Noufissa Kessar

Noufissa Kessar is chairwoman and CEO of Al Mada, one of Morocco’s most influential investment holdings. Her appointment in January 2026 marked a major leadership transition, with Morocco World News reporting that Al Mada’s board appointed her as chairwoman and CEO following the death of former CEO Hassan Ouriagli.

Kessar is a long-serving insider rather than an external appointment. She had served as the deputy CEO at Al Mada, where she played an active role in major strategic projects and in steering the group’s long-term development. Her appointment was presented as a continuity-driven move focused on consolidating existing transformations while pursuing innovation, sustainable growth and operational excellence.

Media reports revealed that Kessar joined SNI, which later became Al Mada, in June 2014 as an executive director. The report said she was involved in the group’s structural transformation toward a pan-African investment
fund model focused on sustainable value creation. Al Mada’s influence is significant because of its exposure to strategic sectors including banking, telecommunications, renewable energy, mining and food. The group holds stakes in some of Morocco’s largest private companies and has expanded investment activities across several African markets.

Kessar’s appointment is therefore notable not only as a leadership change, but also as a signal of continuity at one of Africa’s most powerful investment platforms.