Zahira Bouaouda recently became the Managing Director of Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco, marking the first time a woman took the helm of an aerospace company in Morocco.
Bouaouda’s new role positions her at the head of a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and the country’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM). The venture focuses on the maintenance of CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B engines for Airbus aircrafts.
Bouaouda’s appointment comes after her notable tenure as President of MATIS Aerospace, a 50/50 joint venture between Safran Electrical & Power and Boeing specializing in electrical wiring interconnection systems.
Bouaouda’s career in aerospace began in 2006 when she joined MATIS Aerospace as Finance Director. She advanced to Operations Director in 2017 and then to President in 2019.
Prior to her role at MATIS Aerospace, Bouaouda worked as an auditor with Dorlian & Associates and MCA & Associés, and later as a Senior Manager at KPMG Morocco.
Bouaouda holds degrees in Business Administration and Management and Chartered Accountancy from the Institut Supérieur de Commerce et d’Administration des Entreprises.
Part of the French aerospace giant Safran Group, Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco currently employs 4,100 workers in Morocco, with a female participation rate of 70%.