LEADERBOARD
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4 Leading Women In Retail In The Middle East These four businesswomen are behind some of the most prominent international brands in the Middle East. The large retail organizations they lead distribute global brands across fashion and accessories, food and beverage, automobiles, and electronics.
Ingie Chalhoub Company: Etoile Group Designation: Group President and Managing Director Country: U.A.E. Chalhoub founded the Etoile Group and opened the first Chanel boutique in the Middle East in 1983. Today the group runs over 80 boutiques representing brands such as Chanel, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, TOD’s, and Hogan. She also launched her own brand INGIE Paris in 2009. In 2018, French-Lebanese Chalhoub was awarded the “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” by the French Foreign Minister for her contribution to the country’s fashion industry.
Renuka Jagtiani Company: Landmark Group Designation: Chairperson & CEO Country: U.A.E. Jagtiani heads the Landmark Group—a multinational retail conglomerate based in Dubai that was founded by her husband. The Landmark Group operates over 2,200 outlets across 24 countries, retailing international and homegrown brands. Before becoming CEO, Jagtiani launched the international franchise division of the company. Today the group’s portfolio includes, Lipsy, New Look, Reiss, Kurt Geiger, and Steve Madden. Jagtiani also leads the group’s CSR division.
Sima Ganwani Ved Company: Apparel Group Designation: Founder and Chairperson Country: U.A.E. The Apparel Group is home to more than 75 brands, with over 1,750 stores in 14 countries. Its brands include Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Levis, Aeropostale, Tommy Hilfiger, Aldo, Call It Spring, and Crocs. Ved was born in Africa and moved to the U.A.E. with her entrepreneur father in the 1970s. She has also been a newspaper columnist and has previously hosted a TV chat show.
Mona Almoayyed Company: Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons Designation: Managing Director Country: Bahrain Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons represents over 300 international brands including Nissan, Ford, Sony, Nikon, and Toshiba. Almoayyed has been with the company for 20 years. In 2018, she was appointed as a member of the Bahrain Shura Council by HRH King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. She is also a member of the Public Utilities & Environment Committee, which works towards a greener Bahrain.
F O R B E S M I D D L E E A S T.C O M
AUGUST 2021
BY JASON LASRADO; IMAGE CREDITS: ETOILE GROUP; LANDMARK GROUP; APPAREL GROUP; Y.K. ALMOAYYED & SONS
Retail
