Name: Adil Benkaddour
Job title: Marketing Manager Deco Morocco
Location: Casablanca
Country: Morocco
Who is Adil Benkaddour?
I joined AkzoNobel Morocco as Brand Manager Astral in 2008. I have been in my current position of Marketing Manager for five months. My work consists of managing the marketing at Deco Morocco and making our two brands, Astral and Sadvel, strong and sustainable in the market.
I live in Casablanca with my wife Fadoua. We have a 15-month-old daughter, Ghita. My wife and I like to go out and travel, but with Ghita in our lives, our home has become more lively. We spend most of our time with our daughter and live at her pace.
What does color mean to you at work?
Due to the nature of my work, I am always involved with color. And it is fascinating to be able to offer clients collections of color and textures, as our challenge is to develop public interest in color, which is lukewarm in the Moroccan market, as clients rarely use anything but neutral colors such as white and beige.
As for community activities, we have made many donations both this year and last year to associations that help, amongst others, the handicapped and poor children renovate their premises. It is great to see people’s reaction when they see a clean, colorful and properly renovated space for the first time. It is what we call ‘adding color to people’s lives’.
…and outside of work?
We have just moved. I have not yet renovated my flat but I like to play with contrasting colors. For example, my wife and I have agreed to paint the sitting room an immaculate white and break it up with black stripes. In the bedroom we will go with blue and light green, both soothing and relaxing. Because she’s so young we will, of course, choose the color for Ghita’s room, and it will be pink. Her mom wants to make her life as a girl as sweet as possible.
What is your all-time favorite color and why?
Blue because it represents ambition and strengthens my will to always go further with my ideas and projects. It is the color of the sky and the ocean, of far horizons and the sense of always seeing further and learning to be a visionary.
If you could choose one color that most closely matches your personality, what would it be and why?
Again blue, in all its shades. A blue sky always fuels my future ambitions, while royal blue embodies my wisdom, discernment and ability to think things through.