Simon Shaw, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, King Salman Park FoundationSaudi Arabia’s King Salman Park Foundation, one of Riyadh’s four mega-projects, has appointed Simon Shaw as its Chief Communications and Marketing Officer.
Shaw, who moved to Riyadh in April 2025 to take up the role, will oversee marketing and brand communications for King Salman Park.
With prior roles as the Global Chief Creative Strategy Officer at public relations company Hill & Knowlton and Chief Creative Officer at Burson, Shaw brings a strong track record of working with international clients on their communications and marketing strategies, and activations.
He previously led the strategy, creative and content teams, and headed strategic communications across major brands and corporate clients for both Burson and Hill & Knowlton, including clients in the Middle East region, China, the US and Europe.
Simon Shaw – marketing, communications and architectural experience
At Hill & Knowlton, Shaw was the first Chief Creative Officer. He led the creative transformation of the agency, building a network of 10 innovation and creative hubs around the world. These hubs house specialised expertise in content and publishing strategy, data and analytics, behavioural science, digital planning and optimisation, creative direction, and creative strategy.
With degrees in architecture from the University of Edinburgh and the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL), Shaw began his career in architecture before transitioning into brand experience and strategy, and ultimately into marketing and communications.
Commenting on the role in a LinkedIn post, Shaw said, “I am proud and honoured to join the team at the King Salman Park Foundation as their Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. It is an opportunity to bring together my communications, marketing and architectural experience and play a small part in the delivery and operation of one of the most exciting and impactful projects in the capital city of Riyadh.”
Before joining Burson, Shaw held significant creative leadership positions, including roles at Exposure, Good Relations and Imagination. His industry renown is underscored by his contributions as a speaker and judge at global events such as Cannes Lions and the D&AD, where he served as jury president.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Park
Launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman Park is set in the heart of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
King Salman Park is one of the world’s most ambitious and transformative urban regeneration projects covering an area of 17.2 square kilometres, which includes 11 square kilometres of forest to explore, a 7.2 km highline loop featuring restaurants, cafés, retail outlets and cultural discoveries around every corner.
King Salman Park is also a landmark project of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 — bringing to life the Kingdom’s commitment to a vibrant, inclusive and healthy society. Open to all, the Park offers citizens, residents and visitors a space to connect, recharge and enjoy the beauty of everyday life — a place where nature, culture, and community come together.
The park will provide a rich variety of cultural, arts and entertainment, sports and recreational, as well as commercial and residential districts. It aims to become the place to visit, explore, live, work and play; redefining urban living where a walk on the street becomes a walk in a park.
