Morocco's Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) is facing uncertainty over the succession of its long-serving CEO, Mustafa Trrab, as several senior executives have recently left the company. Trrab has been at the helm of OCP since 2006 and is set to turn 71 soon. His leadership style and handling of the company's crisis have been criticized, leading to tensions with some government representatives.
The departures include Kanza Merghaoui, the company's legal affairs director, who left in mid-September after being with OCP since 2012. Amin Houssine, former CEO of InnovX, a subsidiary of OCP, also resigned in early September to join French energy company Nexans' Moroccan branch. Elias Flalali, performance steering manager at OCP, left the company in early September after just five months in the role, citing "personal" reasons.
OCP has been facing significant challenges, including a decline in revenue and a need to reduce its workforce. The company's revenue fell by 7% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. OCP has been implementing cost-cutting measures, including reducing its workforce, which totaled over 17,000 employees at the end of 2025. The company's social climate has deteriorated, with criticism of Trrab's handling of the crisis.
The Moroccan government owns 95% of OCP, and there have been reports of tensions between Trrab and some government representatives. In March, the company's board of directors meeting highlighted the differences between Trrab and some government officials, including Abdel Latif Zgoune, the general manager of the National Strategic Management Agency for State Holdings.
Zgoune has been mentioned as a potential successor to Trrab, but this is not confirmed. Another possible candidate is Hicham El Habti, who has been president of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, a institution backed by OCP, since 2020. El Habti has a strong background in engineering and has been mentioned as a potential candidate for other senior roles in Morocco.
In September, El Habti was appointed as the general secretary of OCP, a move seen as a step towards a more prominent role in the company. Another figure who has joined OCP's board of directors is Ilham Qadri, a French-Moroccan businesswoman and chemist, who brings international experience to the company.
As OCP navigates its challenges, the company's leadership succession remains uncertain. While Trrab's departure is not imminent, the recent departures of senior executives and the criticism of his leadership style have created an opportunity for change. The company's future leadership will be crucial in shaping its strategy and direction in the challenging global phosphate market.
Key points
- OCP faces leadership uncertainty amid mass departures of senior executives and criticism of CEO Mustafa Trrab's handling of the company's crisis.
- Several senior executives have left OCP, including the legal affairs director and the CEO of InnovX, a subsidiary of OCP.
- The company's revenue fell by 7% in the first half of 2026, and it has been implementing cost-cutting measures, including reducing its workforce.
