George A. Altirs
George A. Altirs is a Lebanese-American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and business leader whose journey from Mijdlaya, Northern Lebanon, to New York City reflects the values of perseverance, family, opportunity, and service. After arriving in the United States in the late 1980s, he pursued his ambition to build a business of his own and, in 1990, founded GMA Accessories Inc. with his brother, Massoud Altirs, in the basement of their Brooklyn home.
Over the following decades, George grew GMA into an international design, manufacturing, brand-management, and investment platform serving many of the world’s leading retailers across apparel, footwear, accessories, and lifestyle categories, including Walmart, Target, Costco, and Tesco, to name just a few. Today, as Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of GMA Group, he leads a diversified global organization that owns and operates businesses across fashion, manufacturing, real estate, sports facilities, agriculture, and other industries. The group has expanded through strategic acquisitions such as Ballet, Caribbean Joe, Ellen Tracy, and Concept One.
In 2011, George founded Capelli Sport with his wife, Elisabeth Altirs. Built on the family’s decades of global manufacturing expertise and a shared passion for sport, Capelli Sport has grown into a global multi-sport brand serving youth clubs, schools, colleges and universities, academies, professional teams, leagues, national federations, and athletes around the world. Its multi-sport portfolio includes soccer, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, volleyball, baseball, tennis, and golf. To name a few, Capelli Sport has official partnerships with the U.S. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) USA Lacrosse and USA Field Hockey, through which the brand will be represented at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games; in soccer, with the Cabo Verde Football Federation and the Serbian National Football Team; and in basketball, with the Puerto Rico Basketball National Team, Senegal Basketball Federation, and Lebanese Basketball Federation.
One of Capelli Sport’s most meaningful global milestones came when the brand became the Official Technical and Apparel Partner of the Cabo Verde Football Federation and outfitted the national team during its historic first FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026. Cabo Verde’s debut campaign captured international attention as the team advanced to the knockout stage, placing both the nation and Capelli Sport on football’s largest global stage.
George’s commitment to sport extends far beyond apparel. He founded Cedar Stars Academy to create elite development opportunities for young athletes and has invested in sports facilities, ownership of professional clubs, and player-development pathways that create opportunities for young people to develop discipline, confidence, and character.
Throughout his business career, George has remained deeply connected to Lebanon and to the Lebanese-American community. In 2023, he expanded his business presence in Lebanon by opening an office that has since grown to 115 employees. Through the Altirs Foundation and other charitable initiatives, he has supported educational scholarships, youth-development programs, and community projects benefiting students, families, and aspiring athletes in Lebanon and the United States. George also serves on the boards of several businesses and charitable organizations. In 2015, he received a Doctorate Honoris Causa in Business and Commercial Sciences from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon, where he previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
George resides in New Jersey with his wife, Elisabeth, and is the father of seven children. His Christian faith and Lebanese heritage are central to his life and have shaped his commitment to family, service, community, philanthropy, and creating opportunities for others.