Rishi Talwalker, Head of Communications - Corporate/Consumer & Strategy, HAVAS Red Middle East.Rishi Talwalker, Head of Communications – Corporate/Consumer & Strategy, HAVAS Red Middle East has been recognised on Campaign Middle East’s 40 Over 40, which honours leaders who have shaped the regional brand and marketing industry over the past 15 years and more.
This is not a ranking. It is the first edition of an annual platform created to spotlight senior industry figures aged 40 and older. They represent different disciplines and different leadership styles but are all builders of brands and businesses.
These have been recommended as caretakers of client trust and custodians of culture. The 40 over 40 list celebrates the people who have moved the needle – not for a season or for a single campaign cycle, but for several years.
Rishi Talwalker is a marketing and communications professional with a love for learning, adapting and rebuilding. Having managed complex relationships in agency and in-house roles since 2005, he stays passionate about communications by constantly embracing new perspectives.
His experience includes creative communications, crisis management, influencer and marketing collaborations with impact across industries such as corporate, healthcare, retail, real estate, travel, aviation, food & beverage and hospitality. He loves learning from colleagues, clients and peers – through embedding himself in collaborative projects. He is a firm believer in learning through participating in impassioned conversations, reflecting on experiences, reading articles and essays, listening intently when his sons are having conversations and through making observations.
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS
In 2025, Talwalker assumed leadership of the Corporate/Consumer practice, overseeing multiple sectors and driving diversification through account wins including Disney+ MENA, Spotify, MSD and Cinfa.
He delivered revenue growth exceeding 40 per cent against targets and helped achieve a client satisfaction score above 80 per cent. He also supported talent development across the agency, actively mentoring HAVAS Red’s first winner of the MEPRA Young Communicator of the Year. Talwalker also served as a juror for MENA Effies, PR Week Global and MEPRA awards.
CLIENT RECOMMENDATION
Leanne Hamilton, Senior Director – Marketing and CX, Aldar Retail:
I have had the pleasure of working with Rishi for more than 12 years across a number of organisations where I have led marketing and communications. What sets Rishi apart is his ability to build genuine, trusted relationships with his clients, enabling him to challenge thinking, provide valuable guidance and consistently steer teams towards the most effective solutions. He combines strategic insight with commercial acumen, delivering meaningful business results while helping clients grow and learn along the way.
