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Rabat – Forbes has included four Moroccan women in the MENA edition of its “50 Most Powerful Businesswomen” list. The list featured businesswomen Nezha Hayat, Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch, Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, and Rita Maria Zniber, in the respective order.
The American business magazine annually creates its rankings based on candidates’ career experiences, accomplishments, social initiatives, and the size of their businesses.
For its 2022 list, Forbes featured 50 “most influential and successful businesswomen” in the MENA region, representing 19 nationalities and 17 sectors.
Nationals from the UAE and Egypt topped the list with seven entries each, ahead of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Oman, and Kuwait with four nominees each. Additionally, the selected businesswomen operated in the banking and finance sector (sixteen), the retail sector (six), diversified conglomerates (six), and the technology sector (five).
The featured Moroccan businesswomen are influential in four different sectors, banking and finance, retail, consumer goods, and food and beverage.
Nazha Hayat
The CEO and Chairwoman of Morocco’s Capital Market Authority ranked 9th on the list. Since 2016, Nezha Hayat has led the governmental agency in charge of Morocco’s non-banking capital markets, i.e., brokerage firms and the stock exchange.
She also presides over the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions. Her term will conclude by the end of 2022.
As a women’s rights advocate, Hayat co-founded Morocco’s Club for Female Business Administrators (CFA Maroc). The non-profit organization promotes women’s participation in decision-making within public and private companies.
Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch
Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch ranked 14th in the list and 2nd among Moroccan entries. She is the spouse of Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. Last month, Forbes reported Akhannouch as the 13th richest individual in Africa with a $2.2 billion net worth.
Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch is the founder and CEO of a Moroccan retail company, AKSAL Group. Since 2004, AKSAL Group has operated as the sole franchisee for 45 brands in Morocco, including Gucci, Fendi, and Emporio Armani.
In 2008, she launched the biggest mall in Morocco, Morocco Mall in Casablanca. The establishment covers over 10 hectares and started operating in 2011.
In addition to her business achievements, Akhannouch established AKSAL Training Academy and AKSAL Social Initiative to provide training to young professionals in the retail sector and finance social, educational, and health projects.
Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun
Ranking 16th, Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun is the CEO of Morocco’s leading water company Les Eaux Minerales d’Oulmes, and director of her family business Holmarcom Group.
Founded by her father in 1978, Holmarcom Group operates in real estate, finance, agro-industry, and logistics in Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Kenya.
Chaqroun served as the President of Morocco’s General Confederation of Entreprises from 2012 and 2018. She continues to be a member of several national and international boards for educational and business establishments, including Al Akhawayn University, the Suez Group, and the Renault-Nissan Group.
In recognition of her contributions, Chaqroun received three orders of merit, including Morocco’s Order of National Merit (2013), Spain’s Order of Civil Merit (2017), and France’s Legion of Honor (2020).
Rita Maria Zniber
Ranking 35th, Rita Maria Zniber is the final Moroccan featured on Forbes’ list. Zniber has served as the Chairwoman and CEO of Diana Holding since 2014. The food and beverage company operates in the agricultural sector, olive growing, poultry farming, trade, and distribution. In 2021, Diana Holding and University Mohammed VI Polytechnic launched a strategic partnership to advance research and development in the Moroccan agricultural sector.
Zniber also founded the Rita Zniber Foundation to assist abandoned children.Forbes “50 Most Powerful Businesswomen” list features prominent female figures in the MENA region, such as the Egyptian lawyer and human rights activist Mona Zulficar, the Jordanian CEO of Arab Bank Randa Sadik, and the Turkish Vice President of META in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.
While the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) predicts that the MENA region needs 142 years to achieve gender parity, the celebration of successful female businesswomen provides some hope and inspiration for future generations.
