the seminal book, Third Generation R&D. This provided a pragmatic method for linking R&D to long-term business planning, breaking down organizational barriers that isolate R&D from the rest of the company and creating managed portfolios of R&D projects that match corporate goals.
Kamal served as a Corporate Board member for three years and a European Board member for 20 years. After leaving ADL in 2000, he returned to Beirut, where he provided consultancy to a wide variety of organizations. Showing his strong, continued links to ADL, he was a regular attendee at ADL Old Guard reunions and recently visited the company’s new Lebanese office, presenting a picture of company founder Arthur Dehon Little to hang on the walls. He passed away in Beirut on February 27, 2019.
On behalf of the whole of ADL, we would like to extend our sympathies to Harland and Kamal’s families, friends and all those that knew them. Thank you both again for all your work, advice and wisdom that has helped develop ADL – we will remember you with gratitude and strive to build on your legacy.
On behalf of the whole of ADL, we would like to extend our sympathies to Harland and Kamal’s families, friends and all those that knew them. Thank you both again for all your work, advice and wisdom that has helped develop ADL – we will remember you with gratitude and strive to build on your legacy.