Ashraf El-Afifi
Rank: 35
Company: Henkel
Designation: President—India, Middle East, and Africa
Sector: Consumer goods
Nationality: Egyptian
Global headquarters: Germany
MENA headquarters: U.A.E.
El-Afifi has been with Henkel for 29 years. In 2011, he became the first leader from an emerging market to be promoted to top management within Henkel. He leads more than 3,850 people. In addition to heading the IMEA region, he also heads Henkel’s laundry and homecare businesses in Latin America and Asia Pacific. In November 2020, Henkel partnered with Dubai Municipality’s Children’s City to launch its first permanent Researchers’ World Science Lab for children. Henkel’s sales increased by 21.7% in the Middle East and Africa in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Regional revenues were $1.4 billion in 2020.