Heritage

Born in 1967 in Paris, Rachid Benjelloun-Sefrioui is a descendant of two prominent Moroccan, Andalusian, Fassi families, the Benjelloun’s and the Sefrioui’s.  

Families of Andalusian origin are families who settled in Fes, Morocco, after the Reconquista and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain in the 15th century. 

The term “Fassi” generally refers to people from the city of Fes, one of Morocco’s oldest and most historically significant cities, and more specifically to this ethnic minority which is known for its prominence in higher education, social good and business.

Rachid’s values and business upbringing were significantly influenced by both families' long heritage.

Rachid’s maternal grandfather, Bensalem Benjelloun, a rated chess player, began teaching him the game at just three years old. Later, he took Rachid along to his factories, where he imparted lessons on listening, learning, and commercial logic. Among his memorable advice was the timeless saying, “A cent is the grandfather of the million,” emphasizing the importance of cost control.

His mother Naima Benjelloun, who earned a pharmacy degree from Bordeaux University in France in 1968, was a successful pharmaceutical entrepreneur. 

She was a founding partner in the acquisition of CooperPharma from the French group Rhone-Poulenc, now Sanofi. Today, CooperPharma is a successful pan-African pharmaceutical group. She also founded and grew numerous pharma and distribution ventures throughout the country and the African continent. 

In his formative years, she had young Rachid take on the most junior roles at her companies—stocker, runner, counter assistant, inventory clerk—instilling in him grit, determination, and fearlessness.

The Sefrioui family has a rich heritage in finance, real estate, and the diamond and jewelry industry. 

Rooted in Sefrou, a city near Fes, the family first thrived in diamond and jewelry trading. 

Their ventures expanded when a branch of the family gained exclusive rights to Morocco’s unique rhassoul clay mines. 

This opportunity became the foundation for a vast conglomerate encompassing construction materials, transportation, and real estate development.

Rachid absorbed lessons in leadership and negotiation by observing his paternal grandfather’s lengthy discussions with officials. 

Meanwhile, his father, who held a doctorate in law from Bordeaux University, often brought him along to evening pro-bono corporate law lectures while he was in high school. These experiences taught him the importance of attention to detail and risk management.

In 1997, Othman Benjelloun, controlling shareholder, chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank, now Bank of Africa, seated at the same table as Rachid at the Euromoney Conference, invited him to join his growing financial group. 

Two years later, Rachid, 32, leaves Credit Agricole Indosuez' Wafatrust to form his venture firm Finaventures. BMCE Bank becomes an anchor LP in the finafunds. 

A few years later, Rachid was entrusted to co-lead the formation and structuring of Othman Benjelloun’s family office in Luxembourg and Paris, then FinanceCom International, now O Capital Group Europe. 

Having grown into a massive portfolio of banks, insurance companies, telecom companies across Europe and Africa, O Capital Group,  acquired in 2010 100% of the shares it didn't already own in Finatech group, the Tech Holding resulting from Finafund 2006. 

Thus culminating a 12-year collaboration with Finaventures and an incredible mentorship from one of the most iconic entrepreneurs of our times.

Born in Los Angeles in 2006 while Rachid was with Othman Benjelloun in his office in Casablanca, Rachid’s twin sons, Omar and Othman, were named after Othman Benjelloun and his brother and partner, Omar.

Rachid's passion for coding on his Sinclair ZX-81 in his teen years led to his career in technology investments. He started his first company, a door-to-door video rental service on his Solex moped, at 14, and sold it by 17.

Emigrating to the U.S. in 1985 to pursue a degree in management and operations research (applied math), he launched an apparel company his freshman year and sold it before joining McKinsey & Company.

 "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Rachid Sefrioui draws inspiration from the journey of his ancestors, continuing in the footsteps of his family heritage; higher education, philanthropy, and building companies through his family office Finacapital and his Growth Equity firm, Finaventures.

Rachid's professional profile can be found here.