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The Annual: Top 20 Movers and Shakers of 2024

The Top 20 Movers and Shakers is a compilation of the top appointments and promotions witnessed across brands and agencies in 2024.

Top 20 Movers and Shakers

The brand and marketing industry in the Middle East witnessed several high-level appointments, promotions and the creation of multiple new regional roles in 2024.

From brands revealing new C-suite marketing officers, directors and heads of marketing, to major movements at the highest levels of agencies, Campaign Middle East has taken cognizance of some of the biggest movers and shakers in the industry.

These Top 20 Movers and Shakers are highlighted in Campaign Middle East’s Annual 2024 issue, which also features in-depth lists such as the Top 20 news stories, media milestones, and integrated and digital campaigns.


Omar Saheb, Vice President of Marketing and Online Business, Samsung Electronics - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Omar Saheb, Vice President of Marketing and Online Business, Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics promoted Omar Saheb to Vice President of Marketing and Online Business. In his role, Saheb continues to lead marketing and online teams across the region, driving growth and innovation. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing management, business strategy, consumer insights and digital marketing, and has held key positions at Kellogg’s and P&G.


Furrukh Jawaid, Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors - Middle East and Africa - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Furrukh Jawaid, Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors – Middle East and Africa

After 13 years as Head of Performance Marketing & Data Enablement at General Motors Canada, Furrukh Jawaid joined the Middle East and Africa arm as its Chief Marketing Officer. Jawaid joined General Motors in 2008 as a co-op student. He has since taken on significant cross-functional responsibilities through finance, customer care and aftersales (CCA), vehicle sales, and marketing.


Taniya Chandra, Head of Marketing and Communication, Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Taniya Chandra, Head of Marketing and Communication, Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East

Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East appointed Taniya Chandra as the new Head of Marketing and Communication. Her responsibilities extend across the Mercedes-Benz General Distributor network. Chandra, whose journey with Mercedes-Benz began as part of the group’s ‘Leader’s Lab’ management programme, succeeds Natalie Thompson, who is now the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Romania.


Andrew Gregory, Marketing Director, Ford Middle East - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Andrew Gregory, Marketing Director, Ford Middle East

Ford Motor Company appointed Andrew Gregory as Marketing Director, Ford Middle East. He succeeded Pedro Simoes, who was appointed as Managing Director of Ford Philippines. Gregory transitioned to the new position from his role as Brand Marketing Lead, where he oversaw all Ford’s nameplates and led strategic initiatives across all vehicle programmes.


Ashish Parakh, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Sobha Realty - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Ashish Parakh, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Sobha Realty

Luxury real estate brand Sobha Realty promoted Ashish Parakh to the position of Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. Parakh began his journey at Sobha Realty as a management trainee and has steadily risen through the ranks to the role of Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, leading a team of more than 700 professionals across sales, marketing, channel relations, sales operations, and hospitality.


Virginie Ludmer, Marketing Director, Volkswagen Middle East - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Virginie Ludmer, Marketing Director, Volkswagen Middle East

Volkswagen Middle East appointed Virginie Ludmer as its new Marketing Director. Ludmer’s career with Volkswagen Canada began as a brand marketing specialist, where she contributed to the growth and advancement of the Volkswagen brand through progressive marketing initiatives. Over time, she took on responsibility for directing all brand marketing activities, including orchestrating large-scale campaigns.


Sunil John, Senior Advisor, Stagwell MENA - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Sunil John, Senior Advisor, Stagwell MENA

NASDAQ-listed global marketing and communications group Stagwell appointed Sunil John as its Senior Advisor to head the group’s forthcoming MENA office. Stagwell’s footprint across MENA includes its global creative collective Forsman and Bodenfors, omnichannel media agency Assembly, and strategic growth advisory firm Phronesis Group, as well as Consulum, a government advisory firm.


 - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Ziad Issa, Media CEO – MENA, Ipsos

Ipsos announced Ziad Issa as its new Media CEO for the MENA region. He takes over from long-standing Elie Aoun. Aoun decided to step down after an exceptional 32-year tenure at Ipsos in the MENA region. Issa reports directly to Edouard Monin, the CEO of Ipsos in the region, and was appointed to advance the organisation’s media business with a focus on commercial activation and new media services.


Adel Baraja, CEO, Publicis Communications - KSA - Top 20 Movers and Shakers
Adel Baraja, CEO, Publicis Communications – KSA

Publicis Groupe Middle East appointed Adel Baraja as CEO of Publicis Communications KSA to reinforce the agency’s ongoing commitment to accelerating growth within Saudi Arabia. Baraja leads the Saudi operations for Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi within the agency’s framework. The group also appointed Ahmed Younis as its new Chief Creative Officer for Publicis Communications KSA.


Lara Arbid, CEO, Initiative and Magna MENA
Lara Arbid, CEO, Initiative MENAT and Magna Global MENAT

MCN appointed Lara Arbid as CEO of Initiative MENAT and Magna Global MENAT, following Bassem Massoud’s departure after 15 successful years with the network. Arbid joined MCN Riyadh in 2014 and was the first female General Manager of a media agency in Saudi Arabia, leading Magna KSA for several years before moving to Dubai and leading as Regional Managing Director at Initiative and Magna.


Tarek Daouk, CEO, MENAT, dentsu and President, Merkle SEMENAT
Tarek Daouk, CEO, MENAT, dentsu and President, Merkle SEMENAT

Dentsu appointed Tarek Daouk as CEO for its newly created sub-cluster of dentsu Middle East North Africa and Turkey (MENAT), expanding his role to lead dentsu’s operations in Turkey. He now leads the integrated growth strategy and business execution for MENAT. Daouk has also been appointed as the President for Merkle Southern Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (SEMENAT), expanding his remit.


Joyce Hallak, Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis Media Middle East
Joyce Hallak, Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis Media Middle East

Publicis Groupe Middle East appointed Joyce Hallak as Chief Strategy Officer of Publicis Media for the region. This newly created position aligns with the group’s efforts to advance its media capabilities. Hallak has been with Publicis Groupe Middle East for 16 years, starting as Media Director at Starcom Lebanon in 2007, where she expanded to markets such as Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.


Catherine Bannister, Chief Strategy Officer at TBWA\RAAD
Catherine Bannister, Chief Strategy Officer at TBWARAAD

TBWA\RAAD appointed Catherine Bannister as its new Chief Strategy Officer to lead the development of disruptive strategies aimed at fostering growth and creativity. She has extensive expertise in brand development, market expansion and talent cultivation. Her tenure of four and a half years in the region has equipped her with insights into regional dynamics, enhancing her ability to deliver strategic solutions.


Aricio Fortes, Chief Creative Officer, VML UAE

VML UAE appointed Aricio Fortes as its Chief Creative Officer. He is a creative who has picked up more than 40 Cannes Lions awards. With an illustrious career spanning two decades, Fortes has amassed an impressive collection of accolades. Prior to joining VML Dubai, Fortes held creative leadership positions at globally-acclaimed agencies, including Pereira O’Dell, Africa, Ogilvy Brazil, DM9DDB and BBDO China.


Marie-Claire Maalouf, Chief Creative Officer – EMEA, Edelman

Edelman promoted Marie-Claire Maalouf to Chief Creative Officer for the EMEA region. She joined Edelman in 2023 as Chief Creative Officer of Middle East, having spent 17 years at Impact BBDO. Maalouf leads creative across 13 markets. Her work has been recognised at major awards including Cannes Lions, The One Show, Caples, Clio Awards, LIA Awards, Dubai Lynx, D&AD, Epica, ANDYs, Warc and Effies.


Gautam Wadher, Chief Creative Officer, Memac Ogilvy

Memac Ogilvy appointed Gautam Wadher as Chief Creative Officer in an effort to strengthen the company’s ‘borderless creativity’ approach across all business units. He returns to Memac Ogilvy after a three-year tenure as Executive Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi. In his new role, Wadher has been tasked with scaling up the agency’s model of integration and collaboration.


Mario Morby, Chief Strategy Officer – MENA, Memac Ogilvy

Memac Ogilvy appointed planning and strategy specialist Mario Morby as Chief Strategy Officer, MENA. Morby has been based in the region for more than five years, working in strategy leadership positions with FP7 McCann. This builds on his distinguished experience in strategy and planning in his native UK. His rigorous and creative strategies have gained industry recognition and awards, including at Cannes Lions.


Pauline Rady, Regional Managing Director and Client Lead at GroupM MENA (part of WPP).

GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, appointed Pauline Rady as its Regional Managing Director and Client Lead at GroupM MENA. Reporting to CEO Amer El Hajj, Rady has been tasked with establishing best-in class client excellence and scaling business growth across agencies. Rady, who previously led the LVMH media business in the Middle East, joins with 16 years of media experience in the region.


Jon Holloway, Managing Director, Brand and Experience, Dentsu Creative – MENA

Dentsu Creative MENA appointed Jon Holloway, as Managing Director, Brand and Experience. In this new role, he leads the brand and experience teams across the region, driving operational excellence to deliver next generation projects and transformational work that fosters brand growth through immersive customer experiences. He was previously the Managing Partner, Experience, at Dentsu Creative EMEA.


Joe Lipscombe, Partner, The Romans
Joe Lipscombe, Partner, The Romans

The Romans appointed Joe Lipscombe as Partner to lead the agency’s strategic direction in Dubai and further its presence across the region. Lipscombe entered the region as a journalist, reporting for global publications, before serving almost a decade as Ogilvy’s executive strategy and creative director for PR across MENA. He has played a pivotal role in projects across the region, including Expo 2020 Dubai.


Read all the lists from Campaign Middle East’s The Annual issue here.