Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch Explained

Salwa Idrissi
Native Name:	سلوى إدريسي
Native Name Lang:	ar
Birth Place:	Casablanca, Morocco
Nationality:	Moroccan
Occupation:	Businesswoman Entrepreneur
Spouse:	Aziz Akhannouch
Children:	3

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch is a businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is the founder and current president of Aksal Holding, a Moroccan company specializing in retail, cosmetics, luxury goods and malls.^{[1] [2]} In 2017, she was named as the "Morocco's Leading Lady of Luxury Goods" by OZY.^[3] Akhannouch is married to Aziz Akhannouch, who took office as Prime Minister of Morocco on 7 October 2021.

Career

In 2001, Akhannouch sealed an agreement with the Spanish group Inditex.^[4] In 2004, she inaugurated the first Zara flagship in Africa. Her company, Aksal Holding, owns the sole franchise rights for several leading brands in Morocco, including Zara, Banana Republic, Pull & Bear and Gap.^{[5] [6]} Between 2004 and 2019, Akhannouch signed 23 franchise agreements with major international groups including LVMH, PPR,^[7] Inditex, Richemont, Gap Inc., Fnac and The Estée Lauder Companies, among others.^{[8] [9] [10]}

In 2011, Akhannouch inaugurated the Morocco Mall, the second largest shopping center in Africa, spread over 10 hectares on the Corniche de Casablanca and based on an investment of 175 million euros (250 million dollars).^{[11] [12]} Aksal Holding owns 50% of the Morocco Mall. That same yar, she created a Training Academy for careers in retail, the AKSAL Academy. In 2017, Akhannouch launched beauty brand Yan&One. She opened her new smart beauty and cosmetics store for the brand in Morocco Mall.^{[13] [14]}

Personal life

Salwa Akhannouch is married to Aziz Akhannouch, who took office as Prime Minister of Morocco on 7 October 2021.^{[15] [16]} They have three children.^[17]

Honors and awards

• 2020: Top 10 "Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands" as the creator of Yan&One brand by Forbes^[18]
• 2018: Ranked among "Fashion Industry's 500 Most Influential Women" by Business of Fashion Magazine^[19]
• 2017: Named as one of the "Most Influential Women in Business in Africa" by The Africa Report^{[20] [21]}
• 2016: Arab Woman of the Year Award for "Achievement in Business"
• 2015: 8th rank among the 100 most powerful Arab businesswomen by Arabian Business^[22]

Notes and References

1. News: Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch. gulfbusiness.com. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
2. Web site: سلوى أخنوش تحتفل بأصولها الأمازيغية التافراوتية من خلال "يان آند وان" . Almaghrib Today . 8 December 2019 . 12 February 2020.
3. News: Morocco's Leading Lady of Luxury Goods. OZY. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
4. News: Inditex se alía con el lujo para crecer en Marruecos. publico.es. 29 September 2021. Fr.
5. News: Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch is One of the 500 People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry in 2017. The Business of Fashion. 24 September 2017. en-GB.
6. http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2013/04/24/ten-african-multimillionaires-youve-never-heard-of/ Ten African Multimillionaires You've Never Heard Of
7. News: La Fnac s'installe à Casablanca . econostrum.info. 29 September 2021. Fr.
8. News: Les Galeries Lafayette vont ouvrir à Casablanca avec le groupe Aksal. lesechos.fr. 29 September 2021. Fr.
9. News: In North Africa, a Story of Morocco and the Rest . businessoffashion. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
10. News: Salwa Akhannouch… the queen of the franchise. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
11. News: Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch nommée à Londres Arab Woman of the Year 2016 for Business Achievement . moroccomall. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
12. News: Morocco: Competition for shoppers is toughening . theafricareport. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
13. News: Salwa Akhannouch Opens 'Yan&One' Flagship Beauty Store in Casablanca Mall. moroccoworldnews. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
14. News: Yan&One: The first Beauty Smartstore in the world to open in Morocco Mall. moroccanladies. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
15. Web site: 10 September 2021. Le Roi Mohammed VI nomme Aziz Akhannouch chef du gouvernement. 28 December 2021. Medias24. fr-FR.
16. News: 8 October 2021 . Morocco names new government, keeps foreign and interior ministers . en . Reuters . 9 May 2022.
17. Web site: Aziz Akhannouch & family. 28 December 2021. Forbes. en.
18. News: Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch. Forbes. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
19. News: Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch / BoF 500 - The Business of Fashion. businessoffashion. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
20. News: 9 Moroccans in Africa Report's 'Top 50 Influential Businesswomen in Africa'. moroccoworldnews. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
21. News: North Africa - People to watch in 2019. theafricareport. 25 September 2021. en-GB.
22. News: The 100 Most Powerful Arab Women 2015 in Investment and Industry. arabianbusiness. 25 September 2021. en-GB.