From left: Iman Asante, Acting Managing Director, BLJ Worldwide; Hadia Saraya, Acting General Manager, BLJ Worldwide.With the goal of powering its next phase of success, BLJ Worldwide has revealed leadership changes to its offices in Qatar, following the resignation of former Chief Executive Officer, Justin Kerr-Stevens.
This transition names Iman Asante, formerly General Manager, as Acting Managing Director, while Hadia Saraya has stepped into the role of Acting General Manager.
Asante brings more than 17 years of international communications experience across Europe, Bermuda, and the Middle East. Since joining BLJ nearly seven years ago, she has led the Finance and Investments practice and served as General Manager. In 2024, she was elected onto the MEPRA Strategy Board and featured in the PRWeek Middle East Power Book for the last two consecutive years due to her contributions to the industry.
On her appointment, Asante said: “This new shift reflects a wider company move to take BLJ Worldwide to new heights. These appointments mark an exciting new chapter for the agency as we continue to enhance the level of PR and strategic communications services we provide to our existing and new clients.”
“On behalf of myself and the entire team, I would like to thank Justin for his efforts over the last five years and for the solid foundation he has helped build. We look forward to building on that success,” she added.
Saraya has over 15 years of experience in communications, working with multinational corporations and consultancies. At BLJ, where she has spent the past nine years, she leads the Foundations & Education Practice, bringing expertise from previous roles at PepsiCo, Egypt, and TripleTwo in Qatar. Throughout her career, Saraya has led communications efforts across various sectors such as FMCGs, sports, education, community development, technology, transportation, and health.
Saraya also commented on her appointment, underscoring that the new leadership role aims to continue to drive the agency’s momentum is being one of “the most influential PR and strategic communications agencies in Qatar and the wider region.”
“For all our existing clients, it is not only business as usual, but an opportunity to deliver even greater value, fresh perspectives, and bold ideas as we chart the future together,” she said.
These leadership changes follow the resignation of Kerr-Stevens, who served as Managing Director from 2020 to 2022 and then later as CEO. Under his leadership, BLJ claims to have significantly expanded its footprint and client portfolio across Qatar’s private, governmental, and semi-governmental sectors.
Today, BLJ Worldwide considers itself as a well-regarded strategic partner to decision-makers across the region, helping drive narratives that shape public discourse and national positioning on the global stage.
The agency, known for its award-winning campaigns and trusted advisory role to some of the country’s most prominent institutions, has been instrumental in shaping Qatar’s communications sector over the past decade.
BLJ Worldwide continues to operate from its Doha headquarters, aiming to support clients in sectors ranging from finance and investment to culture, education, sports, and technology.
