Ahmed Aboutaleb was born in 1961 in a small Moroccan village. His father moved to the Netherlands to work, followed by the family in 1976. At that time, Aboutaleb was fifteen. In The Hague he taught himself Dutch using French dictionaries and with the help of volunteer social workers.
He began his career in communication working as a presenter and program maker for radio and television. Between 1994 and 1998 he expanded his career in communication. He was press officer at the ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural affairs, head of information at the SER (Socio-Economic Advisory Board) and manager of the communications and publications sector at CBS (Central Bureau for Statistics). In 1998 he was appointed director of the Forum Institute. As of 2002 he was director of the social, economic and cultural development sector of the municipality of Amsterdam. Between 2004 and 2007 he was the alderman for work and income, education, youth, diversity and urban policy in Amsterdam. He then was appointed state secretary for Social Affairs and Employment until he became the Mayor of Rotterdam in 2009.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxRotterdam, where x = independently organized TED event. More »
Ahmed Aboutaleb
Mayor of Rotterdam
Ahmed Aboutaleb was born in 1961 in a small Moroccan village. His father moved to the Netherlands to work, followed by the family in 1976. At that time, Aboutaleb was fifteen. In The Hague he taught himself Dutch using French dictionaries and with the help of volunteer social workers.
He began his career in communication working as a presenter and program maker for radio and television. Between 1994 and 1998 he expanded his career in communication. He was press officer at the ministry of Welfare, Health and Cultural affairs, head of information at the SER (Socio-Economic Advisory Board) and manager of the communications and publications sector at CBS (Central Bureau for Statistics). In 1998 he was appointed director of the Forum Institute. As of 2002 he was director of the social, economic and cultural development sector of the municipality of Amsterdam. Between 2004 and 2007 he was the alderman for work and income, education, youth, diversity and urban policy in Amsterdam. He then was appointed state secretary for Social Affairs and Employment until he became the Mayor of Rotterdam in 2009.
http://www.vimeo.com/12425704