Mamoon Sbeih transitions to chief international business development officer and chairman, MENA; Samer El Hachem appointed president and Faten AlMasri deputy president of MENA

APCO, the premier global advisory and advocacy firm, today announced a strategic leadership evolution in its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) operations to better serve clients navigating the region’s unprecedented emergence as a global power center. Mamoon Sbeih, who served as regional president since the firm’s expansion in the region 20 years ago, transitions to a global role as chief international business development officer and as chairman, MENA, while Samer El Hachem advances to president of MENA and Faten AlMasri, is appointed deputy president of MENA.

“As global power dynamics shift and traditional leaders adopt more nationalist postures, MENA has emerged as a critical connector internationally,” said APCO Founder and Executive Chairman Margery Kraus. “This leadership team ensures we will continue delivering the regional excellence our clients expect while expanding our ability to serve their growing global connectivity needs.”

The leadership evolution builds on APCO’s legacy of nearly two decades in the region, during which the firm established itself as the trusted advisor to governments, corporations and institutions across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Amman, Doha and Manama. The firm’s regional experts also supported clients in Kuwait, Egypt, Oman and Morocco. APCO has been recognized by leading industry bodies, reflecting the firm’s growing emphasis on policy insight, research‑driven counsel and complex stakeholder engagement. In 2025, PRovoke Media named APCO one of its 10 Best Agencies in the Middle East, citing the firm’s strategic impact, innovation and sustained growth across the region. APCO was also recognized at the 2022 PRCA MENA Awards, 2021 SABRE Awards and 2020 MEPRA Awards for work that goes beyond traditional communications to deliver evidence‑based advisory, public value and long‑term reputational outcomes for governments and leading institutions.

APCO’s leadership evolution reflects the rapidly changing dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa, a region that has emerged as a global center of influence across capital investment, geopolitical engagement and cultural impact. Gulf sovereign wealth funds now hold approximately $6 trillion in assets, with $126 billion deployed in 2025 alone—representing 43% of total global sovereign investment spending. This scale and momentum underscore MENA’s expanding role in shaping global markets and policy outcomes, and the need for advisory capabilities that can operate across diverse markets, sectors and stages of development.

“The transformation we are witnessing across MENA represents one of the most significant geopolitical and economic shifts of our time,” said Sbeih. “APCO has been privileged to support this evolution over nearly two decades, building deep relationships and expertise across the region. As our clients’ needs have evolved from regional market access to global corridor navigation, APCO must evolve as well to fully support clients’ needs.”

In his new global role chief international business development officer and chairman, MENA, Sbeih will leverage APCO’s robust, fully integrated global team serving clients in more than 80 markets to develop innovative solutions that help clients navigate MENA’s expanding global corridors. His focus will be on cross-border advisory services, international partnerships and strategic initiatives that capitalize on the region’s position as a bridge between East and West.

“The opportunity before us is unprecedented,” said El Hachem. “As MENA countries project power through cultural initiatives, infrastructure investments and diplomatic engagement, our clients need advisory partners who understand both the regional nuances and global implications. Our regional team of 200+ professionals from 26 countries is uniquely positioned to deliver this expertise.”

El Hachem will focus on operational excellence and continued expansion of APCO’s market-leading position in advisory and advocacy services across the region. Under his leadership, the regional team will continue to deepen capabilities in key growth areas, including strategy consulting, digital transformation services and government/public sector advisory.

“The Middle East is undergoing a profound transformation - one that is redefining how organizations connect, invest and grow across borders,” said AlMasri. “As clients increasingly seek innovative approaches to navigate complex markets, they need partners who can anticipate change and deliver impact at scale. At APCO, our deep local roots, multidisciplinary expertise and commitment to innovation make us the perfect partners to help clients seize the extraordinary opportunities emerging across the region.”