Lea Koyess, General Manager, UM Dubai 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.
Koyess is a media and marketing leader with more than 17 years of experience driving business growth, operational excellence and client transformation. She started her career in Lebanon and joined UM in 2012. After relocating to Dubai in 2013, Koyess progressed through a number of leadership roles, managing some of the industry’s most recognised brands. Today, as the general manager at UM, She oversees a diverse client portfolio across retail, hospitality, FMCG and other sectors.
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS
Over the past 12 months, she was promoted to General Manager at UM, expanding her leadership responsibilities across a diverse client portfolio and broader agency operations. In the first part of the year, Koyess continued to lead strategy, planning and execution on the Emirates airline business across more than 60 global markets, managing a team of more than 30 specialists and driving operational excellence on one of the region’s most complex accounts. Following her promotion, she broadened her focus to overseeing a wider portfolio of clients and agency operations, while supporting teams across multiple disciplines.
Alongside her expanded leadership role, she led agency pitches and business development initiatives, helping drive growth and strengthen client relationships. Koyess also supported clients through a period of regional uncertainty, providing strategic guidance and helping them adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Throughout the year, she focused on developing talent, building high-performing teams and delivering strong results for both clients and the agency.
CLIENT RECOMMENDATION
Maxine Minty
Director of Marketing & Performance, Alshaya Group
Lea is an exceptional partner and a genuinely strong leader. She brings a strategic lens to every conversation, with the ability to cut through complexity and focus on what will truly drive impact. She is highly accountable, proactive and solutions-oriented, consistently ensuring her team delivers high-quality work at pace. What sets Lea apart is how she builds trust – she feels like a true extension of our team, not just an agency partner.
