Mathilda Saad, Acting Deputy MD, MENA Private Sector, APCO 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.
Mathilda Saad is a senior corporate affairs leader with more than 19 years’ experience advising governments and multinational organisations, known for leading high-stakes, multi-market mandates in the UAE and wider MENA region. She is acting deputy managing director, MENA Private Sector at APCO, based in Dubai.
Her work focuses on integrated communications at the intersection of reputation, stakeholder engagement and business strategy in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, ensuring alignment between communications and broader business outcomes.
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS
Saad strengthened private sector business by driving client growth, expanding market presence and stepping into regional leadership. She led strategic relationships for flagship accounts including Lockheed Martin, Accenture and Injaz, expanding mandates and deepening long-term partnerships across multi-market portfolios. She works closely with different leads to secure new business in priority sectors, broadening APCO’s footprint in the MENA region. Her responsibility also encompasses APCO’s MENA marketing mandate, sharpening the firm’s positioning
and visibility.
CLIENT RECOMMENDATION
Johan Janssen
Head of Communications – Middle East & Africa,
Lockheed Martin
Mathilda is an outstanding strategic advisor with a solid understanding of the defence sector and the complex operating environment across the Middle East and beyond. She combines geopolitical insight, stakeholder awareness, and communications expertise to help navigate some of the most challenging issues facing our business, from regional security developments and government engagement to reputation management and strategic positioning. Her counsel is thoughtful, pragmatic, and always grounded in a clear understanding of the broader context.
