Five Moroccan women are included in the new Forbes ranking of the 100 most influential businesswomen in 2023 in the MENA region. Here they are.
In its “100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2023” ranking, unveiled this weekend, Forbes magazine lists five Moroccan women.
In 17th place, Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch, CEO and founder of the AKSAL group, which specializes in retailing, is listed
“Akhannouch founded the AKSAL group in 2004. The group employs more than 1,130 people and is the sole franchisee of 45 major brands in Morocco, including Emporio Armani, Fendi, Gucci, Oysho, Ralph Lauren, Zara, Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Bershka and Gap,” the American magazine explains.
In 2011, the group launched Morocco Mall, which covers 10 hectares with 70,000 square meters of retail space. In 2017, it launched its cosmetics and beauty brand Yan&One. The group also created the AKSAL Academy for retail professions and the AKSAL Social Initiative to support social, cultural, educational and health projects,” it notes.
The wife of the head of government is followed in the ranking by Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, in 19th place. She “joined her family business, the Holmarcom Group, in 1989. She is also vice-president and CEO of Eaux minérales d’Oulmès, listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange,” which recorded revenues of $178 million in 2021, Forbes notes.
Meriem Bensalah Chaqroun is a member of the Global Alliance of Investors for Sustainable Development and serves on several national and international boards, including Al Akhawayn University and the Renault-Nissan Group.
Rita Maria Zniber, CEO of Diana Holding, is in 33rd place. The businesswoman “joined Diana Holding in 1988, which has a diversified portfolio of activities encompassing soft drinks, plastics, agriculture, olive growing, alcoholic beverages, poultry, seafood, distribution and retailing,” the business magazine explains.
In particular, his company partnered with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in November 2021 to support innovation, research and development.
In 65th place is the CEO of the pharmaceutical company Sothema Lamia Tazi.
Forbes recalls that she started at Sothema in 1997. “She took her current position in 2019, where she now oversees 1,000 people. Sothema produces about 60 million pharmaceuticals a year in six production units and has a 9% market share. Tazi is also president of the Omar Tazi Foundation and a member of Azerys general council, among other roles,” the same source noted.
The fifth and final Moroccan businesswoman listed in the ranking is Saida Karim Lamrani, who ranks 80th. She is executive vice president of the Safari-Sofipar holding company.
The Safari Group was established in Morocco in 1994. “It has several global brands under its umbrella, including CAT, Lacoste and Longchamp, Jaguar, Land Rover and BMW, among others. She is also the daughter of the late Mohammed Karim Lamrani, who was Prime Minister of Morocco from 1971 to 1994.
Forbes points out that her group has recorded annual revenues of over $500 million and employs 3,600 people.
