She appointment to the position of CEO marks a historic milestone in the Moroccan banking sector. By becoming the first woman to head a major bank in Morocco, she represents a significant step forward towards greater inclusion of women in senior positions.
This nomination is not, however, the result of chance. On the contrary, it is, on the whole, logical, particularly in view of his rich and exemplary career. A graduate in Management Sciences from Paris-Dauphine University, Belkeziz enriched her training with a post-graduate Doctorate in Management Sciences at Hassan II University in Casablanca and a Diploma in Accounting and Financial Studies (DECF) from the Conservatoire National Arts and Crafts in Paris.
Her banking career, spanning more than two decades, saw her occupy key positions within the former Banque Commerciale du Maroc, then the Attijariwafa bank group. She was notably responsible for the financing of investment, real estate and tourism, Senior Banker within the Large Businesses and Institutionals department, Chief Economist of the AWB group, marketing and communications manager of the Bank of company, then responsible for the SME market.
Beyond her operational functions, Naziha Belkeziz has distinguished herself as an independent director and governance consultant, sharing her expertise at numerous events and training relating to corporate governance and the financial sector.
She is also the author of a work on privatizations and the stock market in Morocco.
This proven experience justifies that the BCP Group did not look far to find a successor to Mohamed Karim Mounir, who asked to exercise his retirement rights.
That said, although it is still extremely rare to see women CEOs of banking groups, this appointment is part of a global trend where they are gradually reaching senior management positions in the financial sector. In Morocco, figures such as Nezha Hayat, president of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority, or Fathia Bennis, former boss of the Casablanca Stock Exchange and ex-CEO of Maroclear, illustrate this evolution. However, Belkeziz’s appointment as head of the BCP is unique in that it breaks a glass ceiling in a field traditionally dominated by men.
By entrusting the reins of the BCP to a professional of the caliber of Naziha Belkeziz, Morocco is sending a strong signal in favor of diversity and gender equality in the highest economic and financial spheres. This decision could inspire other institutions to follow this example, thus contributing to a gradual transformation of the national financial landscape.
It is therefore to be hoped that this appointment opens the way to greater female representation in major bodies and institutions in Morocco.
After all, if finance is often compared to a complex symphony, perhaps it is high time that more women become its conductors.
F. Ouriaghli
