Born in Beirut, May 15 to Ardashes and Souad Kouyoumdjian.
 

 

Completes high school education at Armenian Evangelical College.
Enters Lebanese American University as a business administration student, then transfers to Communication Arts against his parents’ wishes (Armenians are known to be weak in Arabic and journalism was then associated with war coverage).
Zaven fails to be discouraged and continues majoring in Journalism and TV production while taking private lessons in Arabic.
Graduates with a BA in Communication Arts with honors.
 

 


Joins Tele Liban (TL) as a reporter and late-night news anchor. Soon afterwards becomes TL’s news correspondent at Presidential Palace.
 

 

Increased attention on Zaven’s work earns him his first show.
In a monthly round up - 30\31, 23-year-old Zaven was to make his point in the Lebanon’s most controversial issues. His extensive investigations on major news stories like the dumping of toxic wastes  , the Israeli kidnapping of Mousafa Aldirani and the ban of the Lebanese Forces militia put him in the headlines for being interrogated, censored and even banned.

 

 

Zaven is the face of TL news in a “Saatchi & Saatchi” campaign promoting the station’s post-war launch.
 

 


Takes part in an extensive Reuter Foundation training program on TV production in London, Washington and Toronto.

Starts his first weekly talk show - 5\7. It becomes a smash hit as Zaven, famous now with his lap top and mug, succeeds in creating a new genre in talk TV in Lebanon. Though considered unprofessional and immature by some critics, 5\7 becomes TL’s longest running talk show in the 90’s and scores the highest rating for a single talk show episode in 1996.
 

 


Covers the “Grapes of Wrath” offensive from South Lebanon.

No one will forget Zaven’s tears as he brought the horrifying footage of the Israeli massacres at Qana and Mansouri villages to the world.
His moving live portrayal of the event was award winning. Zaven was granted the Honors Certificate of the Lebanese Press Order, establishing him as one of Lebanon’s leading TV journalists.

 

 
Receives the Appreciation Certificate of the United Nations Development Program for Sustainable Development for his work in 5\7.
He is also granted the honorary key of the Bourj Hammoud area in Beirut.
 

 


Banned on Tele Liban  after a show on poverty and unemployment, Zaven shaves his head bald in an expression of protest.
After 7 months in a career crisis, Zaven gathers his “ things “ in a box and moves to Future Television this time to address the whole Arab-speaking world.  

Sire Wenfatahit, a “ more mature “ but still edgy format earns Zaven quick appreciation.
 

 

Voted the third best talk show host for his current show, “Sire Wenfatahit”, in a survey conducted by the Lebanese National Council of Audio-Visual Media.

 

Receives Arab Media Award 2002 of the UK International College – London for “his efforts in creating a Pan Arab dialogue on social issues”. 

Receives best social talk show award of the Media Festival - Beirut 2002 organized by the Lebanese University.

Marries on November 1st with Laury Haytayan, ex co-editor of Maguy Farah, a competitive talk show on MTV.

Zaven and wife, Laury, grace the cover of “Prestige” magazine, November issue.

 


meets Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan along with Arab media leaders for brainstorming on methods to change misconceptions of women issues in media. 

publishes first book, Lebanon Shot Twice (An Nahar House). The book becomes a best seller in the first week of its release in Beirut.

rates second best talk show host in the Middle East 2003 in a survey conducted by Zahret El Khalij magazine, issued in the United Arab Emirates.

makes television history! Hoda and Abdo, the couple whose marriage ceremony was all arranged on camera in 2002 had their first baby girl on camera after a month to month follow up on Hoda’s pregnancy.

becomes a father. Baby Marc was born in November 19 after a special serial on first time parents. The news was announced live on rival NTV. Ramadan talk show star Nshan made the declaration after minutes of delivery and showed first picture.

generates controversy over reality TV and whether he should be inspired by his own life on TV or not.

Zaven and wife Laury grace the cover of "Nadine Mom and Baby" magazine’s Christmas issue celebrating the birth of their baby boy.
   
 
interviews Queen Sylvia of Sweden, on her efforts on international campaign against drug abuse.

rates both best talk show host and best talk show in the Middle East in the annual survey of Zahret El Khalij magazine, issued in the United Arab Emirates.

makes a new TV milestone. For the first time on any Arab channel, four HIV positive guests talk open face on life after AIDS and discrimination.

publishes second edition of his book, Lebanon Shot Twice (An Nahar House).

becomes the first male on the cover of Zahret El khalij magazine Father's Day special.
   
 


Makes it to the cover of Newsweek. The International Magazine lists Zaven as one of 43 most influential people in the Arab World. Newsweek article on Zaven

still the number one talk show host in the Middle East, according to the Zahret El Khalij magazine 2005 survey.

 
along with the Lebanese legend Fairuz, Zaven is one of the only two Lebanese who made a difference in Saudi Arabia in 2005, according to Saudi 'Al-Riad' newspaper .
starts an inspirational 'Power of Life' campaign to help the Lebanese society regain its faith in its future after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

interviews Queen Rania of Jordan following terrorist attacks in Amman.

starts an Arab book signing tour for his book 'Lebanon Shot Twice', in association with charity organizations.
 
   
 
Receives best social talk show award of the forth Media Festival - Beirut 2006 organized by the Lebanese University.

Launches “Ana Ala’an” (Me Now), a new reality TV experience. The special series in 2006 aims at giving the chance for the Arab youth to express their thoughts and feelings on TV using their personal camera.

Launches the first Arab television book club. Critics describe “Nesreen Jaber Book Club” a historic reconciliation between books and TV.

Graces the January 2006 cover of Al-Hasnaa Magazine along with singer Amal Hijazi to promote pajama culture.

 Still in the Top 5 Arab media personalities of Zahret El Khalij magazine.

Creates controversy over views he expressed during May O8 events in Beirut. “I became a sectarian person” – a quotation during a sit in for free speech on New TV echoes controversial feedback and becomes a symbol for a "big change" on the Lebanese social scene. 

Read more about Zaven:  “Democratizing The Arab Screen”, MEB Magazine.