Discreet, well-connected and effective, Coffi-Studer, a former communications minister in Côte d’Ivoire has the political touch that can often help get things done on the continent. Fassi-Fehri is overseeing more than $200m Ike’s brief does not include South Africa, but she- could help the bank to review its Africa exposure after it lost an estimated $292m on a loan to South African investor Christo Wiese. After pointing out serious financial problems under the leadership of former boss Thierry Tanoh, the accounting expert has now been entrusted with weeding out bad debts at Ecobank’s commercial banking division. At 81, Tajmouati is the most senior businesswoman on our list. Director, U.S.-Africa Business Center. ... male CEOs leading the 104-year old company. Her aim is to internationalise Morocco’s oldest wine and spirits company, while keeping the whole value chain, from production to distribution, under control. Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe. These inspiring women are aiming for the stars and breaking glass ceilings on their way there. With that and high-profile corruption cases, she says her focus is on winning people’s trust. She is also the new secretary general of the Moroccan pharmaceutical industry association. As Brian Riley’s tenure as the current African Bank CEO comes to an end, South Africa may be ushering in the first black-and-female bank CEO. Apart from Mahanyele-Dabengwa heading Naspers in South Africa, the following top companies are also being run by black women who have made it to the head of the C-suite. Rwanda, which topped the list, has been praised globally for its decision to make female empowerment one of its keys to development. David-Borha is a tough Nigerian banker schooled at Atedo Peterside’s NAL, the first merchant bank in Nigeria. After a debut in fortified wine, Karanja launched Summit Lager, whose popularity allowed the company to build a $29m factory expansion at their Naivasha headquarters. South Africa Nigeria’s Sola David-Borha, now running Africa operations of the continent’s largest bank (see profile, page 60), recalled how, back in the 1990s, her then boss Atedo Peterside insisted he wanted women in senior leadership positions. Director, Saham Assurances, École Centrale Casablanca. of South Africa, the South African Women in Leadership Census continues to evolve to help us track and better understand the role of women in the South African economy. The number of female chief executives in Africa is above the 4% global average. GHISLANE GUEDIRA Submit, © 2011- 2021 Pana Genius. The company is now present in more than 20 African countries. Search Elisabet … Director, Middle East and Africa, Orange. She had also been working as a deputy chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The former CEO for West Africa at Renaissance Capital and managing director at JP Morgan has more than two decades of high-level experience in the financial services business. Sharon Wapnick has built her empire both through her father’s wealth and her own hard work. BOLA ADESOLA Belo-Olusoga has been board chair of Access Bank since July 2015, having joined the board in November 2007. In March 2017, she was made head of Moroccan insurance giant Saham Finances, as well as chair of Saham Assurance Maroc. Naidoo said the situation appeared somewhat more positive in the Broad 40‚ with four female CEOs. Faten Kallel is a young Tunisian politician who is currently serving as the Secretary of … This is a drop from 2012’s research‚ when there were two female CEOs. Bensalah-Chaqroun wears many hats, among them airline pilot, humanitarian and a serious golf player. SME South Africa reflects on the achievements of several South African women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, whether it’s them taking on a new C-suite position of a major company, launching a new business venture or helping to drive innovation on the African continent.. 1. The report also found that 86% of CEOs at the 100 biggest companies were white, and that they earn on average 15% more than the median salary of their black, coloured, and Indian counterparts. Morocco Medou-Badang has steadily climbed the ranks at the French telecom provider Orange. She has also held board positions at companies including mobile operator Vodacom Group Ltd., miner Gold Fields Ltd. and airline company Comair Ltd. She is expected to bring her experiences to bear in her new role, considering only one black woman now runs a Top 40-listed company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.