FP7 MCCANN RIYADH STRENGTHENS LEADERSHIP WITH STRATEGY AND CREATIVE POWERHOUSES

FP7 McCANN Riyadh has appointed Rawad Eldahouk as Head of Strategy and Saadi Alkouatli as Executive Creative Director, reinforcing its commitment to culturally grounded creativity and sharp strategic thinking. The move comes amid rising client demand and Saudi-led growth, aligning the agency’s leadership with Vision 2030 ambitions and regional expansion.  

FP7 McCANN Riyadh is doubling down on the two forces that increasingly define modern agency success in Saudi Arabia: strategy that understands ambition, and creativity that reflects culture. In a move that signals both intent and momentum, the agency has appointed Rawad Eldahouk as Head of Strategy and Saadi Alkouatli as Executive Creative Director, strengthening its leadership bench at a time when client demand across the Kingdom is accelerating.

The appointments are not routine senior hires. They reflect a deliberate shift towards Saudi-led creativity supported by strategic intelligence that is deeply attuned to local nuance while remaining globally fluent. As FP7 McCANN Riyadh’s portfolio expands across tourism, technology, entertainment, automotive, FMCG, and government-led Vision 2030 initiatives, the agency is aligning its leadership with the scale of transformation underway in the Kingdom.

For Saadi Alkouatli, the move marks a symbolic full-circle moment. His creative journey began on Madison Avenue at McCANN New York in 1998. More than 25 years later, he returns to the McCANN network, this time in Riyadh, bringing with him a career shaped across North America and the Middle East at agencies including Leo Burnett, TBWA, VML, VICE Media Group, and most recently, Webedia Arabia. His body of work includes award-winning campaigns for brands such as the Saudi Tourism Authority, Zain Telecom, McDonald’s, and the Royal Commission for AlUla.

Alkouatli’s strength lies in what many in the industry describe as a rare creative duality: global craft combined with deep regional sensibility. In his new role, he will lead the creative direction of key accounts including Saudi Tourism Authority, Samsung, and PepsiCo, shaping ideas that not only resonate with audiences but also reflect the Kingdom’s evolving cultural narrative. At a time when Saudi Arabia is actively redefining how it is seen by the world—and by its own people—creative leadership of this nature becomes central to brand storytelling.

If Alkouatli represents the creative lens, Rawad Eldahouk brings the strategic framework that ensures those ideas translate into measurable business value. With over 21 years of experience in strategic planning, advertising, and communications, Eldahouk is widely regarded for his ability to interpret consumer behaviour through the lens of culture and commerce. A creative thinker by instinct and a strategist by discipline, he is best known for his award-winning work on brands such as stc.

Throughout his career, Eldahouk has shaped brand narratives for Roshn, SABB, flyNas, and Burger King, earning recognition at global and regional award platforms including WARC, Clio Awards, Effies, Dubai Lynx, and New York Festivals. Beyond his work, he has contributed to the industry as a juror for WARC MENA, Effies, D&AD, and Shots, reinforcing his standing as a strategic voice within the region’s communications landscape.

As Head of Strategy at FP7 McCANN Riyadh, Eldahouk will lead planning across the agency’s client portfolio, helping brands sharpen their positioning, build competitive advantage, and unlock commercial value through strategies aligned with Saudi ambition and long-term growth. His mandate is clear: ensure that strategy does not simply support creativity, but elevates it into business-driving ideas.

The hires come as FP7 McCANN MENAT sharpens its focus on Saudi Arabia as a growth market and a creative hub. Tarek Miknas, CEO of FP7 McCANN MENAT, describes the appointments as part of a broader ambition to build “the most culturally grounded, creatively fearless agency in the Kingdom.” For Miknas, the focus is on leadership that combines strategic sharpness, creative depth, and intimate market understanding to work alongside clients in solving real business challenges.

That sentiment is echoed by Amr El Kalaawy, Regional Managing Director of FP7 McCANN KSA, who views the appointments as a way to better support clients as their ambitions grow in scale and complexity. According to El Kalaawy, Eldahouk and Alkouatli bring thinking that “turns complexity into clarity, and ambition into action,” underscoring the agency’s aim to help brands lead rather than follow in a rapidly evolving market.

The timing of these appointments is significant. Saudi Arabia’s transformation under Vision 2030 has created a new communications landscape where brands are expected to contribute to national narratives, cultural shifts, and economic progress. Agencies are no longer simply tasked with marketing products; they are helping shape how sectors such as tourism, entertainment, and technology are perceived both domestically and globally.

FP7 McCANN Riyadh’s growing client roster reflects this shift. From government-backed tourism initiatives to multinational consumer brands and emerging tech players, the diversity of sectors demands leadership that can navigate complexity while staying rooted in cultural authenticity. The pairing of Eldahouk’s strategic insight with Alkouatli’s creative leadership positions the agency to meet this demand with cohesion.

Alongside these appointments, FP7 McCANN has also promoted Nick Salter to Regional Head of Strategy, further reinforcing its commitment to insight-led, commercially grounded solutions across the MENAT region. The move signals a broader organisational emphasis on strategy as a driver of client growth and market opportunity.

Taken together, these leadership changes paint a picture of an agency preparing not just for growth, but for relevance in a market that is rewriting the rules of engagement between brands and people. In Saudi Arabia, where culture, commerce, and national ambition are increasingly intertwined, agencies must operate with a level of understanding that goes beyond traditional advertising metrics.

For FP7 McCANN Riyadh, the message is clear: creativity must be culturally grounded, strategy must be commercially sharp, and leadership must be capable of bridging the two. With Eldahouk and Alkouatli stepping into key roles, the agency is positioning itself at the intersection of these forces, ready to translate Saudi Arabia’s momentum into meaningful brand narratives and measurable business impact.