“It is the patients who give me energy every day. We are all patients at one time or another in our lives.”
Leadership forged by diversity
From GSK to MSD, from Lilly to Roche, Dr El Mekaoui’s career lies at the crossroads of cultures, expertise and challenges. “My first experience as a people leader made me aware of the importance of the human factor for collective success.”, he tells us. And through the variety of functions he has held (marketing, medical, sales, commercial, compliance…), Dr El Mekaoui has developed a systemic approach to problems and above all to the solutions to be found. Indeed, his approach to management rests on three pillars: trust, transparency and empowerment. Values that he shares with his teams at Roche.
“Each stage has enriched me in one way or another. My multicultural experiences have taught me to adapt, to understand the weight of local contexts, and to collaborate effectively amid diversity.”
Roche Maroc: a catalyst for a changing healthcare system
At the head of Roche Maroc, Dr El Mekaoui intends to carry an ambitious vision, based on three structuring priorities:
- Accelerating access to therapeutic innovation for Moroccan patients, in close collaboration with the authorities and healthcare professionals;
- Strengthening Roche Maroc’s role as a committed local player, contributing to the strengthening of the Moroccan healthcare ecosystem;
- Building collective leadership within the teams, rooted in trust, impact and responsibility.
For him, who is also vice-president of the professional association Les Entreprises du Médicament au Maroc (LEMM), “Health challenges are met together. Our role is to provide solutions, but also to listen, to co-construct and to commit for the long term.”, stressing the importance of partnership and dialogue to move the system forward in a win-win dynamic.
A management vision based on listening and meaning
With his teams, Dr El Mekaoui advocates a management style based on dialogue, clarity of objectives, freedom of initiative and human cohesion. “It is essential to give meaning by providing the necessary clarity to teams, to leave room for initiative, and to create a calm environment. I also try to remain attentive, in a posture of service towards my teams, who remain, in my view, Roche’s greatest asset.”, he asserts.
His motto sums up his approach on its own: “It’s all a question of balance”. For him, it is fundamental, in a constantly changing environment, to know how to balance professional demands with human feeling, ambition with humility and performance with well-being. “This balance, whether personal or collective, is essential to move forward in a sustainable and impactful way.”, he adds.
And when asked about his sources of energy, he does not hesitate: “It is the patients who give me energy every day. We are all patients at one time or another in our lives.”
And behind the suit?
A lover of travel, music and moments shared with family, Dr El Mekaoui draws his own balance from a diversity of experiences. One sporting anecdote left a lasting impression on him: a British Olympic rowing medallist told him that his team had declined the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in order to stay focused on the race. “It made me realise the importance of minimising distractions as much as possible in order to stay focused on what matters.”, he concludes.
If you were…
– A colour, which one would you be, and why? Majorelle blue, a vibrant and deep colour.
– A country, which one would you be? Morocco, a crossroads of culture, history and varied landscapes.
– A human value? Hospitality, our art of living and a pillar of our culture.
– An inspiring figure…? Gandhi: for his moral strength and his peaceful resistance.
– An animal…? The eagle, a majestic bird and a universal symbol of freedom.
– A connected object?: a phone!
– A superpower? Telepathy, to understand others beyond words and appearances.
– A book…? The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: it resonates with the idea of travel, discovery and inner richness.