Leo Burnett Saudi Arabia Appoints Tarek Akil as Business Lead

Leo Burnett Saudi Arabia has appointed Tarek Akil as Business Lead. In his new role, Tarek will lead the Riyadh office, overseeing client partnerships, commercial strategy, and the agency’s growth plans in the Kingdom.

With over two decades of experience in advertising, Tarek has worked across Egypt, the Levant, North Africa, and the GCC, managing a broad portfolio of brands including Vodafone, Ariel, Pampers, Trident, SODIC, Emirates NBD, ExxonMobil, Majid Al Futtaim, and Almarai. This role marks his return to Publicis Groupe Middle East, having previously led regional mandate for Cadbury’s chocolate portfolio during his time at Saatchi & Saatchi.

Adel Baraja, CEO of Publicis Communications KSA, said, “Tarek brings the kind of strategic clarity and client-first thinking that’s critical in today’s market. His experience and leadership will play a big role as we continue building stronger, more connected brand solutions in Saudi Arabia.”

As business lead, Tarek will focus on driving growth for clients through integrated business solutions, tapping into the full breadth of Publicis Groupe’s capabilities under the Power of One model. His mandate aligns with the growing demand for smarter, more connected brand thinking as businesses gear up for the opportunities emerging under Saudi Vision 2030.

Commenting on his appointment Tarek said, “Thrilled to announce that I’ve joined the incredible team at Leo Burnett in Riyadh ! I’ve long admired the talents and achievements coming out the formidable Publicis Groupe across the region, and now I’m honoured to be part of that winning team. Looking forward to contributing to the continued success and growth with the leadership and support of Adel Baraja”.