- Businessman and inventor Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi has worked in Saudi Arabia for years.
- He has an impressive network and a great fortune.
- A possible takeover of OM would not be its first foray into the world of sport.
Will a cowboy succeed Yankee Frank McCourt? Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi's big hat could soon be seen in Marseille. The Franco-Tunisian businessman is studying this Wednesday the OM financial report delivered by the DNCG. With the help of Mourad Boudjellal, he intends to buy the European champion club on behalf of Saudi funds. It is in this country that he has been practicing since the 1980s. But what exactly are his activities? 20 Minutes went wild to retrace the journey of this enigmatic 68-year-old entrepreneur.
A hyperactive businessman
"This gentleman is a mystery even here in Tunisia," says a source who believes that Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi "is an intermediary more than a real industrialist. Very established in Saudi Arabia, this engineer has a considerable network. This interpersonal skills allowed him to negotiate very important contracts for companies like Suez or Saur, particularly in water management. He also works in the United Arab Emirates.
“He has the classic background of these guys who have made a good reputation in the Gulf countries, observes a player in the business world. They arrived with good training, spoke Arabic and landed in countries where everything was to be built: roads, sanitation networks, all infrastructure. "
Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi created many companies: first in the North of France, where he studied, then in the Gulf countries. He now heads the Saudi Arabia and Middle East subsidiary of CNIM, an industrial equipment supplier. "It is dispersed, it wants everything at the same time," says an observer, who denounces sometimes borderline methods.
Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi had some problems with the law: he was the subject of a complaint for swindle and breach of trust in the context of a merger with Veolia and was sentenced for possession of a weapon and falsification of a contract. In both cases, he was acquitted on appeal.
A “largely” millionaire inventor
“Mr. Ajroudi is a multi-card businessman. But he is first of all an engineer and an inventor, ”describes one of his collaborators. He thus created Sportvert, a machine which makes it possible to build a football field in one week. He also designed an underground irrigation system called Portube, deployed on the lawns of the Palais omnisport de Paris-Bercy or those of the gardens of the palace of the former king of Saudi Arabia. He has also led numerous projects in the distribution and sanitation of water networks, in desalination and in the railways.
He drew immense wealth from it. "His financial capacity is very important," assures a relative. Is he a millionaire, like Frank McCourt, the current owner of OM? "Largely," blows this same source.
Political and media networks
Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi is proud to pose with his influential friends: François Hollande, Emmanuel Macron, Jack Lang, Gérard Depardieu or Arnold Schwarzenegger. "He rubs shoulders with and advises the great people of this world," said an enamored adviser. "He is above all excellent in communication and has a good command of social networks," points out Sofiane Ezzi, Ettachkila media coordinator.
Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi had a brief political career in Tunisia: in 2013, he launched the Tunisian Movement for Freedom and Dignity. But he gave up a few weeks of the legislative elections, to everyone's surprise. "He tried to take advantage of the political vacuum after the Tunisian revolution, but he gave up because he understood that those who made this choice did not necessarily succeed and had to go into exile," notes a life observer. Tunisian politics, also anonymous.
Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi has since participated in Cop 21 as a "big decision maker" and is involved in negotiations to reach peace agreements in Libya. He is finally the owner of the Al Janoubiya television channel.
He has already chaired a (small) club in Tunisia
A possible takeover of OM would not be Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi's first foray into the world of sport. He has a long career as a patron behind him. He chaired the AS Hammamet handball club between 2016 and 2017, before turning to football: first at Stade Nabeulien, then at Stade Gabésien between 2018 and 2019.
"He did not have a great experience in football but he always had ideas to improve the team because he was ready to invest a lot of money," said Rani Amara, former coordinator of the Stade Gabésien. Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi has long been the “godfather” of the modest club in his hometown. "He has always been ambitious," says Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi. There was talk that he chairs the African Club, the number 1 club in Tunisia ... He has a lot of contacts. "
Little info: Ajroudi we are talking about in the Boujellal project is patron of a club in Tunisia, Stade Gabesien, which was struck by a point loss by Fifa because they did not pay the Transfer Allowance for a player. #SaleOM
- nessim ben gharbia (@NassBen_) June 26, 2020Mohamed Ayachi Ajroudi resigned from the presidency of Stade Gabésien after one season. It ended in relegation to the second division. "He was not very present, relativizes one of his advisers. He invested money, supported the teams, but it is not at all comparable with what he wants to do in Marseille. His project for OM is immense! "
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- Saudi Arabia
- Mourad boudjellal
- Tunisia
- Soccer
- Frank McCourt
- Marseille
- Sport
- OM