If he weren’t fully absorbed in steering the explosive growth of his company, Omar Lataoui, CEO of Finatech, might have pursued a radically different—yet equally competitive—path. In addition to tech and Andalusian music, this executive is also passionate about equestrian sports. He is a two-time Moroccan national champion in amateur senior show jumping.
Holding a Master of Science in Computer Networks from Al Akhawayn University, along with several degrees from prestigious American institutions, this forty-something is part of the very first graduating class from the Ifrane-based university. Omar Lataoui began his career at Medi Telecom, where he led the development of mobile data services. His journey then took him to IBM, where he helped implement IBM’s software sales strategy in the Moroccan market.
In 2007, he joined the Finance.Com group (now O Capital), where he contributed to the creation and development of Steria MedShore, a joint venture specializing in IT offshoring. Four years later, Omar Lataoui took over the “Systems and Technologies” department at Finatech, before being promoted to Deputy CEO and eventually becoming CEO in 2018.
A continental benchmark
From the moment he took office, he redirected the group’s core business toward new technologies and digital transformation, with the ambition of making it a tech integrator on a continental African scale. To achieve this, the company relied on top-tier talent and partnerships with global industry leaders, including Cisco, Huawei, Dell, and others.
The CEO of Finatech would no doubt have been knighted by none other than Michael Porter (the renowned strategy professor at Harvard Business School) who advised managers to choose one of three generic strategies to maintain a company’s competitive edge. For Finatech, Omar Lataoui chose to focus on data centers, cybersecurity, networks, and digitization. And it’s a strategy that has paid off. Today, the company stands as a benchmark in African tech. It is part of the exclusive group of the 500 largest companies in Morocco—a remarkable feat, considering that the tax registry listed 420,000 businesses in 2022.
One of the group’s most notable achievements is its involvement in the massive Mohammed VI Tower project, currently under construction in Rabat. Finatech is providing solutions for security networks, access control systems, communications, and smart building automation.
To learn more:
The LinkedIn profile of Omar Lataoui
Written in French by Jankari Consulting, edited in English by Nielson English
