Since he left the Tunisian Ministry of Finance in December 2011, Mr Ayed has been an active public speaker promoting his vision for a prosperous Tunisia. He is a regular guest speaker of prestigious academic organizations and civil society forums. He continues to serve as director in
Read MoreIn January 2011, Mr Ayed was appointed Minister of Finance of Tunisia and served in the two interim governments following the Tunisian revolution. During his tenure at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Ayed supervised the preparation of the five-year Economic & Social Development Program (the “Jasmin Plan”) that was submitted to the G8 as part of the Deauville Partnership Agreement. He also served as Tunisia’s Sherpa for the G8 meetings. During his tenure at the Ministry of Finance Mr. Ayed initiated several important regulatory reforms such as those pertaining to Micro-finance and Private Equity.
In 1998 Ayed joined the Moroccan BMCE Group. He created BMCE Capital, the investment banking arm of the group, as a center of competency and bearer of a new culture. In 2000 he set up CapialInvest, the leading private equity firm in Morocco. In 2002 He was appointed Board Member and General Manager of BMCE Bank, and President of the Executive Committee of BMCE Group. He initiated the African strategy of BMCE making it one of the leading financial power houses in the continent with a presence in more than 22 countries. He also created BMCE International, a London based investment bank wholly dedicated to the African continent.
Mr Ayed held several other senior positions in FinanceCom, the Group’s holding company, including, but not limited to, Vice-Chairman of the supervisory Board of RMA Watanya, the largest insurance company in Morocco at the time; Director of Bank of Africa, and Chairman of the Board of Axis Capital, Tunis.
During his 18-year career with Citibank (1980-1998) Mr Ayed held various country management positions in the emerging countries of North Africa and the Middle East, and as Senior Banker in the Capital Markets Group at Citicorp International Plc.in London. In 1988, Mr. Ayed was appointed Corporate Bank Head of the UAE and Oman. In 1990 he was appointed Country Corporate Officer In Morocco as well as Director and General Manager of Citibank Maghreb, a Citibank subsidiary. Mr. Ayed joined Citibank Tunis in 1980. In 1986 he was promoted to Vice President of Citibank/Citicorp.
Mr. Ayed joined Citibank Capital Markets Group in London in late 1995 as Senior Banker in charge of Euromarket syndicated loan activities for France and Greece. He also supervised the structuring of several large syndicated loans in the MENA region.
Mr. Ayed was awarded the Order of the Tunisian Republic in December 2011. He was granted the ‘Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership & Ingenuity’ by Citibank New York in May 2014. During his professional career, Mr. Ayed has had extensive contacts and recurring working relationships. major international financial institutions and development agencies such as the World Bank, IFC, ADB, FMO, ACTIS, KfW, AFD as well as several other organizations. He served as Director in the Board of PROPARCO, the French Development agency from 2007 to 2010.
Mr. Ayed chaired the Moroccan U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1992-1995), and was elected its Honorary Chairman.
He was also an active member of the U.S.-Morocco Council.
He co-founded, and still is, Vice President of Euromed Capital Forum, an organization aimed at promoting the private equity industry in the Mediterranean region.
In December 2013 he was appointed Chairman of MED Confederation, a Brussels based non-profit organization aimed at fostering socio-economic cooperation between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean.
He is the Honorary Chairman of Carthage Business Angels’ Association and an active member in several other civil society organizations in Tunisia. He is particularly involved in promoting programs aimed at fostering youth employability and entrepreneurship.
Mr Ayed has authored a book published in January 2013 (Tunisie: La Route des Jasmins, Editions La Différence, Paris)
He obtained a Masters’ degree in Economics at the University of Maryland in 1979 where he was elected member of the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for academic distinction. His academic curriculum includes credits obtained at the University of Colorado (1977) and the University of Florida (1978).
Mr. Ayed is a renowned composer of classical music. His works include piano compositions and symphonic works that were performed in Casablanca, Tunis, and Washington. His music was performed at the Carthage Music Festival (2009) and at the El-Jem Classical Music Festival (2009 & 2014). He regularly organizes concerts in Tunisia for the benefit of charitable organizations.
He is an avid golfer, and a fervent reader. He is married with three children.
