Raya IT Appoints Marwa Abbas as CEO to Lead Next Phase of Regional Growth and Digital Transformation
Raya Holding for Financial Investments has appointed Marwa Abbas as Chief Executive Officer of Raya Information Technology (Raya IT), marking a significant leadership transition as the company accelerates its regional expansion and strengthens its position in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
Abbas succeeds Hisham Abdel Rasoul, who led Raya IT for 19 years and will remain with the company through the end of December 2026 to support a smooth leadership transition.
With more than three decades of experience at IBM, Abbas joins Raya IT after serving as General Manager and Technology Leader for IBM Egypt and North East Africa, where she spearheaded the company's growth strategy, led major public-private partnerships, and played a key role in advancing Egypt's artificial intelligence and digital skills agenda.
Throughout her career, she has focused on technology governance, digital transformation, organizational development, and sustainable technology adoption. Abbas holds both a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an MBA from The American University in Cairo.
Her appointment comes as Raya IT enters a new phase of growth following years of strong financial performance and regional expansion. Originally established more than 27 years ago through the merger of pioneering Egyptian technology companies, Raya IT has grown into one of the region's leading technology providers, operating across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The company delivers integrated solutions spanning digital infrastructure, cloud services, cybersecurity, data centers, enterprise technologies, and managed IT services for organizations across multiple industries.
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, reinforcing its position as one of Raya Holding's fastest-growing and most strategic business platforms.
Commenting on the appointment, Ahmed Khalil, Group CEO of Raya Holding, said technology has remained the foundation of the group's growth since its inception.
"We are pleased to welcome Marwa Abbas to lead Raya IT's next phase of growth. Her extensive leadership experience and deep understanding of emerging technologies make her the right choice to capitalize on new opportunities across digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence," Khalil said.
He also paid tribute to outgoing CEO Hisham Abdel Rasoul, praising his nearly three decades of service to Raya Group and his role in transforming Raya IT from a local technology provider into one of the company's largest and most strategic businesses.
For her part, Abbas described joining Raya IT as the beginning of a new professional chapter after more than 30 years with IBM.
"What inspired me to take this step is my belief that Raya Information Technology is a leading national technology platform with the ambition, capabilities, and vision to help shape the future of technology in Egypt and the region," she said.
Abbas added that she looks forward to working closely with Raya IT's leadership team to accelerate innovation, strengthen customer value, and contribute to Egypt's digital transformation journey while expanding the company's regional footprint.
Reflecting on his tenure, Abdel Rasoul described Raya as the defining chapter of his professional career, saying he was proud to have witnessed the company's transformation into one of the region's leading technology platforms.
Raya IT continues to operate under the strategic oversight of an experienced Board of Directors chaired by Medhat Khalil, with members bringing expertise across technology, investment, finance, and corporate leadership to support the company's next stage of growth.