EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Develo : appoints Marie-Alexandra Veilleux-Laborie as new Director for Morocco

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has appointed Marie-Alexandra Veilleux-Laborie as its new Director for Morocco.

Based in Casablanca, Ms Veilleux-Laborie will assume her role on 1 February, succeeding Laurent Chabrier. She will be responsible for the EBRD's investments and operations in the country and report to Janet Heckman, the Bank's new Managing Director for the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region.

Ms Veilleux-Laborie joined the EBRD in 2007 and initially worked for the Financial Institutions and Equity Funds teams. Prior to her appointment, she was the first head of the EBRD's office in Tunisia where she launched the Bank's activities in the country and positioned the Bank prominently with the authorities, business communities and other stakeholders.

During her tenure the EBRD invested €350 million in Tunisia, mainly in the private sector, and developed many policy dialogue initiatives. The opening of a second office in Sfax, the second largest city in Tunisia, has strengthened the Bank's regional outreach and inclusion.

A dual Canadian and French national, Ms Veilleux-Laborie has extensive experience in the banking sector as well as the private equity industry in emerging markets. She is a graduate of both HEC Paris and the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris.

Ms Veilleux-Laborie said: 'I am very honoured to take on this new responsibility. Morocco is an important country in the SEMED region and beyond. My aim is to be instrumental in shaping the future of the Bank's strategic objectives in the country. Together with our team, I will work on strengthening our presence on the ground, including cementing sustainable high-level partnerships with key stakeholders in the private and public sectors, further supporting economic resilience particularly in the regions - with a specific focus on women's entrepreneurship - and advancing the development of capital markets.'

Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD and became a country of operations in 2012. To date, the Bank has invested about €1.2 million in 30 projects in the country. The EBRD focuses on strengthening the entrepreneurial potential of the country, promoting women's entrepreneurship and increasing finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. Promoting energy efficiency and a sustainable energy sector, as well as facilitating non-sovereign financing for such infrastructure, are also at the centre of the Bank's priorities in Morocco.