Ahang Ashti, Co-Founder & CEO, Grei Angency
Setting trends in marketing is one of the most difficult challenges in the corporate realm. Achieving this nearly impossible feat from Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, is grei Agency - an award-winning marketing agency intertwining creativity, strategy, and quantifiable difference. Through the concerted action of foresight leadership, global knowledge and culture of excellence grei has managed to position itself at the top of the industry, setting benchmarks in storytelling.
The credit goes to Ahang Ashti, the co-founder and CEO of grei. Ahang kick-started his career with GLS, a company that provided translation and interpreting services to the US Army.
The Evolving Business Landscape in Iraq
By: Rachita Sharma, Managing Editor
Any country’s startup ecosystem is the indicator of the country’s innovation landscape. In developing nations such as Iraq, startups become even more critical, as they indicate the country’s move towards growth.
Key Elements to Consider While Building Future- Ready Finance Teams
By: Mac Weaver, SVP and GM APAC, BlackLine
The world is swiftly transforming to become more digitally oriented, particularly within the finance sector. Traditional financial institutions are experiencing significant digital changes
By: Puneet Pasricha, CEO, Liberty General Insurance Berhad
Driven by the digital transformation wave, the Malaysian insurance sector has been undergoing a significant digital transformation in recent times.
By: Diwakar Dayal, Managing Director & AVP – India & SAARC, SentinelOne
The media roundtable ‘AI-Driven Cyber Defense in Action,’ organized by , a global leader in AI-based cybersecurity, recently occurred in Bengaluru. The session
By: Dr. Sung Ho Wang, CEO, Nemesis
The global semiconductor industry is traveling along an envious growth trajectory, driven by almost every technology product around us—from anything as tiny as earbuds to as big as an aircraft.
Top 10 Entrepreneurs from Iraq - 2025
Amid a backdrop of historic challenges and emerging opportunities, entrepreneurs from Iraq are redefining the nation’s economic and social landscape through ingenuity, resilience, and a forward-thinking approach. These innovators are leveraging technology, creativity, and local insight to build businesses that meet the needs of a rapidly changing society while contributing to the broader vision of a more diversified, modern economy.
Operating across a range of sectors - such as fintech, agritech, renewable energy, healthcare, and e-commerce - these entrepreneurs are committed to solving real-world problems using scalable solutions. Many are tapping into Iraq’s rich human capital and untapped market potential, transforming traditional industries and introducing new business models that support growth, job creation, and social impact.
What distinguishes these leaders is not only their entrepreneurial spirit but also their deep commitment to community-driven progress. Whether supporting youth employment, advancing women’s participation in the workforce, or improving access to essential services, they approach business with a purpose-driven mindset. They also navigate complex environments with remarkable agility - turning adversity into opportunity and laying the foundation for a more vibrant and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In a region often associated with instability, these visionaries are proving that innovation thrives even under challenging conditions. Entrepreneurs from Iraq are not just building companies - they are building hope, driving change, and positioning their country for a more resilient and prosperous future.
CEO Insights Asia in this issue presents a list of ‘Top 10 Entrepreneurs from Iraq - 2025' who have leveraged their extensive industry expertise and experience in offering effective skills to the market. The following list has been prepared after being closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of judges including CXOs, analysts and our editorial board. We recognize their valuable contribution to the ever expanding and competitive market and their ability to sustain themselves and emerge as top contestants through their reliable knowledge.
Our subscribers play a decisive role in finalization of our annual list of "Top 10 Entrepreneurs from Iraq - 2025" by nominating those which have served them with excellence and are praiseworthy. If you feel there is a company that deserves to be on our annual list, do write to us about them mentioning their value proposition.
| Company Logo | Company Management | Company Name | Company Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Abdulrahman Alkhalidi, CEO | Hulul Group | He is a digital product and creative professional specializing in web design, UX/UI, and innovative online solutions to enhance user engagement and experience |
 |
Ahang Ashti, Co-Founder & CEO | Grei Angency | A leader with nearly a decade of experience, driving innovation, creative excellence, and measurable impact, while leading award-winning campaigns for global clients |
 |
Ali Alshimmari, Managing Partner | Al Ameen Group | An entrepreneur and business leader driving innovation, strategic partnerships, talent development, and pioneering technology-driven solutions for businesses and government sectors |
 |
Bahaaddin Salim, CEO | Nass Al Iraq Holding | He has over 15 years of experience, driving growth, innovation, and digital transformation, while mentoring and empowering people, communities, and businesses |
 |
Christine van den Toorn, Founder & Director | Baghdad Business School | She has a strong grasp of institutional development, meeting all criteria for academic delivery, industry collaboration, and campus management, along with expertise in financial markets, IT, and international business |
 |
Marwan Raed, Founder & CEO | Digital Logic | He possesses a demonstrated history of expertise in the financial services industry, focusing on Oracle databases, communication, Oracle ADF, PL/SQL, team development, financial modeling, and various other areas |
 |
Muhamad Salam, CEO | Mena Franchises | He is actively building and scaling ventures across industries, empowering entrepreneurs and sparking innovation through hands-on mentorship and community leadership |
 |
Ranja Ali, Founder & CEO | Wedonet | He specializes in creating films that showcase Iraq's diversity and beauty, collaborating with talented filmmakers and artists to craft inspiring narratives that drive social impact and cultural transformation |
 |
Rekar Botany, Co-Founder & CTO | Lezzoo | His primary strengths encompass identifying appropriate engagement models for clients, providing value-enhancing solutions, overseeing strategic partnerships, and securing significant contracts |
 |
Yazan Al Sabbagh, Co-Founder & CEO | Palm of Babylon | He possesses comprehensive operational and managerial expertise in developing high-revenue enterprises, coupled with a profound understanding of the Iraqi business culture |
Other Issues
We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read more...
.jpg "Immanuel Williams: Empowering Leaders through People-Centric Coaching")
.jpg "CTOs Championing Tech-driven Business Growth")
.jpg "Thai Economy Experiencing an Era of Renewed Growth & Vigour")
.jpg "Patric Lau : Empowering Growth Through Financial Expertise")
.jpg "Capt. Vijay Nicodemus : Sailing into Strategy, Steering with Substance")
.jpg "Onouchi Takahiro : Leading Strategic Collaboration Across Asian Markets")
.jpg "Bokyeong Park: The Strategist Who Influenced the Shape of Modern-day Global Arbitrationy")
.jpg "Cyber Resilience In The Philippines")
.jpg "AI Redefining Operations")
.jpg "Satvinder Kaur Sadu Singh: A Genuine Problem-Solver Turned Entrepreneur")
.jpg "Kevin Shepherdson: Unlocking The Potential Of Generative AI For Businesses")
.jpg "Economic Diversification In Progress")
.jpg "Norsharizal Mashahrin: Pioneering Financial Leadership For Economic Empowerment")
.jpg "Leading Taiwan In The Digital Age")
.jpg "Ludovic Lassauce: A Visionary Leader Shaping The Future Of Connectivity With Innovation")
.jpg "Tan Lay Seong: An Exemplary Leader & Innovator in the Insurance Advisory Industry")
.jpg "Kotaro Fukudome: A Driving Force In The World Of Professional Coaching")
.jpg "Hermie R. Salvador: Showcasing Innovative Leadership With Technological Vision In Gaming")
.jpg "Raul L. Quisumbing: Driving Success with Visionary Leadership at Globalport")
.jpg "Rajesh Warrier: An Accomplished Leader Spearheading The Organizational Growth Through Effective Business Strategies")
.jpg "Shaping Indonesia's Future")
.jpg "Katsunori Araki: Crafting Success with a Harmonious Blend of Fiscal Prudence")
.jpg "Escape Nomade: Embracing Sustainability & Celebrating Nature through Exquisite Luxurious Tented Living Experiences")
.jpg "Turangga Harlin: A Legal Luminary & Trailblazer Leader")
.jpg "Syahrunizam Samsudin: Driving Uem Edgentas Technological Transformation For Sustainable Growth & Positive Impact")
.jpg "Bhavik Shah: Bridging The Gap Between Culture & Technology")
.jpg "Prof. Sattar Bawany: Meticulously Forging Next Generation Of Leaders & Businesses Of Tomorrow")
.jpg "Khairil Anuar Mohammad Anuar: A Dynamic Leader Transforming The Banking Landscape With Innovation & Insight")
.jpg "Sameath Ouk: A Veteran Financial Leader With Over Two Decades Of Industry Expertise")
.jpg "Sharam Gulzad: A Seasoned Business Executive Leading The Gulzad Group With Fresh Perspective & Cutting-Edge Approaches")
.jpg "Osama Ibdah: Helping Businesses Grow With His Rich Financial Expertise")
.jpg "Yury Krasovskiy: Leveraging 25 Years Of Expertise To Steer ‘Incred’ To Success")
.jpg "Frederic Levy Perrault: On A Mission To Transform Al Raya Supermarkets")
.jpg "Vishal Bhatnagar: An Accomplished Intrapreneur Establishing Successful Business And Product Frameworks")
