Middle East
The region’s specialist search partner for corporate affairs, communications and investor relations
The Middle East is one of the world’s most dynamic markets for corporate affairs and communications talent. As governments and businesses across the UAE, and the wider GCC invest in economic diversification, global brand-building and international stakeholder engagement, the demand for exceptional communications leaders has never been greater.
We combine more than 55 years’ heritage in this discipline – longer than any other firm in our industry – with deep regional knowledge built over two decades of successful search in the Middle East.
Led by our UAE-based Partner, Lauren Tarbit, we work with sovereign wealth funds, government-linked entities, listed companies, multinational corporations and fast-growth enterprises across the GCC to recruit the senior communications talent they need to protect and enhance their reputations.
Understanding the GCC talent market
The corporate affairs talent landscape across the Gulf is distinct from other markets. Many organisations are building communications functions from scratch or significantly expanding them as part of national vision strategies. Regulatory frameworks, stakeholder expectations and media environments differ by jurisdiction – from the UAE’s fast-moving, internationally oriented market to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation agenda.
We advise clients across these markets on structuring corporate affairs functions, benchmarking compensation, and understanding the competitive dynamics that shape talent availability. Our organisational design capability, which is led from Dubai, ensures that your team is designed for high performance and success.
The roles we recruit across the Middle East
Our UAE team recruits for the full range of senior corporate affairs and communications leadership roles, including:
– Chief Communications Officers (CCOs)
– Corporate Affairs Directors
– Heads of Government Relations and Public Affairs
– Investor Relations Directors and Heads of IR
– Internal Communications Directors
– Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications Directors
– Executive Communications and Speechwriting leads
Whether a mandate requires identifying global talent willing to relocate to the region, or sourcing from the exceptional pool of communications leaders already based across the GCC, our network and methodology ensure clients see the strongest possible field.
Specialist depth
Taylor Birchwood focuses exclusively on corporate affairs, communications, government affairs and investor relations. This means we know the candidates, the market dynamics and the functional competencies in a way that others simply do not.
Global reach
Our Dubai team works alongside colleagues and partners in London, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Frankfurt and Hong Kong. For clients recruiting international leaders to the GCC, this global connectivity is a decisive advantage.
Cultureview
Our proprietary organisational culture diagnostic ensures that candidates are assessed not only on skills and experience, but on their ability to thrive. In a region where cultural fluency and adaptability are critical, this adds a layer of rigour that improves long-term placement success.
Expert advisory
We do more than fill roles. Our organisational design capability helps clients across the GCC structure their corporate affairs functions for long-term success – from defining reporting lines and team composition to succession planning and capability benchmarking.
