Abdallah Safieddine, Senior VP, UAE and Lower Gulf, Mindshare.Abdallah Safieddine, Senior VP, UAE and Lower Gulf, Mindshare 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.
Abdallah Safieddine has spent two decades doing something most agency leaders avoid: making the complicated simple and the simple matter. As Managing Director at Mindshare, he sits at the intersection of data, innovation and smart resource allocation, including AI, turning that mix into media strategy that actually moves businesses forward.
He leads with one conviction: that people do their best work when they feel trusted, challenged and heard. That belief isn’t a management style. It’s how he shows up every day. The results follow. His markets have grown. His clients stay. But the thing he’s most proud of is the people who’ve worked under him and gone on to lead themselves. In an industry that often mistakes busyness for impact, Safieddine is the kind of leader who slows down.
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS
Safieddine led Mindshare UAE and Qatar to 35 per cent billing growth, landing major new partnerships with Americana Group, Aldar, ADCB, Mastercard and Jaguar Land Rover, contributing to WPP Media ranking #1 on new business across MENA. He navigated a period of regional conflict with steadiness. No layoffs. Current business protected. Team spirit intact. When it mattered most, his people didn’t just survive the turbulence, they grew through it. Attrition dropped to its lowest in five years, and operating profit rose 20 per cent.
CLIENT RECOMMENDATION
Ibrahim AlMayahi
Vice President Brand and Marketing Comms, du
Abdallah’s leadership is defined by steady guidance, thoughtful partnership and an instinct for elevating teams. Abdallah is a true partner at heart, collaborative, solutions‑driven and always willing to roll up his sleeves to move things forward. His ability to lead the du business, nurture talent and champion bold ideas makes him a team player in the truest sense. Working with him has meant having a steady, strategic and genuinely supportive ally every step of the way and we are proud of our partnership with him.
