The Board of Directors of the “Al-Mada” Group, affiliated with the royal family in Morocco, has appointed Noufissa Kessar as the General Director of the group with immediate effect, following the death of former General Director Hassan El Weryaghli.
Nouhissa Kessar was born and raised in an environment that combines scientific precision and strategic vision. She is a graduate of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), one of the most prestigious engineering institutions in the world, where she received high-level engineering training.
This strong scientific training formed the foundation of her professional career, which began in Switzerland, where she worked as a framework engineer in the Nestlé Group in the city of Vevy.
She returned to Morocco in the 1990s to join the Moroccan Commercial Bank (which later became part of Attijariwafa Bank), where she started in the corporate and large enterprises division and then took over its management. She played a pivotal role in establishing Attijari Finances Corp., the first investment bank in Morocco, gaining deep experience in finance and business.
In 2009, she transitioned to the position of Executive Director in the Attijariwafa Bank Group, where she contributed to the establishment and development of the Private Banking division, and participated in the group’s steering and coordination committee. This period witnessed significant expansion in the Moroccan banking sector, and Noufissa Kessar was one of the key players in this transformation.
Transition to the Heart of the Strategic Holding
For years, Noufissa Kessar has joined the Al-Mada Group (formerly known as SNI before its renaming in 2018), where she held the position of Deputy General Director or Executive Director. She actively contributed to the development of the overall strategy, project development, and enhancing the group’s African presence. She also held membership in the boards of directors of several subsidiary companies within the group, such as Managem, Omnium de Gestion Marocaine, and others in the mining, energy, construction materials, and distribution sectors.
Among her most notable contributions outside the operational framework: the chairing of the judging committees for the Al-Mada Foundation Awards for Young African Leaders, where she oversaw the selection of innovative projects from various countries on the continent, reflecting her commitment to innovation and positive impact.
General Director: Continuity and Looking to the Future
Her appointment as General Director comes in the context of a smooth transition that underscores the values of continuity, innovation, and sustainable development embraced by the Al-Mada Group. Under her leadership, the group is expected to continue enhancing its presence in strategic sectors (banking, mining, renewable energy, distribution, tourism), with a focus on development in Africa and contributing to Morocco’s economic and social progress.
Nouhissa Kessar represents a model of successful female leadership in Morocco: an engineer, banker, strategist, and a member of international networks such as Women Corporate Directors. Her journey embodies the combination of scientific precision and long-term economic vision, making her appointment a natural and promising step in the history of one of the strongest economic groups on the African continent.
