Born in Morocco, Nourdine Bihmane now leads 109,000 employees worldwide
The son of a Moroccan factory worker, Nourdine Bihmane grew up in a modest family near Lyon. At 15, he left home to continue his studies. That decision would lead him to head Atos, and later a Spanish giant operating in 28 countries.
“If you ask me, you should get a vocational certificate in roofing; you’ll see, it pays well.” In middle school, near Lyon, Nourdine Bihmane heard his career adviser map out that future for him. He refused. The child born in Morocco wanted to continue his studies, despite the obstacles he faced. He recounts the episode in a profile published by Le Monde.
At 4, he had come to France with his mother in his father’s white Renault 12. His father was a foundry worker, a job he would hold for 47 years. The family moved frequently and relied on social assistance and the Restos du cœur. As a teenager, Nourdine even traded math homework for a few bills or some clothes.
At 15, one decision changed the course of his life. His aunt Chantal welcomed him into her home in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, in the Paris region. He discovered a daily life shaped by books and discussion, earned his baccalaureate with honors, then studied computer science at Paris-VI and information systems engineering at CNAM.
From Lyon’s suburbs to the helm of a global giant
His career took him to Atos, where he spent nearly twenty-four years and held positions of responsibility across several continents. In June 2022, he became CEO of the French IT group.
In April 2024, he took the helm of Konecta, a Spanish company specializing in customer relations and digital services. According to the group’s official figures, he now leads more than 109,000 employees across 28 countries.
Based in Madrid, the French-Moroccan says he changed countries to secure promotions he believed were out of reach in France. He also credits his success to Chantal, who gave him the chance to discover a different social world. During his career, he continued his education at Princeton and Insead.
His experience now informs his work with young people. As president of the association Les Entretiens de l’Excellence, Nourdine Bihmane donates the royalties from his book Rester humain to the organization. The book explores, among other things, how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of work.
