RIYADH — APCO Worldwide is expanding its presence in the MENA region with the addition of a new office in Saudi Arabia, alongside its existing offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The office will work in partnership with the other MENA offices and APCO’s global network, and will be led by managing director Liam Leduc Clarke (pictured) who has worked for APCO for 15 years and was most recently a senior vice president in Washington, DC. The launch Saudi team’s expertise includes digital, media, creative business and management consulting.

The move follows APCO registering as an agent for Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Performance Measurement, Adaa, in March this year and supporting the organisation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mamoon Sbeih, president of MENA for APCO Worldwide, said: “Working in and with a nation undergoing massive positive change presents an opportunity every day for our staff to make an impact on the lives of people and the future of a country and a region.”

APCO CEO Brad Staples said the new office was the next step in the firm’s regional development plan: “We have seen tremendous growth throughout the MENA region and a considerable increase in assignments from Saudi Arabia over the last year. We are expanding in Saudi as the Kingdom goes through a period of unprecedented change.”

APCO’s presence in Saudi Arabia follows the addition of offices in Germany and Italy over the past year and is part of the firm’s global expansion plans, said APCO founder and executive chairman Margery Kraus: “APCO’s growth into new markets has always been driven by opportunity and the right mix of local staff and global understanding to excel in the market.”