Forbes recognises two Pakistanis among most powerful female executives in ME
Shaista Asif (L) and Shazia Syed (R). PHOTO: FORBES
In a remarkable feat, two Pakistani women, Shaista Asif and Shazia Syed, have secured positions in Forbes' prestigious list of the 'The Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2024,' highlighting their influential roles in the region.
Ranked fourth in this exclusive list is Shaista Asif, the co-founder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, a leading healthcare network in the UAE. Asif, who played a pivotal role in establishing the healthcare corporation in 2006, assumed the position of Group CEO in December 2023.
Forbes reported that PureHealth Holding witnessed a groundbreaking Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the same month, raising a staggering $986 million by offering 10% of its issued share capital on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
The IPO garnered overwhelming support, being oversubscribed 54 times in the professional subscriber tranche and a staggering 483 times in the retail tranche. As part of its expansion strategy, PureHealth Holding acquired the UK's largest independent hospital operator, Circle Health Group, for $1.2 billion before debt in January 2024. In the same month, the company also successfully acquired Sheikh Shakbout Medical City, the largest healthcare complex in the UAE, for $600 million, boasting revenues of $585.4 million.
Also read: Ex-Unilever Pakistan CEO makes it to Forbes top 100 executives in MENA
Securing the ninth position on Forbes' list is Shazia Syed, the General Manager of Unilever North Africa, Levant, and Iraq. She also holds the role of Arabia Senior Customer Development Lead, reflecting her extensive experience in large corporations.
Syed, a former CEO of Unilever Pakistan, assumed her current position in 2021. Over the years, she has served as the President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry and held the position of Director at the Pakistan Business Council.
Originating from Abbottabad, Shazia Syed joined the British multinational consumer goods company Unilever as a management trainee in Pakistan in 1989. Forbes highlighted her notable contributions, mentioning her role on the board of United Bank Limited in Pakistan, where she serves as a member of the Board Risk & Compliance Committee and chairs the Board Audit Committee. Additionally, she has served on the boards of Pukka Tea and Pepsi Lipton.
Forbes' recognition underscores the significant impact these Pakistani women have made in the business landscape of the Middle East, breaking barriers and inspiring others in their respective fields.