DUBAI—Dave Robinson, a pioneer of public relations in the Middle East and president and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Australia, Middle East, Africa, South and Central Asia, has died.
He passed away from a heart attack after leading a training session for WPP executives in Dubai.
Robinson was a corporate communications specialist with extensive experience in crisis management and CEO advisory work. He spent more than a decade building deep expertise in emerging markets, building Hill+Knowlton Strategies into the market leader in the Middle East before being appointed to his current role in 2011.
“For the last eight years, Dave Robinson has led our team in AMEASCA with a strong and dedicated passion for this business, his clients and our people,” said Jack Martin, global chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies. “He was a great friend and in many ways a mentor to me, and to countless others. Dave was tall not only in stature, but also in character and he will be deeply missed. He made an enormous impression and was held in great affection by everyone who came into contact with him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dave and his family at this difficult time.”
His work included advising governments on communications strategies to support foreign direct investment programs, nation branding and economic diplomacy, as well as serving C-suite clients on matters such as crisis preparedness, corporate positioning, CEO profiling, sustainability and corporate messaging.
He was former chairman of the Middle East Public Relations Association and is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars. He sat on the regional board of Injaz Al Arab, part of Junior Achievement Worldwide, and was also an enthusiastic guitarist, playing in internal Hill+Knowlton bands and performing in markets from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam to Los Angeles.