Sébastien Le Bonté Named President of French-Moroccan Chamber of Commerce

Marrakech – Sébastien Le Bonté has been elected president of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Morocco (CFCIM), officially assuming his duties on January 1, following a board meeting held on December 11, 2025.

Le Bonté succeeds Claudia Gaudiau-Francisco, secretary general of Tectra, who previously led the institution.

The new president serves as general manager of both Batifer and Interfer, positions he has held since 2015 and 2013, respectively.

Batifer specializes in precision-welded steel tube production for industrial, construction, and automotive sectors, while Interfer operates as a leading Moroccan distributor of steel products and construction materials. Le Bonté previously served as deputy general manager of Interfer from 2010 to 2013.

Le Bonté holds a doctorate in process engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine (INPL), completed between 2000 and 2003. He also earned a postgraduate certificate in biotechnology and the food industry from the National School of Agronomy and Food Industries (ENSAIA) in 2000.

His early career included positions as a postdoctoral researcher at the Water and Environmental Sciences Laboratory in Limoges from 2004 to 2005, followed by roles at SIPLAST-ICOPAL as a waterproofing systems development engineer in Paris and export area manager for North Africa until 2010.

Since arriving in Morocco in 2008, Le Bonté has developed his career within the framework of the French-Moroccan economic partnership. He joined the CFCIM board of directors in 2013 and served as first vice-president alongside Gaudiau-Francisco before his presidential election.

During his tenure, he actively contributed to the Business Support Commission, working to strengthen assistance for member companies in their growth and establishment projects.

The companies under his leadership have operated in Morocco since 1973, establishing themselves as reference actors in metallurgy and construction materials.

Both firms participate in major national infrastructure projects, providing industrial solutions focused on performance, innovation, and sustainability, building a recognized position among sector professionals.

The 2026 CFCIM executive bureau brings together key figures from the French-Moroccan economic ecosystem. Jérôme Mouthon, president of Teads MENA, serves as first vice-president.

Vice-presidential positions are divided by category with Benoit Vaillant of Aluminium du Maroc leading Industry, William Simonceli of Carré Immobilier and La French Tech Maroc managing Services, and Cédric Nalté of DMA-Michelin overseeing Commerce. Pascal Capdevielle handles regional coordination while Yann Lebeau oversees training and professional integration.

François Marchal serves as secretary, assisted by Edern Klein as deputy secretary. Laurent Sablé and Thibault Chatal hold the positions of treasurer and deputy treasurer, respectively.

112 years of supporting the Paris-Rabat economic ecosystem

The CFCIM operates as a private association under Moroccan law, serving businesses for more than a century since its establishment in 1913 with the creation of French Chambers of Commerce in Casablanca and Rabat. The separate structures merged in 1960 to form the unified chamber.

The institution has established itself as the first chamber at the international level, supporting over 20,000 members and more than 4,000 member companies while accompanying over 2,250 companies annually.

The chamber’s primary missions include strengthening economic and commercial relations between France and Morocco, supporting company establishment and growth in Morocco, encouraging internationalization of Moroccan companies and their access to the French market, and developing employee skills through comprehensive training programs.

The organization operates with territorial coverage, bicultural expertise, and an extensive network of members and partners, functioning as a growth accelerator for businesses.

Beyond networking and business consulting, the CFCIM provides innovative training solutions through its Campus facility and offers companies access to industrial parks in Bouskoura, Ouled Salah, Settat, and the Berrechid Ecopark.

The chamber supports structural projects in strategic sectors, including renewable energy, hydrogen, blue economy, water, agribusiness, technology, and healthcare. It serves as a bridge between the French and Moroccan economies while facilitating business development from prospection to installation and operational support.