Hassanein and his brother Amin are the third generation of entrepreneurs in the Hiridjee family. After graduating from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP Europe) in 1997, he returned to Madagascar, his homeland, and gradually began taking the reins of the family’s half-century-old business.
In 2015, this same business became the Axian Group, and refocused on becoming an African champion in the telecoms, financial services, innovation & fintech and real estate markets not just in Madagascar, but across all of Africa. The group now operates in key sectors of industry and actively contributes to sustainable growth and innovation in several countries across the continent.
Hassanein believes that overcoming the many challenges of development requires ethical, inclusive and sustainable economic growth that creates positive impact for the greatest number. This is even more important in Axian ́s environment because today, 60% of Africa’s population still has no access to electricity and 90% remain deprived of access to basic finance and banking services.
Under his leadership, the Axian Group, which today comprises over 5,000 staff, has experienced rapid growth thanks to its agile and innovative strategy that not only respects but also leverages local culture, all while supporting ground-breaking and innovative projects across the continent.
Through the Axian Foundation, he also ensures that programs protecting vulnerable populations are implemented regularly and efficiently.
As a modern-art aficionado, he also created the H Foundation in 2016, an entity tasked with promoting contemporary Malagasy artists locally and internationally.