Hicham Kabbaj Assumes Leadership as President of Worley's MEA Division

Wednesday 27 December 2023 - 08:40

Renowned Moroccan executive, Hicham Kabbaj, has assumed the role of President for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) division at Worley, an Australian engineering professional services company. This significant appointment marks another milestone in Kabbaj's distinguished career.

Kabbaj brings a wealth of experience gained from holding high-level executive positions at globally recognized corporations. His professional journey commenced in January 2000 when he served as Senior Project Controls at Bechtel Corporation, a leading American engineering, procurement, construction, and project management company. After more than eight years of distinguished service, Kabbaj returned to his home country of Morocco in 2009 to join the OCP Group, a prominent global fertilizer producer.

During his four-year tenure at OCP Group, Kabbaj's responsibilities evolved significantly. Initially serving as Project Controls Director for the PMO - an Industrial Program - from January 2009 to November 2012, he later transitioned to the role of Testing & Innovation Program Director from November 2012 to October 2013. Following this, Kabbaj embarked on a decade-long journey at Jesa, an Africa-focused engineering and asset management company, holding several executive positions.

From October 2013 to March 2015, Kabbaj served as the Director of Projects Services in Morocco before becoming Africa's Director of Business Development and Sales (Africa and Global Phosphate) from March 2015 to December 2018. Continuing his upward trajectory within Jesa, Kabbaj then assumed the role of Director of Operations in Casablanca for the company's Mining and Industry division, a position he held from January 2019 to February 2020. Subsequently, from March 2020 to November 2023, he served as Africa's Managing Director at Jesa before transitioning to Worley.

Kabbaj's academic achievements are equally impressive, having earned degrees from esteemed institutions. In 2000, he obtained a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management with a Minor in Finance and Management Information Systems from Purdue University in the United States. He went on to acquire an MBA in Business Administration and Management in 2007 from IE Business School. Additionally, he holds an ELMP (Executive Leadership Management Project, Leadership, Project Management) degree from the University of Sydney, where he pursued studies between 2019 and 2020.

To commemorate his recent promotion, Kabbaj took to LinkedIn to share reflections on his remarkable career. In his post, he expressed gratitude for his time at Jesa, describing it as a decade of extraordinary success. Kabbaj highlighted Jesa's noteworthy accomplishments and the resilience demonstrated in overcoming significant challenges. He emphasized the company's position as an African leader with milestone projects spanning various sectors and praised the dedication of its 4,000 talented colleagues who have been instrumental in driving growth and fostering a unique corporate culture.

Expressing deep appreciation for his experiences at OCP and Worley, Kabbaj bid farewell to Jesa, eagerly announcing his new role as the Regional President at Worley. He expressed honor and gratitude for leading a dynamic team in pursuit of a shared purpose: delivering a more sustainable world.

Hicham Kabbaj's appointment as Worley's MEA President is a testament to his remarkable achievements and extensive expertise. His passion for driving success and fostering sustainability positions him as a trailblazer in the industry, poised to lead Worley's MEA division to new heights.