*** ----> Bahrainis among most powerful Arab businesswomen in 2016 | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Bahrainis among most powerful Arab businesswomen in 2016

ManamaAs many as six Bahraini women made it to the 100 most powerful Arab businesswomen this year, according to an international business magazine.

Holding different positions between the eighth and 75th, the Bahraini women were chosen for their excellence in different fields that included family businesses, telecommunications, banking, investment and marketing.

The list, which was recently revealed by Forbes Middle East, ranked the most influential and powerful 100 businesswomen in the Arab world. According to the magazine, the candidates were chosen considering position, size of company or organisation (2015 revenues, assets, employees, or GDP), and sphere of impact.

article-image

Mona Al Moayyed

Y.K Almoayyed and Sons Managing Director Mona Al Moayyed was placed eighth on the list. Besides overseeing over 2,000 employees and managing more than
300 international brands, she is also a member of the board of directors for BMMI and Ebda Bank, in addition to a rich history
of involvement in charity and rights work. Al Moayyed has been voted as the third most influential Arab Women’s List in the MENA region by the same magazine in 2013.

article-image

Muna Al Hashemi 

The second Bahraini on the list was Bahrain Telecommunication Company (Batelco) CEO Muna Al Hashemi, who was ranked as the 18th most powerful Arab businesswoman of the year. The electric engineer was ranked 10th on last year’s list and she held the same position in the most inspirational Middle Eastern women’s list, released by Dubai-based Step Feed online news agency. Al Hashemi joined Batelco in 1994 in the engineering department and gradually worked her way up, until she became CEO of Batelco’s Bahrain operations in August 2015.

article-image

Suha Karzoon

The 27th position on the list went to Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company Chief Financial Officer Suha Karzoon. She manages the finance, treasury and external portfolios of the US$11 billion firm. Karzoon was the first woman to be appointed as a member of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) Board of Directors and previously held leadership positions at Tamkeen (labour fund) and KPMG International.

article-image

Najla Al Shirawi

Securities and Investment Company (SICO) chief CEO Najla Al Shirawi came in the 31st position on the list. Al Shirawi who has more than 19 years of experience in investment banking, was ranked 19th regionally and third in Bahrain in last year’s list. 

On Bahrain Women’s Day 2015, Al Shirawi was honoured by the Wife of His Majesty the King and Supreme Council for Women Chairwoman HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa for her contribution to the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector.

article-image

Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa

Al Salam Bank Board of Directors Chairperson Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa moved from the 77th position on last year’s list to the 53rd ranking this year. In addition to her pioneering role in finance and banking, Shaikha Hessa founded INJAZ Bahrain, which is an international organisation aiming to inspire and prepare young Bahrainis to succeed in the global economy. She is presently its Executive Director.

article-image

Maha Kanoo

Kanoo Group General Manager of Human Resources, Administration and Marketing Maha Kanoo bagged the last position for Bahraini women on the list. Ranked at the 75th position, Kanoo was categorised as one of the strongest businesswomen in the GCC region.