Adil Khan to hand Saatchi & Saatchi leadership baton to Ramzi Sleiman following departure as CEO

Publicis Groupe MEA today announced that Adil Khan, Chief Executive Officer at Saatchi and Saatchi Middle East, is departing to pursue other interests after leading the agency for close to a decade.

“It is with mixed sentiment that I announce the departure of Adil Khan, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, almost ten years after he started leading the agency,” said Raja Trad, Executive Chairman at Publicis Groupe MEA.

“As a seasoned ad-man, Adil led Saatchi & Saatchi to become the market force it is today. Under his steady leadership, the rich creative culture and strong reputation of Saatchi & Saatchi is testament to Adil’s drive and dedication for the creative process and end product. He will be sorely missed by his team, colleagues, management, and clients, and we wish him the best of luck for what comes next,” added Trad.

In light of Adil Khan’s departure, Ramzi Sleiman, Regional Growth Director – Publicis Communications MEA, has been appointed to the position of Regional Managing Director, Saatchi & Saatchi.

“Before arriving at Saatchi & Saatchi in 2010, the agency’s global reputation as a creative powerhouse was a key drawcard and something I always admired. This has remained an unshakable inspiration for me. I will miss the infectious energy and passion of my team, but I leave with the knowledge they are in sound hands at the start of this new decade and chapter,” said Khan.

“I want to say a big thank you to everybody for the memories and the opportunity to make real impact within the UAE’s advertising realm. This success is illustrated through the diverse talent we nurtured, the great work we did and businesses we won like Cadillac, HSBC, RTA, Mondelez, AlMarai, Dubai Tourism and MAF Share to name a few. The spirit and drive that Ramzi brings to Saatchi & Saatchi gives me every confidence that he will help the agency grow and deliver great results,” added Khan.

Ramzi Sleiman assumes the position of Regional Managing Director, Saatchi & Saatchi, as of April 1, 2020.

Ramzi Sleiman brings nearly two decades of experience to his new role, and draws on his strength as a proven growth driver and change leader in the region’s evolving marketing and communications realm.

“Saatchi & Saatchi brings together a unique combination of talent and creativity, sparking innovative ideas and unlocking the true potential of the brands we work with. As a leader and driver of formative solutions for clients, I will be driving journey-based creative solutions that help brands win in this transformative new digital era. I look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead,” said Sleiman.