Holder of a master's degree in French literature, Néjib Ayed worked as a film critic for Le Temps (1975-1977) and responsible for the culture section for Réalités (1978-1980). Between 1973 and 1979, he was secretary general then president of the Tunisian Federation of film clubs then, from 1980 to 1988, director of the Tunisian Anonymous Company for Film Production and Expansion in charge of productions and then of international promotion, contributing thus to the production of several Tunisian films. In 1991, he took charge of the Sousse International Film Festival for Children and Youth. In 1999, he founded his own production agency, Rives productions. In 2017, he became executive director of the Carthage Cinematographic Days, replacing Ibrahim Letaïef.