Rabat, July 4th, 2025 - ESSEC Business School announced today that Vivo Energy - a leading energy player on the African continent - is joining the 'Business and Industry in Africa' Chair, launched on January 8th, 2025 with the support of Africa Global Logistics, ARISE IIP, and the IBL Group. This new partnership aligns with the Chair’s objective of addressing the challenges and opportunities related to industrialisation and raw material processing, while strengthening Africa’s position in the global value chain.

The first cohort of students from the Chair, from diverse nationalities and backgrounds, attended specialised courses and seminars on the Rabat campus from January to early April 2025 and travelled to Ivory Coast for a week in March 2025 for a high-level immersive sequence. Several students are now starting their internships in different countries on the continent.

This Chair was inaugurated in Rabat on January 13th by ESSEC’s Dean of Faculty Roméo Tédongap, Professor Andrea Roncoroni, President of the Commodity & Energy Markets Association (CEMA), and Benoît Chervalier, executive director of the Chair, President of BCH INVEST Group and the President of the Africa committee of Business Europe. “The Chair meets the needs of businesses, the expectations of students and addresses current economic and geopolitical issues,” specified Chervalier.

Vincenzo Vinzi, Dean and President of ESSEC, added: “I am delighted with the successful launch of this pioneering Chair, faithful to the spirit of ESSEC. The arrival of Vivo Energy demonstrates the strong attractiveness of the Chair and the ambitions it carries.”

Stan Mittelman, CEO of Vivo Energy, noted: “With its young population and abundant resources, Africa is establishing itself year after year as a major driver of global growth. For over 14 years, Vivo Energy has been supporting the continent’s economic and industrial transformation. Our commitment to this Chair highlights our determination to promote sustainable growth, alongside local and international partners who share our approach to unlocking Africa’s potential.”

The Chair’s programme for 2025/2026, which will be presented next September, promises to be rich and ambitious. Drawing on ESSEC’s alumni network, it will offer students and companies unique opportunities to expand their networks, strengthen their skills, and enrich their academic and professional journeys.