Latest news with #MohamedBenchaaboun
Morocco World
12-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Nezha Hayat Replaces Benchaaboun as Director General of Mohammed VI Investment Fund
Rabat – Nezha Hayat has replaced Mohamed Benchaaboun as the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, according to a statement from the royal palace. King Mohammed VI appointed her to chair the fund in a ministerial council he chaired today. The investment fund's mission is to contribute to th financing and supporting investment projects in priority sectors, prioritizing environmental, social, and governance issues. Nezha Hayat has been the chairperson and ceo of Morocco's Capital Market Authority (AMMC). She assumed this role in 2016. She is also the chair of the Africa and Middle East Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions. She also co-founded AFEM, an association of women business leaders in Morocco. In February, Hayat was selected among the top 20 Arab Women in government by Forbes Middle East. The council of ministers saw several other appointments, including Said Jabrani, whom the King appointed as Director General of the National Company for Enterprises Guarantee and Financing. He succeeded Hicham Zanati Serghini. Jabrani is a member of the board of directors responsible for commercial banking within the Credit du Maroc group. He also served in several positions in Bank of Africa and BMCI. He holds a Master's degree in research in mechanics, aeronautics, and energy. Tags: Minister of Economy and Finance Mohamed BenchaabounNezha Hayat
Morocco World
15-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
ANRT Mandates Fiber Optic Network Sharing Among Telecom Operators
Doha – Morocco's National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) issued a groundbreaking decision on March 4, requiring telecom operators to share their fiber optic infrastructure. The decision, referenced as DG/05/2025, establishes new technical and pricing guidelines for infrastructure sharing among the country's three major operators: Maroc Telecom, Orange, and Inwi. Operators can function in two distinct capacities under the new framework: as Infrastructure Operators (IO) or Commercial Operators (CO). Infrastructure Operators must lease their networks to competitors, while Commercial Operators can provide services using their competitors' infrastructure, even in areas where they lack their own network coverage. The regulation mandates Infrastructure Operators to ensure non-discriminatory access and publish their pricing structures, including after-sales services. To streamline operations, the decision requires the implementation of web services to automate processes between Infrastructure and Commercial Operators, particularly for ordering and after-sales support. This initiative aims to avoid the complications previously experienced with copper network (ADSL) sharing and accelerate fiber optic deployment across Morocco. The decision shatters the decades-long current market dominance of Maroc Telecom, the historic operator. This shift comes as Mohamed Benchaaboun takes the helm, succeeding Abdeslam Ahizoune, whose 27-year tenure was marred by allegations of anti-competitive practices and monopolistic control that hindered sectoral growth. Read also: Morocco Speeds Up Technical Studies on Infrastructure to Prepare for World Cup 2030 Inwi has already taken the lead in implementing these changes, opening access to its FTTH (Fiber to the Home) infrastructure to competitors as of March 13. The other operators are expected to follow suit promptly. The regulatory change aligns with Morocco's Digital 2030 strategy, which targets increasing fiber-eligible households from 1.5 million in 2022 to 5.6 million by 2030. Currently, fiber subscribers number less than one million. The initiative is backed by substantial investment plans totaling MAD 20 billion ($2 billion). While current end-user pricing remains regulated by ANRT, industry sources indicate that gradual price reductions are anticipated as network coverage expands and infrastructure investments are optimized. The sharing mechanism is designed to prevent redundant infrastructure investments in the same areas, allowing operators to focus on different zones while maintaining service availability through infrastructure sharing. The decision also paves the way for the upcoming 5G network deployment, which requires robust fiber optic infrastructure. Industry observers expect 5G tender announcements during the upcoming GITEX Africa event in Marrakech next month. As of February, all operators have published their new technical and pricing offers on their respective websites, complying with ANRT's requirements. The measure is expected to enhance competition, expand national coverage, and eventually lead to more competitive pricing for consumers while optimizing the substantial infrastructure investments planned for the sector.
Ya Biladi
26-02-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Mohamed Benchaaboun : Navigating finance, politics, and telecommunications
On February 25, 2025, Maroc Telecom's Supervisory Board appointed Mohamed Benchaaboun as Chairman of the Management Board for a two-year term. He succeeds Abdeslam Ahizoune, who led the company for 27 years. Who is Mohamed Benchaaboun? Born on November 12, 1961, in Casablanca, Benchaaboun graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris. He started his career at Alcatel-Alsthom in Morocco, where he held key roles in strategy, development, management control, and later as industrial director. Career in the Public and Financial Sectors In 1996, he was appointed director at the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration, where he managed major projects for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Three years later, he joined Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) as Deputy General Manager, overseeing shared services and later the bank's development. In 2003, he was appointed Director General of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), a role he held until 2008. He then became Chairman and CEO of BCP, where he played a major role in modernizing and expanding the bank. Government and Diplomacy In 2018, Benchaaboun was appointed Minister of Economy and Finance, a position he held until 2021. Later that year, he became Morocco's ambassador to France, where he worked on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. Return to Business Leadership In 2022, he was named Director General of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, a key institution driving economic growth in Morocco. His appointment as Chairman of Maroc Telecom marks another milestone in his career, where his experience will be essential for the company's strategic development. Honors and Contributions Benchaaboun is a member of the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council and serves on the boards of various foundations, including the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection. In 2010, he was awarded the Wissam Al-Arch by King Mohammed VI in recognition of his contributions to Morocco's economic and social progress.
Arab News
26-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Maroc Telecom appoints former finance minister as chair
RABAT : The supervisory board of Maroc Telecom, Morocco's leading telecoms operator, appointed on Tuesday former finance minister Mohamed Benchaaboun as chair of the management board, replacing long-serving Abdeslam Ahizoune. Ahizoune led the company for 27 years as it expanded its operations in Africa with subsidiaries in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo. The appointment came after the company was ordered to pay a fine of $630 million to its competitor Wana Corporate, better known by its brand name Inwi, for unfair competition practices. The fine exceeds Maroc Telecom's 2023 profit of 6.1 billion dirhams. Maroc Telecom, which is listed on the Casablanca stock exchange and on Euronext Paris, is 53 percent controlled by the UAE's Etisalat while the Moroccan state holds a 22 percent stake.
Morocco World
25-02-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Maroc Telecom: Mohamed Benchaaboun Succeeds Abdeslam Ahizoune as CEO
Doha – The supervisory board of Maroc Telecom (Itissalat Al-Maghrib, IAM) has appointed Mohamed Benchaaboun as the new Chairman of the Executive Board, replacing Abdeslam Ahizoune, whose term has expired after 27 years at the helm of the historic operator. The decision was made during a supervisory board meeting held today and chaired by Finance Minister Nadia Fettah. Benchaaboun's appointment is for a two-year term, until March 1, 2027. 'The Supervisory Board noted the expiration of the mandates of the members of the Executive Board on March 1, 2025, and decided to appoint Mr. Mohamed Benchaaboun as Chairman of the Executive Board for a term of two years, until March 1, 2027, replacing Mr. Abdeslam Ahizoune,' Maroc Telecom asserted in a statement. The company stressed that this appointment 'will play a decisive role in the overall strategic development of Maroc Telecom Group's activities.' The board expressed its gratitude to Ahizoune 'for his exceptional contributions to the Group's growth over the past 27 years,' and affirmed that 'his decisive leadership played a key role in the pan-African expansion of the Maroc Telecom Group.' Benchaaboun joins Maroc Telecom after serving as Director General of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, a position he has held since October 2022. His extensive career includes roles as Morocco's Ambassador to France, Minister of Economy and Finance, CEO of Banque Populaire Group, and notably, head of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT). This leadership change comes at a significant moment for Maroc Telecom. The company is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with competitor INWI, which obtained a court decision compelling Maroc Telecom to pay MAD 6.4 billion ($640 million) in damages due to a five-year-old litigation. Maroc Telecom contested this decision in the Casablanca court, but its appeal was rejected, making the payment mandatory. According to well-informed sources cited by converging reports, Emirati investors, who were also dissatisfied with the relationship with INWI, had supposedly exerted pressure following a dispute with Maroc Telecom. As a result, several Emirati investments intended for Morocco were reportedly frozen as a retaliatory measure. Benchaaboun's appointment is viewed as an attempt to ease this crisis. Sources disclosed that his arrival should help unblock Emirati investments and lead to a settlement of the dispute involving the Moroccan operator. The board also decided to renew the mandates of the other members of the Executive Board for an additional two-year term, until March 1, 2027, namely Brahim Boudaoud, Hassan Rachad, François Vitte, and Abdelkader Maamar. Despite these challenges, Maroc Telecom reported 'solid' operational and financial performance for 2024. As of December, the Maroc Telecom group had 79.3 million customers, an increase of 4.5% year-on-year, driven mainly by the Moov Africa subsidiaries (+8.1%). The group generated revenue of MAD 36.7 billion (3.67 billion) in 2024, up 1.2% from 2023. The end of Ahizoune's reign: A new dawn for Moroccan telecommunications Ahizoune's departure marks the end of an era for the telecommunications sector in Morocco. Often described as a divisive figure in the Moroccan business landscape, he leaves behind a mixed legacy, marked by recurring anti-competitive practices. Critics contended that these practices were damaging to both the image and finances of the historic operator, as well as to the growth of the telecommunications sector in Morocco. The departing chairman has also come under fire in his role as President of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation, a position he has held since December 2006. In August 2024, Ahizoune allegedly used Maroc Telecom's advertising power to pressure media outlets that criticized the disappointing performance of Moroccan athletes at the Paris Olympics. As Morocco prepares to host major continental and global events, industry observers have pointed out that it was time for the telecommunications sector to turn toward a brighter future for Moroccans and move past the conflicts that have considerably slowed the development of telecommunications and new technologies in the country. Benchaaboun's appointment has been received as a judicious choice given the numerous qualities of the former Minister of Economy and Finance, who is known to be a man of dialogue, consensus, and innovation. It remains to be seen how the new CEO will handle this delicate situation, as Maroc Telecom faces strong competition and an increasingly demanding regulatory environment. Tags: Abdeslam AhizouneMaroc TelecomMohamed Benchaaboun
