Hassanein Hiridjee | |
|---|---|
 Hassanein Hiridjee in March 2023 | |
| Born | Antananarivo, Madagascar |
| Organization | Axian Group |
| Title | CEO |
Hassanein Hiridjee (born in 1975 in Antananarivo) is a French-Malagasy entrepreneur. He is the CEO of the panafrican group Axian and a leading figure in the Indian Ocean business world. [1] [2]
Hassanein Hiridjee comes from a Khoja (sometimes known as Lawati) family who settled in Madagascar. [1] He graduated from the Tananarive French Lycée in 1992. He then graduated from the ESCP Business School in Paris. [3]
In France, he held several positions in the financial sector before returning to Madagascar. In 1997, he joined the family business initially named Hirimix, founded by his uncles. [3] In December 2015, the company was renamed Axian. Axian is now active in the telecom, energy, real estate and financial services sectors globally. [4] Its expansion beyond Madagascar began in the Indian Ocean and then Africa more widely through forming a presence in Tanzania with the takeover of the operations of Tigo (Milicom SA), [5] [1] in Togo in entering TOGOCOM's capital, [6] in Senegal with a partnership with Xavier Niel, [7] and also in the Ivory Coast. [8]
In 2017, through Axian Group, he started a foundation called Fondation H which aims to promote the art and practice of African artists internationally. The Fondation H gallery in Marais, Paris has been open since September 2020. [9] [10] In May 2023, a new gallery was inaugurated in Antananarivo, Madagascar. [11] [12]
At the Africa CEO Forum 2022 organized by Jeune Afrique Media Group, he was named "CEO of the year". This award recognizes the CEO who has had the biggest impact in Africa over that year. [13]
One of the directors of the Axian Group and uncle of Hassanein Hiridjee, Raza-Aly Hiridjee, is cited in the Panama Papers financial scandal and allegedly owns a shell corporation in the British Virgin Islands, one of the largest tax havens in the world. [14]
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Antananarivo, also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra, is the capital of Analamanga region. The city sits at 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above sea level in the center of the island, the highest national capital by elevation among the island countries. It has been the country's largest population center since at least the 18th century. The presidency, National Assembly, Senate, and Supreme Court are located there, as are 21 diplomatic missions and the headquarters of many national and international businesses and NGOs. It has more universities, nightclubs, art venues, and medical services than any city on the island. Several national and local sports teams, including the championship-winning national rugby team, the Makis, are based here.
Antananarivo Province is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 58,283 square kilometres (22,503 sq mi). It had a population of 5,370,900 in 2004. Its capital was Antananarivo, which is also the capital of the country. Established in 1965, it was the most important province of Madagascar in terms of industrial production. It was one of the most literate provinces and was dominated by the Merina people. Along with the other five provinces, it was abolished in 2007 after a referendum in favour of creation of smaller regions to help in development was approved. It was badly affected by plagues in the 20th century. In 2002 a state of emergency was proclaimed by the then president Didier Ratsiraka. The events that followed led to the other five provinces announcing the creation of a new republic that would have excluded Antananarivo Province. Peace was restored only when Marc Ravalomanana was installed as the country's president.
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