Carlos Nadal, Managing Director, HAVAS Creative UAE 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.
With more than 16 years of experience in communications, marketing and business leadership in the Middle East, Nadal has built a career at the intersection of creativity, commercial growth and organisational transformation. Before becoming Managing Director, Nadal served as Senior Vice President of Growth and Integration at Havas Middle East, leading new business efforts across the Village and helping drive some of the network’s most significant regional wins.
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS
I have always believed that the most meaningful achievements are built over years, not measured in months.
This year, I had the opportunity to step into the role of Managing Director during a pivotal chapter for the agency. Beyond the commercial objectives, my priority was to help guide the business through a period of transition, creating stability, maintaining trust and giving people confidence in the direction ahead.
What I am most proud of is not a specific pitch win or business result, but the relationships we have strengthened along the way, with clients who continue to trust us as partners and with teams who have embraced change while continuing to deliver at the highest level.
Leadership transitions test culture. They reveal whether people believe in the organisation and in each other. Seeing our teams come together, adapt and emerge stronger through that journey is the achievement I value most.
CLIENT RECOMMENDATION
Michael Grieve
Chief Brand Officer, Jumeirah Group
Carlos is a true believer in the power of bringing the right people together. He has a natural ability to understand how organisations work, what is holding them back and where the opportunities for growth lie. He combines strategic thinking, commercial discipline and creative ambition to help businesses evolve, introduce new capabilities and develop solutions that deliver real business impact. What sets Carlos apart is the trust he builds with clients and stakeholders.
