No.47 - ISSAD REBRAB (Cevital)

Age: 74

Years at current company: 20

Nationality: Algerian

Industry: Conglomerate

Turnover: $4bn

Rate of growth: 30% per year since 1998

Twenty years after the its creation, Algerian group Cevital has 26 subsidiaries involved in a wide range of industries. After buying then turning around the fortunes of Brandt, Cevital acquired a 80% stake in German startup specializing in water purification. Issad Rebrab has actively sought to invest in different and new technologies in order to create synergies within the group.    

Notable success: In 2017 Rebrab embarked on an ambitious infrastructure project which would see a railway network connect Africa from north to south and from east to west.