Rabat – In the world of international agricultural companies, only a few managers embody the fusion of the cultural heritage and global specialist knowledge such as Adil Benjelloun.
As the current Vice President of Mefscco, a strategic joint venture between the American agricultural giant Cargill and the leading nuclear producer Saudi -Arabia, Arasco, Benjelloun enters into a room and brings two worlds. The warm cultural wealth of Morocco on the one hand and the dynamic international perspective, which comes from his career as a globe tension.
Early basics: Morocco to Montreal
Benjelloun was born in a family that originally comes from FeZ and grew up in Casablanca’s lively Maarif district in the 1990s. “Casablanca was a mixture of tradition and modernity,” reflects Benjelloun: “The perfect backdrop to absorb a rich Moroccan culture and at the same time be part of a city that changed and reinvented itself.”
Benjelloun’s academic foundation was influenced Through his grandfather maternal side, Abdelaciz Aiouch, one of the first mathematicians Morocco, who served as a director of university education after the country was independent of being a French protectorate.
“He was a pioneer in the design of the academic landscape of Morocco,” Benjelloun proudly speaks of the influence of his grandfather, who played an important role in my pursuit of knowledge and excellence. “
At the age of 11, Benjelloun’s family made the crucial decision to move to Montreal, Canada. This cultural change turned out to be transformative. “Imagine that you act with warm, sunny beaches against cold, snow -capped winter,” he says. “I tried to find out how to play football in snow, find friends in a completely different environment and adapt to a whole new culture.”
This early immersion in the variety of Benjelloun with strong personality traits of resilience and adaptability. “In Montreal, I really discovered the strength to hug the variety and beauty of intercultural connections,” recalls Benjelloun.
Building a global career: from Canada to the Middle East
Benjelloun’s professional trip reflects his international prospects. After studying strategic management and international business at MCGill University, he expanded his perspective at Tec de Monterrey in Mexico.
This educational background, combined With his experiences in North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, he gave him a strong global perspective.
His career began in the Canadian public sector in Newfoundland, where he received valuable insights into the government and regulation. “This experience has taught me how important it is to understand political framework and how they affect business operations,” explains Benjelloun.
However, his deep connection to Morocco soon pulled him back to his home country, where he joined the Tangier Free Zone (TMSA). “Cooperation with TMSA enabled me to contribute to the economic development of Morocco,” he says.
“I saw first -hand how strategic investment zones could change the regional economy and create opportunities for international business partnerships.”
This experience gave crucial insights into the importance of trade centers and their role in economic development, which in Benjelloun’s later career would prove to be invaluable.
Find an appeal in the agro industrial sector
The next chapter in Benjelloun’s career marked his entry into the agro industrial sector, where he would find his true professional calling. He came to Döhler, a leading global company that specializes in natural food ingredients, where he was for almost eight years.
“In Döhler I was responsible for the development of markets in the Golf region in several segments – dairy products, bakery, confectionery and more,” explains Benjelloun. “We have introduced innovative ingredients into an emerging market that required a deep understanding of technical product skills and regional consumer preferences.”
Under his leadership, Döhler reached Remarkable growth in the region. “I am particularly proud of the 10% compared to the previous year’s growth that we maintained during my tenure,” he says. “This was not just about sales figures – it was a successful market penetration and the establishment of permanent relationships with the most important actors in the industry.”
This extensive experience in the golf region gave Benjelloun extensive knowledge of the market for food ingredients, regional business practices and the specific challenges of the company in the Middle East – expertise that would prove to be decisive in his future roles.
Mefsco: Head of a strategic joint venture
As Vice President at Mefsco, Benjelloun now leads a strategic joint venture between two industrial giants: Cargill, America’s largest private company and worldwide in agricultural products and food ingredients, and Arasco, Saudi -Arabia of leading confectionery producer.
“Mefsco is a strong combination of global expertise and regional knowledge,” explains Benjelloun. “We are at the forefront to offer customers in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, high -quality, sustainable food ingredients.”
His role contains Monitoring of the company’s regional strategy with a special focus on sales and marketing. “I lead a diverse team that focuses on the development of innovative solutions that meet the developing needs of our customers,” he describes. “We don’t just sell ingredients – we create partnerships that drive the change in industrial.”
The joint venture structure poses unique challenges in leadership. “If you work between two large companies within a joint venture, you have to reconcile various corporate cultures, strategic priorities and operational approaches,” explains Benjelloun. “My experience in different cultures and business environments was invaluable to navigate this complexity.”
A global perspective with Moroccan roots
Adil Benjelloun embodies the modern global executive – internationally experienced and yet deeply connected to its cultural roots.
His journey from the streets of Casablanca to management positions in multinational companies shows the strength to use diversity and at the same time maintain a strong feeling of identity.
He continues Leverage His unique perspective as Vice President at Mefsco, which drives innovation and growth in the agro -industrial sector. Benjelloun bridges various cultures and approaches and not only drives the goals of his company, but also serves as a model for the next generation of global managers.
“No matter whether I stay in Dubai, return to Morocco or work elsewhere,” concludes Benjelloun:
