Rabat – Forbes’ list of the 100 most powerful businesswomen in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) has yet again highlighted the positive momentum of female empowerment in Morocco, with the magazine’s 2024 ranking featuring an impressive cohort of Moroccan women.
1 – Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun
Leading the way was Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, who ranked 16th in the MENA region. She is currently at the helm of the commodities company LEMO, part of the Holmarcom Group.
First joining the group in 1989, she filled her first role within LEMO in 2010. She has under her belt over 37 years of experience and oversees today more than 6,400 people spread out over both companies.
During her tenure, the Holmarcom Group acquired 78.7% of the Credit du Maroc bank in 2022. In addition to her executive role within the Holmarcom Group, she was also appointed as a member of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance by the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres.
She is equally a board member at the Renault Group and a member of the board of trustees of Al Akhawayn University.
2 – Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch
The second Moroccan woman to feature on the list is Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch in 17th place regionally. Akhannouch is currently the founder and CEO of the retail group Aksal Holding.
She first founded the group in 2004 and has since worked to connect her company to a number of international luxury retail brands, including Givenchy and Bottega Veneta.
Aksal Holding today employs more than 3,000 people. The company’s key business development plans include the opening of a smart, green downtown in Marrakech by the end of 2024. The project will require $235 million in funding and is expected to create 5,000 jobs.
The group also aims to create an e-commerce platform called Wa-Sal, covering sectors including fashion, beauty, technology, luxury, and well-being.
3 – Nezha Hayat
Banker Nezha Hayat is the third Moroccan woman to feature on the list and she ranks in 25th place regionally. Hayat was the first woman to ever hold a managerial position on the board of the Moroccan bank Sogelease (Société Générale Morocco Group) in 2007.
Her successful career in finance culminated in her 2022 reelection as chair of the Africa and Middle East Committee of the International Organization of Financial Market Regulators. She is set to fill the role for the 2022-2024 term.
Hayat started her career at the international division of Banco Atlantico in 1985. In 2016, King Mohammed VI appointed her as President of AMMC – Morocco’s Capital Market Authority.
In October 2023, AMMC sealed a partnership with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments to launch an international certification for managers of Collective Investment Schemes.
4 – Lalla Hanane Drissi
Lalla Hanae Drissi shared the 94th spot with Saudi businesswoman Reham AlMusa. Drissi has been the managing director of the technology company Oracle Qatar since December 2022.
First joining the company in 2006, Drissi has led the acceleration of Oracle Cloud adoption in Qatar.
Read Also: Four Moroccan Firms Shine in Forbes Middle East ‘Top 100 Listed Companies’
