Born in Morocco in 1941, André David Azoulay, the Counselor to the King of Morocco, was educated in Paris and Brussels, where he studied economics, journalism, finance and international relations. He had a long career with the Paribas Bank in Paris (1968–1990), where he served as Executive Vice-President and headed the Bank's Public Affairs department. As Counselor of His Majesty the late King Hassan II from 1991–1999 and of His Majesty Mohammed VI since then, Mr. Azoulay has contributed greatly to the implementation of economic reforms in Morocco and to improving relations between Morocco and the European Union and United States.
Mr. Azoulay is known for his role in the follow-up of the peace process in the Middle East and his involvement in initiatives that deepen reconciliation between Arabs and Jews in Europe, the United States, Morocco, and the Arab and Jewish Diasporas worldwide. Involved in fostering understanding and mutual respect between Islam and the Western World for over 30 years, he is the founder of the NGO “Identité et Dialogue”, the first organization in which Jewish intellectuals called for a Palestinian State living peacefully alongside Israel.
Mr. Azoulay is President of the Executive Committee of the Foundation of the Three Cultures and Three Religions in Seville, Spain, and is a member of the Scientific Committee of “Medinas." In August 2005, he was nominated to be a member of the “High Level Group” of the “Alliance of Civilizations," established by the United Nations to address relations between Islam and the Western World. In 2008, he was elected President of the Euro-Mediterranean Anna Lindh Foundation, member of the Executive Committee of the Mediterranean Council for Culture in Paris, and Board member of the Mediterranean Study and Research Center in Marseille. Mr. Azoulay is a member of the Royal Academy of Morocco and of the Royal Academy of Spain for Economic and Financial Sciences and has been honoured with the titles of Commandeur dans l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur (France) and Commandeur dans l’Ordre du Trône (Morocco). He is married to Katia and is the father of three children.