‘100 Africa’ For Economic Leaders Features 10 Moroccans

Rabat – “100 Africa,” a ranking of the 100 African economic leaders under 40 with the potential to shape the continent’s economic development in the short term, features 10 Moroccans in its 2021 ranking and 30 on the list of honorable mentions.

Put together by Choiseul Institute, an independent research body, the ranking sheds light on young influential leaders within the African business landscape with the potential to bring impact to the continent’s short-term development.

With 10 Moroccans on the “100 Africa” list, Morocco is topping the continental ranking alongside Nigeria with the highest number of profiles on the list for a country.

Morocco’s Abdellatif Kabbaj, managing director at Softgroup, a tech company, landed the highest-ranking for a Moroccan on the list at the sixth position. After graduating from HEC Montreal business school, he filled the position of Chief Executive Officer at Soft Tech in 2017, where he was later promoted to managing director.

Next on the list is Saad Sefrioui, deputy managing director at housing group Addoha Group in the 16th position. Safrioui graduated from the prestigious University of Paris II, before kicking off his career in 2011 at the Addoha Group as an Assignment Manager.

Coming in the 26th position in the continental ranking is Morocco’s Ibrahim Belkora, Chief Executive Officer at Agro Juice Processing. The 40-year-old graduated from the French University of Lyon. His first senior position was as chief executive officer at Belkora Group in 2004.

Fourth on the list of Moroccans featured on “Africa 100” is Yahya Chraibi, Chief Executive Officer at Morocco’s largest insurance company, Saham Assurance; he ranked 36th across the continent. Chraibi graduated from Sweden’s ESCP business school, and he secured his first senior position in 2020 as a business solutions executive at Sanlam Pan Africa, South Africa’s largest insurance company.

The fifth Moroccan on the list is Badreiddine Mansouri, Sub Saharan Africa managing director at Stellantis; he ranked 39th. The 39-year-old graduated from the University of Florida and French EM Lyon Business School. He landed his first senior position as head of marketing and dealer network development for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Stellantis in 2019.

The next Moroccan on the list is Mehdi Alj, Chief Executive Officer at Sanam Agro group. Alj, who ranked 32nd in the “100 Africa,” graduated from EDC Paris Business School at McGill University. He took up his first senior position in 2018 as Executive Vice-President at Sanam Holding.

Following is Moroccan Ali Zrouali, corporation and international business development director at Masen. He graduated from Paris Saclay University, HEC Paris Mines school, and took his first leadership position as chief executive officer at UTC Joint Venture in 2014.

Moroccan Mehdi Bennouna, managing director at Mutandis Group came in 75th position. The 38-year-old graduated from Polytechnique, one of France’s most prestigious schools, and from BI Norwegian school of management. He co-founded Alto Services in 2009.

The list also featured young Moroccan women in senior positions, with Loubna Tricha, Managing Director of Morocco’s Office of Professional Training and Work Promotion, ranking 78th. Tricha graduated from one of Morocco’s most prestigious engineering schools, Mohammedia school of engineering, and started her career with Morocco’s state-owned OCP Group as Managing Director.

In 86th place is Moroccan Hamza El Kabbaj, business development, and senior project manager at the Nareva Holding. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, his first leadership position was at INFRA INVEST as head of investments and a partner.

Profiles on the ranking are assessed on multiple criteria, including image and reputation, power and function, influence and network, as well as leadership potentials.