Moroccan Businesswomen Claim Strong Positions in Forbes MENA Rankings

Doha – Four Moroccan women have secured prominent positions in Forbes Middle East’s latest rankings of the most powerful women in the MENA region for 2025, with three executives featured in the Top 100 Businesswomen list and one leader recognized in the inaugural Top 20 Arab Women in Government.

Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, Vice-Chair and CEO of Les Eaux Minérales d’Oulmès (LEMO), leads the Moroccan presence at the 21st position. Forbes reports that she joined Holmarcom Group in 1989 and assumed her current role at LEMO in 2010.

The publication noted that “LEMO has 12 distribution centers serving 120,000 points of sale. It made $230 million in revenues during the first nine months of 2024.”

“Chaqroun has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General as a member of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance and is also a board member at the Renault Group, a board of trustees member at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, and an international advisory board member at IE University in Madrid,” the magazine added.

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch, Founder and CEO of AKSAL Holding, ranks 23rd on the list. According to Forbes, Akhannouch established AKSAL Holding in 2004, building on her 1994 venture, Espacia.

The group has secured franchise agreements with luxury retail brands including Fendi, Gucci, Off-White, and Balenciaga, while also operating Morocco Mall.

At 33rd position, Lamia Tazi, Chairwoman and CEO of SOTHEMA, represents Morocco’s healthcare sector.

Forbes pointed out that “In the first nine months of 2024, Sothema recorded $203.7 million in revenues. In November 2024, the company opened a new $20 million storage facility equipped with the latest technologies.”

In the newly launched Top 20 Arab Women in Government list, Nezha Hayat, Chairperson and CEO of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC), secured the 13th position.

The publication noted that under her leadership since 2016, AMMC signed a cooperation agreement with the French securities regulator in October of 2024.

Hayat also chairs the Africa and Middle East Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions and co-founded AFEM, the association of women business leaders in Morocco.

The rankings were determined through a comprehensive methodology considering factors such as regional impact, business performance, company size, and sustainability initiatives.

For government positions, the criteria included leadership roles in government institutions, excluding ministerial and parliamentary positions, impact level, and initiatives during 2024.

The overall list features women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, with the UAE hosting 46 entries, followed by Egypt with 18 and Saudi Arabia with 9.

Hana Al Rostamani, CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank, tops the businesswomen ranking for the third consecutive year.