Revolut has appointed Moroccan payments executive Yacine Faqir as CEO for its operations in Morocco, signaling a sharper push into the country’s tightly regulated financial sector. In a recent announcement, Faqir said he was proud to join the Revolut team and described the role as the start of a new chapter in his career. His appointment comes as the British fintech continues formal procedures with Bank Al-Maghrib to secure authorization for a phased market entry.
Yacine Faqir’s Strategic Appointment
For Revolut, naming a locally rooted chief executive is a deliberate move to anchor its ambitions in Morocco in credible on-the-ground leadership. Faqir is expected to lead market entry, licensing discussions, and the adaptation of Revolut’s global product suite to Moroccan regulatory and consumer realities. His mandate will include shaping the Moroccan strategy, building a local team, and ensuring that risk, compliance, and customer protection standards meet the expectations of both the regulator and the group.
A Career Across Payments, Credit, and Risk
Before joining Revolut, Faqir served as Vice President of Products and Solutions for North and Francophone Africa at Mastercard, based in Casablanca. In that role, he led product strategy across consumer cards, SME offerings, tokenization, digital enablement, and new payment flows such as remittances and account-to-account transfers. He also worked directly with banks, fintechs, governments, and telcos to co-create scalable solutions that support financial inclusion and accelerate the shift away from cash.
From Credit Bureaus to Global Institutions
Earlier in his career, Faqir helped set up Dun & Bradstreet’s credit bureau operations in Morocco as country manager for QUANTIK DBCB Credit Bureau. He oversaw the launch of a full credit bureau infrastructure, recruited and led multidisciplinary teams, and pushed for a more inclusive national data strategy involving banks, insurers, telcos, and regulators. He later advised the World Bank and multiple fintech clients on credit infrastructure, regulatory mapping, and go-to-market execution across African markets, reinforcing his reputation as a specialist in data-driven financial ecosystems.
Revolut’s Global Playbook Meets Moroccan Regulation
Revolut has grown into one of Europe’s most valuable fintech companies, offering multi-currency accounts, low-fee international transfers, cards, savings, investments, and crypto trading through a single app. Morocco, however, is approaching Revolut’s arrival cautiously, with Bank Al-Maghrib insisting on strict licensing conditions, detailed evaluation of its business model, and strong safeguards on anti-money-laundering and consumer protection. Faqir’s role will be to interpret that regulatory framework, sequence product launches carefully, and align Revolut’s global playbook with Morocco’s currency regime and supervisory expectations.
What This Means for Morocco’s Fintech Ecosystem
Revolut’s push into Morocco under Faqir’s leadership is widely seen as a potential catalyst for the local fintech ecosystem, increasing competition on pricing, user experience, and digital product depth. Its low-fee FX, instant international transfers, and multi-currency cards could challenge traditional non-interest revenue streams for incumbent banks while expanding options for consumers and SMEs. Drawing on his experience co-creating solutions with banks, telcos, and governments, Faqir is likely to prioritize partnership-driven growth rather than a purely adversarial approach.
The appointment of Yacine Faqir as CEO of Revolut Morocco marks a decisive step in the neobank’s attempt to secure a foothold in one of North Africa’s most closely watched financial markets. It pairs a fast-growing global fintech platform with a leader steeped in payments, credit infrastructure, and regulatory engagement across Africa and beyond. As licensing talks progress and product plans crystalize, Faqir will be central to balancing Revolut’s appetite for rapid digital innovation with Morocco’s emphasis on financial stability, inclusion, and trust.