Mr. Omar Kabbaj, has earned himself international recognition. Since his nomination to the head of the African Development Bank, his reforms have re established confidence in its partners. He was celebrated for keeping the ADK afloat even when the International financial systems seemed to be facing difficulty. It is fair to say that the ADK is sailing  tubulance free.

Mr. Omar KABBAJ was elected the sixth President of the African Development Bank (ADB) on August 26, 1995, after a distinguished career in his country's public service and international development organizations. As President of the ADB Group, he is the Chairman of the Boards of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund (ADF), and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF), which together constitute the Bank Group.

Before his election as President of the ADB Group, Mr. KABBAJ served as Minister Delegate in the office of the Prime Minister of Morocco, where he was in charge of economic affairs from 1993 to 1995. From 1980 to 1993, he served as a member of the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) representing Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Ghana, Afghanistan and Pakistan. And from 1979 to 1980,he also represented nine countries on the Executive Board of the World Bank —Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Iran, Ghana, Oman, Afghanistan and Yemen.

Prior to 1979, he was Director of the Office of the Minister of Finance and held managerial positions in Moroccan national research, banking, finance, trade and industrial sectors. These include: Head, Commercial Department, "Bureau de Recherches et Participations Minières" (1963—1966); Head, Finance Department, "Banque Nationale pour le Développement Economique" (1966—1970); Managing Director, "Sucrerie Nationale du Tadla" (1970—1974) as well as Chargé de mission, Office of the Minister of Trade, Industry, Mining and Merchant Marine; and Managing Director, "Sucrerie Nationale de Canne du Sebou" (1974—1979).

Mr. KABBAJ is a graduate of the "Ecole Supérieure de Commerce et d’Administration des Entreprises de Toulouse" in France where he studied business management. He is fluent in French, English and Arabic.

Mr. KABBAJ is a Knight of the Order of the Throne of Morocco. He is married with four sons.