Early Life
Issad Rebrab was born in 1944 in Taguemount-Azzouz, Algeria. After graduating from a professional school, he taught accounting and commercial law. He then started his own accounting firm in 1968.
Rise to Success
Rebrab's industrial career began in 1971 when he took shares in a metallurgical construction company called Sotecom. He later founded Profilor in 1975 and Metal Sider in 1988, expanding into the steel industry. However, his main installations were destroyed in a terrorist attack in 1995. In 1998, Rebrab returned to Algeria with Cevital, which became the largest group in the agricultural business. Cevital owns one of the largest sugar refineries in the world, with a capacity of 2 million tons per year. He acquired the El Khabar media group in 2016.
Key Business Strategies
Rebrab's success is tied to his ability to diversify, innovate, and invest in strategic acquisitions. He expanded Cevital's operations beyond Algeria through investments in European companies, including French home appliances maker Groupe Brandt and Spanish aluminum firm Alas Iberia. Cevital's strategy involves building technological know-how through R&D and international distribution networks to facilitate exports. The group focuses on co-location strategies to revitalize companies and create value.
Philanthropy
Issad Rebrab is known for his commitment to the development of Algeria and its people. He has established the Issad Rebrab Foundation, which focuses on education, scientific research, and cultural development. Rebrab has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life for Algerians through charitable initiatives.