Raya Holding reinforces its commitment to technology-led growth with a landmark leadership appointment
By ; Bakinam Khaled
Raya Holding for Financial Investments has announced the appointment of Marwa Abbas as Chief Executive Officer of Raya Information Technology (Raya IT), succeeding Hisham AbdelRasoul. Raya IT is one of Egypt's leading and fastest-growing technology companies and a cornerstone platform within the Raya Holding portfolio.
Marwa Abbas brings to Raya IT a career of exceptional depth and breadth. Over more than 30 years at IBM, she held progressive leadership roles across Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa, most recently serving as General Manager and Technology Leader for IBM Egypt and North East Africa, where she led the company's strategic growth agenda, oversaw major public-private partnerships, and championed Egypt's national AI and digital skills agenda.
Her tenure at IBM was defined by a consistent focus on governance, sustainable technology adoption, and building organizations and teams capable of performing at the highest level. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Business Administration, both from The American University in Cairo.
The appointment marks a significant milestone for Raya IT as it enters a new phase of growth, expanding its regional presence and deepening its role in enabling digital transformation across key industries.
Raya IT is where Raya's story began. Founded more than 27 years ago through the merger of pioneering Egyptian IT companies, the company has grown from a domestic technology provider into a regional force, operating today across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, and delivering digital infrastructure, data centers, cloud, cybersecurity, enterprise solutions, and managed technology services to leading organizations across the region.
Over the past five years, Raya IT has increased its net profit from EGP 172 million in 2021 to more than EGP 2.2 billion in 2025. This exceptional performance has positioned the company as one of Raya Holding's strongest growth platforms and a key driver of the group's continued expansion.
Ahmed Khalil, Group CEO of Raya Holding, commented:
"For more than 27 years, technology has been the foundation of Raya's growth and the common thread connecting our portfolio companies. Today, Raya IT stands as one of the group's strongest growth platforms and a key enabler of our long-term strategy. We are pleased to welcome Marwa Abbas to lead the company's next phase of growth, building on a strong foundation and positioning the business to capture emerging opportunities across digital infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI. Marwa's depth of experience and her understanding of where the technology market is heading made her the right choice to lead Raya IT into its next chapter."
Khalil also paid tribute to Hisham Abdel Rasoul:
"Hisham Abdelrasoul has been an integral part of Raya's journey for nearly three decades, including 19 years leading Raya IT through a period of remarkable growth and transformation. Under his leadership, the company expanded its capabilities, strengthened its market position, and evolved into one of Raya Holding's largest and most strategic portfolio companies. He built a scalable business and a strong leadership team, leaving Raya IT well positioned for its next stage of growth. We thank him for his dedication and his significant contribution to Raya IT and the group."
Speaking about her transition to Raya IT, Marwa Abbas said:
"After more than 30 years with IBM, deciding to begin a new chapter in my professional journey was not an easy decision. Throughout this journey, I had the privilege of contributing to initiatives and projects that made a meaningful impact on the technology sector in Egypt and across the region.
What inspired me to take this step was my belief that Raya Information Technology represents a leading national technology platform with the ambition, capabilities, and vision to help shape the future of technology in Egypt and the region. This opportunity also allows me to work more closely with the Egyptian market, contribute directly to the country's digital transformation journey, and help further strengthen Egypt's position on the regional and global technology map.
I look forward to working alongside the talented Raya IT team and leveraging the exceptional expertise across the Raya Group to build on the company's strong foundation and achievements. Together, we will continue to accelerate growth, foster innovation, and deliver lasting value to our customers and partners in Egypt and across the region."
Reflecting on nearly three decades with the Raya Group, Hisham Abdel Rasoul said:
Raya has been the defining chapter of my professional journey. For over 27 years, I have had the privilege of contributing to the establishment and growth of an exceptional organization, witnessing its evolution from its inception into one of the most respected and competitive companies in the IT industry. Leading Raya Information Technology for the past 19 years has been an honor and a source of immense pride. Together, we navigated numerous challenges, achieved remarkable milestones, and transformed the company from a local technology provider into a leading regional platform with significant scale and impact.
He Added, “These accomplishments would not have been possible without the dedication, talent, and commitment of the outstanding team who shared this journey with me. As I step into a new chapter, I do so with complete confidence in Raya IT’s strong foundation, exceptional people, and continued momentum for growth. I extend my sincere best wishes to Marwa and the entire team for continued success and even greater achievements in the years ahead”
The appointment comes at a time when Raya IT continues to benefit from a strong governance framework and strategic oversight from an experienced Board of Directors chaired by Medhat Khalil. The Board includes Ahmed Khalil , Rania El Shafei, Tamer Gadalla, Mohamed Nasr, , Hossam Hussein, and Hisham Abdel Rasoul, bringing together extensive expertise across investment, technology, finance, and corporate leadership to support the company's next phase of growth.
Marwa Abbas assumes her role with immediate effect, while Hisham Abdel Rasoul will continue to support Raya Information Technology during a transition period extending through the end of December 2026.
