Lesieur Cristal Appoints Karim Manssour-Dahbi as New CEO

Marrakech – Lesieur Cristal has named Karim Manssour-Dahbi as its new chief executive officer, effective Wednesday. The appointment was approved during a board of directors meeting held on Tuesday.

Manssour-Dahbi succeeds Peter Tagge, whose mandate ended the same day. The board thanked Tagge for his engagement and contributions during his tenure at the helm of Morocco’s leading edible oils and fats company.

The new CEO is an engineer from France’s École Centrale de Paris. He brings more than 35 years of professional experience, including 25 years in senior leadership positions. His career spans the fast-moving consumer goods and automotive sectors across the Maghreb and the Middle East.

The board cited his track record in general management and his international outlook as key factors behind the appointment. His mandate will focus on driving the company’s development across local and international markets while strengthening its expansion and long-term performance.

In his first official statement, Manssour-Dahbi said he was “honored to rejoin Lesieur Cristal, an iconic and pioneering company in Moroccan industry.” He noted that the company “has built an integrated and high-performing agro-industrial model capable of addressing the key challenges of food sovereignty, sustainability, and innovation.”

“Alongside the teams, I will be fully committed to accelerating this momentum, driving responsible growth, creating greater value, and contributing to the global reach of Made in Morocco,” he added.

The leadership transition comes at a time when the company is navigating a competitive market environment. Lesieur Cristal has operated for more than 80 years and manages a portfolio of established brands, including Lesieur, Cristal, and Taous. The company plays a central role in the modernization of Morocco’s oilseed and olive oil sectors.

It is backed by the French group Avril, the fifth-largest agro-industrial group in France with revenues of €7.7 billion in 2024. Lesieur Cristal also counts major Moroccan institutional shareholders among its investors. It maintains regional operations through subsidiaries in Tunisia and Senegal.

The new leadership is expected to continue the company’s “Servir la Terre” strategy, centered on decarbonization and shared value creation. The company commissioned a 2 MWc solar photovoltaic plant at its Aïn Harrouda site in partnership with Nareva Services during 2025 and acquired a second biomass boiler.

Lesieur Cristal is also a key participant in Morocco’s national Génération Green 2020-2030 strategy. Under this framework, the company confirmed it will continue to strengthen its role in the oilseed and olive oil sectors, supported by favorable agricultural prospects and increased support for its farming operations.

On the financial front, Lesieur Cristal posted mixed results for 2025. The company recorded a 7% increase in table oil volumes but faced sustained price pressure due to intensified competition and its commitment to protecting consumer purchasing power. Annual revenue stood at MAD 5.37 billion ($537 million), down 1% from 2024.

EBITDA came in at MAD 287 million ($28.7 million). Operating income reached MAD 99 million ($9.9 million), while net income attributable to the group totaled MAD 8 million ($800,000). The board will propose no dividend distribution at the next annual general meeting.

Looking ahead, the company said it would pursue a review of its international strategy to optimize its positioning in Africa. It also plans to recapitalize its Tunisian subsidiary, Cristal Tunisie, and expand its export operations as a major growth driver.