Forbes Recognizes Four Moroccan Women Among Middle East’s Top Business Leaders

According to Forbes, these four Moroccan women, like the other businesswomen, "have shown resilience, flexibility and strength in the face of unprecedented adversity, both in their workplace and in their communities".

In Morocco, one of the four leading women is in the top 10 of the Forbes ranking. This is Nezha Hayat, president of the Moroccan Capital Market Authority since 2016. She is in 8th place and is also one of the seven women in the ranking holding a position in a government entity. President of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organization of Securities Commissions until 2022, she advocates for women’s rights.

In 19th place is Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch, CEO and founder of Aksal Group. Founded in 2004, it has 1,130 employees. Forbes also recalls that the group "is the sole franchisee of 45 major brands in Morocco, including Fendi, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Zara, Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear and Gap". In addition to Askal Group, Salwa Akhannouch has also created the Morocco Mall and a Retail Academy, the Aksal Academy, in 2011.

Next is Rita Maria Zniber, CEO of Diana Holding, which has "over 50 years of experience in the food and beverage industry" in the agriculture, olive oil, poultry, trade and distribution sectors. She is ranked 33rd and has an olive oil sector that "covers 1,000 hectares of olive trees with an annual production of 500 tons of extra virgin olive oil". Under her agricultural segment is "a composting platform with a production capacity of 10,000 tons per year," Forbes specifies.

As for Meriem Bensalah Chaqroun, director of the Holmarcom group and head of Eaux Minérales d’Oulmès, she is ranked 36th and has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as a member of the Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance.