PROMINENT LEADERS

Othman Benjelloun

Today, at the age of 84, Othman Benjelloun is one of Morocco's leading businessmen and has a net worth of $1.89 billion. Benjelloun first got into business in 1988 when he took over his father's position in a Moroccan insurance company. He built that company into what is today known as RMA Watanya, a leading insurance company. Since expanding into the world of finance and banking, Benjelloun is now the Chairman and CEO of Banque Marocaine Du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) Bank, Africa's second leading largest bank. Benjelloun also has several investments in business such as Meditelecom (Morocco's second largest mobile phone operator), a Paris-based money management firm, FinanceCom Asset management, etc. Although his beginning success can be attributed to his father, family remains to be important to this successful businessmen. So much so that he continues to create a familial environment within his company so that everyone feels united and part of one group. His concern for others also extends into the community. In 2016, Benjelloun received the "Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award" in New York City which honors people and organizations for their work and achievements for the common good in the world. When speaking about one of his many business ventures, Benjelloun said, it "was established to give all children and adults in these areas a real chance to reach a level of education that will enable them to become positive forces for the development and to be able to contribute to an environment of openness and tolerance in their own communities." Therefore, it is obvious that the core value of honor and service to others has greatly attribute to Benjelloun's life work and success. Yet, despite allthat he has accomplished, Benjelloun is looking to further his business activities in the future and continue to make Morocco a place of business opportunity and success. (Arbaoui, 2016).

Check the video below for more on Benjelloun's rise to success:

Current Moroccan Business Leaders

Business leaders are "the organizational glue that keeps companies running smoothly and accomplishing collective, shared business goals" (Moore & Hanson 2016). And in Morocco, you are sure to find a number of exemplary business leaders by whom to model your own leadership and organization by. All of these leaders have clear visions of what is needed and what should be done not only in their personal organizations but also withing their communities. These leaders have also been known to have a great deal of influence on employees and the community -- making themselves worthy of respect, honor, and the title of a leader. Please take a look below to find more information about some of our country's current prominent leaders and wealth businessmen and women.

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch is a Moroccan businesswoman who runs her own company. As the leader and CEO of Askal group, she and her company have become leaders in the domain of retail, luxury, shopping malls and department stores. In her company, she develops malls and now owns approximately 50% of the Moroccan Mall (the biggest shopping mall in Africa and the Middle East and top five in the world). In addition, Salwa Akhannouch owns the sole Moroccan franchises for several leading brands in Morocco including Fendi, Gucci, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Gap, Zara, and Galeries Lafayette. Today, Salwa Akhannouch is one of Morocco's most powerful businesswomen and one of North Africa's wealthiest female entrepreneurs (BUSINESS OF FASHION>COM). She started the business in 1994 as a retail industry and in 2004 the Askal Holding was created. Since then the company has acquired its reputation through action and innovation of its CEO and her pioneering vision which has steadily grown and attracted the buy-in of prestigious partners. The company now has over 1000 employees, 19 brands, and 30 affiliates. Salwa Akhannouch has created a work culture that values three things in particular: excellence (for expectations, talent, team spirit and ethics), audacity and style (innovation, creativity, ambition, and passion), and openness (in the form of humanism, diversity, undersanding the world and outreach programs). In addition, she has made one of the objectives of her company to be to "foster social change in a perspective aimed at ensuring a socially and sustainably" responsible future. Two programs that the company offers to extend to the community also include Askal Academy and Askal Foundation. (Art, 2016). While it is clear that Salwa Akhannouch is a go-getter and can survive on her own, I will also note that she is also currently married to Aziz Akhannouch, who was once a wealthy Moroccan businessman and is now serving as the Minister of Agriculture. (Arbaoui, 2017).

Image: Salwa Akhannouch. (2017). Retrieved March 27, 2017, from http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/salwa-akhannouch/

Video: The passion to create - CIO Othman Benjelloun. (2014, March 17). Retrieved March 27, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL-haGEi5uk