Moroccan entrepreneur Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch has been ranked 17th rank on Forbes MENA’s 100 Most Powerful Business Women list, showcasing her stronghold on the retail sector.
Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch founded AKSAL Group in 2004. The group employs more than 1,130 people and is the sole franchisee for 45 leading brands in Morocco, including Emporio Armani, Fendi, Gucci, Oysho, Ralph Lauren, Zara, Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Bershka, and Gap. In 2011, the group launched the Morocco Mall, which covers 10 hectares with 70,000 square meters of commercial space.
Beyond her contributions to retail, Idrissi Akhannouch’s accolades encompass diverse entrepreneurship.
She was acknowledged as “Morocco’s Leading Lady of Luxury Goods” by OZY Magazine in 2017 and gained a place in Forbes Magazine’s “Top 10 Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands” for her creation of the Yan&One beauty brand in 2020.
Her recent recognition with an award for Female Entrepreneurship in Africa at the Africa-Spain Cooperation Summit underscores her commitment to catalyzing economic growth and empowering women.
