EFG Hermes’ Karim Awad named among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs list

Forbes Middle East has released its first annual “Top CEOs in the Middle East” ranking; the list has included EFG Hermes Group’s CEO and chairman Karim Awad.

According to Forbes, Awad has led his company to achieve group operating revenue worth around $238 million in the first nine months of 2020, a growth of 6 percent compared to the same period of 2019.

Awad began his career with the company 23 years ago and was appointed CEO in 2013.

The first-ever list is recognising the executives making significant contributions to the region’s economies.

The 100 CEOs represent 24 nationalities and 21 sectors. Saudi nationals dominate the list with 18 entries, followed by Emirati and Egyptian leaders with 16 entries each. Combined, these three groups make up half of the ranking/

Four out of the top five are from the region’s COVID-resilient oil & gas industry: Aramco’s Amin H. Nasser, who tops the list; ADNOC Group’s Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber; Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s Hashem Hashem; and Sonatrach’s Toufik Hakkar.

Executives within the banking and financial services sector dominate the list with 29 entries, contributing nearly a third of the ranking. Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Group CEO of Qatar National Bank, stands as the Middle East’s top banking and financial services executive. Notable newcomer, Hana Al Rostamani, who is FAB’s new Group CEO, took the 19th spot.

Forbes Middle East assessed the size of the CEO’s company using various measures, the individual’s accomplishments over the past year, and their impact on their firm and the wider industry.