4 Moroccan Women Rank Among Top 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in the Middle East
Moroccan Women Shine: Four Leaders Among MENA’s Top 100 Businesswomen
Forbes Middle East has recently unveiled its prestigious list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in the MENA region for 2025, and it features four inspiring leaders from Morocco: Meriem Bensalah Chaqroun, Salwa Akhannouch, Lamia Tazi, and Hanane El Mir. These women are not only shaping industries within Morocco but also making a significant impact on the regional and global stage. Their stories are a testament to the growing influence of women in business and leadership.
Meriem Bensalah Chaqroun: A Legacy of Leadership
Ranked #21, Meriem Bensalah Chaqroun is a prominent figure in Moroccan business. As CEO of the mineral water company Oulmès, part of the family-owned Holmarcom Group, she oversees operations spanning five African countries and diverse sectors, including finance, agribusiness, logistics, and real estate. Oulmès boasts an extensive network of 12 distribution centers serving 120,000 points of sale, generating $230 million in revenue in just the first nine months of 2024. Chaqroun’s leadership extends beyond her company; she’s a member of the UN Global Compact’s Board of Directors, reflecting her commitment to sustainable development. Her influence also reaches into the automotive and academic worlds, with board positions at Renault and Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, as well as an advisory role at IE University in Madrid. This diverse portfolio highlights her commitment to both economic growth and social progress.
Salwa Akhannouch: A Retail and Real Estate Powerhouse
Coming in at #23 is Salwa Akhannouch, the founder and CEO of Aksal Group. Her entrepreneurial vision has built a diverse empire encompassing retail, real estate development, shopping malls, digital services, luxury goods, and cosmetics. Akhannouch has secured franchise agreements with leading global luxury brands, and her portfolio includes the iconic Morocco Mall in Casablanca, a testament to her impact on the Moroccan retail landscape. Her success underscores the growing importance of the retail and real estate sectors in the MENA region, particularly as consumer spending and urbanization continue to rise.
Lamia Tazi: Leading the Way in Pharmaceuticals
At #33, we find Lamia Tazi, Chairwoman and CEO of Sothema, a leading pharmaceutical company. Having joined the company in 1997, Tazi took the helm in 2019 and has steered it to impressive growth, with $203.7 million in revenue during the first nine months of 2024. Sothema’s recent investment in a $20 million state-of-the-art storage facility further demonstrates its commitment to innovation and expansion. Tazi’s influence extends beyond Sothema; she’s a board member of the Moroccan employers’ association (CGEM) and holds leadership positions within pharmaceutical industry organizations, showcasing her dedication to advancing the healthcare sector in Morocco.
Hanane El Mir: A Tech Leader on the Global Stage
While the other women on this list lead companies within Morocco, Hanane El Mir (#89) makes her mark internationally as Vice President of Oracle for the Middle East and Africa, based in the UAE. Starting her career with Oracle in 2005, El Mir steadily rose through the ranks, assuming her current role in 2
