Excellera Advisory Group, Italy's leading corporate affairs advisory firm, has announced the acquisition of Instinctif Partners MENA ?Çö the Middle East and Arabic-speaking North Africa operations of Instinctif Partners. Instinctif Partners MENA is a prominent strategic communications consultancy specializing in financial and corporate communications across the region.The acquisition aligns with Excellera's growth strategy launched in 2022 with the strategic and financial support of Xenon Private Equity. It further consolidates the Group's position as a reference point in corporate affairs. Excellera today brings together some of the most prominent names in the sector: Barabino & Partners, Cattaneo Zanetto Pomposo & Co., Community, Excellera Intelligence, Public Affairs Advisors, and Value Relations.This deal will give Excellera a significant presence in the Middle East and Arabic speaking North African markets where Instinctif Partners MENA has been established for more than 12 years. The company will retain the same management team, led by founder CEO Samantha Bartel, and will operate under a new name, IP Excellera, marking the change in ownership of the company and Excellera's expanding footprint in one of the world's fastest-growing and most dynamic markets.With the addition of IP Excellera, the Group's total turnover will exceed $75 million, with a team of more than 350 professionals, further extending its international footprint. IP Excellera's offices in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai will expand the Group's global network, which already includes locations in Bergamo, Berlin, Brussels, Genoa, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Rome, and Treviso, bringing the total to 15 locations worldwide.IP Excellera is a market leading, integrated strategic advisory firm with offers across strategic communications, capital markets and investor relations, corporate reporting, and ESG & sustainability. Its team of 60 talented consultants are drawn from the world's leading financial, government and academic institutions offering clients best in class advice so they can navigate risk, reputation and change. The company represents clients in the public and private sectors and has a portfolio of more than 100 corporate clients with a combined market value of over $3 trillion.IP Excellera has achieved more than 20 per cent annual growth for the last 5 years, cementing its position as a leading advisory firm in the region and setting a strong basis for growth in partnership with Excellera. IP Excellera's integrated service offering is complementary to Excellera's strength in financial communications and its leading position in M&A in Europe, which will enable organic growth across the Group.Gianfranco Piras, Chairman of Excellera Advisory Group and Partner at Xenon Private Equity, said: "The acquisition of IP MENA marks a fundamental step in Excellera's growth journey, confirming the soundness of our investment strategy and the Group's ability to attract high-value companies in fast-growing markets. At Xenon Private Equity, we have believed from the very beginning in the creation of a strong, competitive Group capable of establishing itself as a leading player in the corporate affairs sector and serving as a platform for further aggregation. Entering the MENA region strengthens Excellera's platform and broadens its scope, laying the foundations for long-term growth."Paolo Zanetto, CEO of Excellera Advisory Group, commented: "This transaction is another important step in our international development strategy. In an increasingly interconnected world, the EMEA region has become a natural arena for those, like us, who provide strategic advice on complex and global issues. With this deal, we are enhancing our presence in a key market for global finance and business, integrating a highly skilled team led by Samantha Bartel. We are excited to embark on this new journey together."Samantha Bartel, CEO of IP Excellera, added: "We are delighted to be joining Excellera Advisory Group for the next stage of our growth journey. It has been an amazing 12 years since we established in MENA and I'd like to thank all colleagues for their hard work and dedication and clients for their loyalty, who have made it so special over the years. We will continue to build our value proposition so we can consistently offer our clients the very best advice across strategic communications, capital markets and investor relations, corporate reporting, and ESG & sustainability and service our growing client roster even better."Julian Walker, CEO of Instinctif Partners, said: "Following today's sale, we will focus on our core business and in our core markets. On behalf of us all I thank Sam and her team for such consistently great work and send our very best wishes for their future as part of Excellera."Legal advisors to Excellera Advisory Group were Pinsent Masons and Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici. Deloitte supported the deal with financial due diligence, while PwC advised on tax matters.Legal advisers to Instinctif Partners MENA were Simmons and Simmons, and Instinctif Partners were advised on the transaction by SI Global.(Image: Paolo Zanetto, CEO of Excellera Advisory Group and Samantha Bartel, CEO of IP Excellera)

Instinctif Partners, one of the leading strategic reputation advisory firms in the MENA region, is opening a new office in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, from which it plans to further expand into the exciting Abu Dhabi market. Instinctif Partners has more than 12 years of experience in the Middle East and North Africa, with a team of over 60 consultants across Dubai and Riyadh. Instinctif Partners is renowned for supporting some of the most influential private and public sector clients with reputation management, IPO communications, investor relations, corporate reporting, ESG and sustainability, and public affairs.?Ç£We are honoured to have advised clients in the region for over a decade from our local offices in Dubai and Riyadh, and now look forward to building on this success with our newly launched Abu Dhabi office. We?ÇÖre looking forward to working even more closely with government clients and corporates, listed across all UAE exchanges,?Ç¥ said Samantha Bartel, MENA CEO at Instinctif Partners.?Ç£I am delighted to expand our capabilities in the MENA region with the opening of a third regional office in Abu Dhabi,?Ç¥ said Julian Walker, Group CEO at Instinctif Partners. ?Ç£Our Abu Dhabi office will enable us to support clients seamlessly across several sectors and industries in the capital through exceptional client service, deepening our footprint in this dynamic region. This commitment to meeting our clients where they are, is reflected in the quality of our work and caliber of our team.?Ç¥Jim Donaldson, Non-Executive Chair at Instinctif Partners, further emphasized: ?Ç£Abu Dhabi is of strategic importance to our growth in the Middle East. Our new office will strengthen our in-market capabilities, adding depth to the insights we provide our clients. Instinctif Partners?ÇÖ growth is tied to the success of our clients, which is why we take a client-first approach globally.?Ç¥Late last year, Instinctif Partners launched its MENA Public Policy practice, to act as a bridge between the public and private sectors and advise governments on their ambitious development agendas. ?Ç£This latest strategic phase of our growth ambition for the region has been long in the planning,?Ç¥ adds Bartel. ?Ç£Fresh from our winning Large Consultancy of the Year at the PRCA MENA Awards 2024, we are reinforcing our sustained impact and commitment to excellence.?Ç¥

Instinctif Partners, a leading strategic reputation advisor in the MENA region, has appointed Ikram Al-Yacoub as Managing Partner and Head of Saudi Arabia. This move underscores the firm's commitment to an integrated advisory approach as it navigates the rapidly evolving landscape of the Kingdom.Ikram Al-Yacoub, a seasoned C-suite advisor with extensive experience in strategic and financial communications, is set to play a pivotal role in driving Instinctif's growth initiatives. Her expertise will enhance the firm's ability to deliver valuable client advice, deepen stakeholder engagement, and foster strategic partnerships across critical sectors in Saudi Arabia.Samantha Bartel, CEO MENA of Instinctif Partners, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating: "We are delighted to welcome Ikram to our team. Having advised clients in Saudi Arabia for over a decade, we are excited to build on our successful momentum with her leadership. With Ikram's strong relationships and stewardship, we will continue to provide best-in-class reputation management services, including investor relations, corporate reporting, ESG, public policy, and crisis communications."In her new role, Al-Yacoub will collaborate closely with EMEA teams to identify opportunities and optimize Instinctif's approach, ensuring that client and partner needs in Saudi Arabia are effectively met.Al-Yacoub, a Saudi citizen, holds an MBA from City University London and a master's degree in International Political Economy of Resources from the Colorado School of Mines, where she focused on energy sustainability and the economic valuation of natural resources. Prior to joining Instinctif, she served as Managing Director and General Manager at Brunswick Group, where she spearheaded strategic expansion into Saudi Arabia, advising clients on financial communications, mergers and acquisitions, and public listings. Expressing her excitement about the new role, Al-Yacoub said: "It's an honor to join such a leading firm and enhance its capabilities. With the region experiencing unprecedented economic development and transformation, clients are seeking genuine partners with the expertise to help navigate complex challenges. Instinctif's unique proposition of localized, world-class capabilities positions us to excel in this environment."Ikram Al-Yacoub is also a member of the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) KSA Memberships and Events Committee, which aims to elevate the profile of investor relations in Saudi Arabia.Instinctif Partners boasts a prestigious client list across the region and internationally, and was recently awarded 'Large Consultancy of the Year, MENA in 2024' by PRCA MENA.

The Public Relations and Communications Association Middle East & North Africa (PRCA MENA) has restructured its MENA Regional Board, a pivotal move aimed at fortifying strategic direction and industry representation in the MENA region.The MENA Regional Board serves as the guiding force behind PRCA MENA's initiatives, ensuring alignment with industry standards and fostering excellence in the field of public relations and communications. The restructured board brings together a diverse ensemble of esteemed industry leaders, poised to infuse their collective expertise and insights to propel the organisation to new heights. "We are delighted to unveil the restructuring of our MENA Regional Board, signifying our commitment to championing excellence and innovation in the public relations and communications landscape across the MENA region. The wealth of knowledge and experience brought forth by our board members will be instrumental in shaping the future trajectory of our organisation and advancing the profession as a whole,?Ç¥ remarked James Hewes, CEO of PRCA.The newly appointed members of the PRCA MENA Regional Board are:  Ahmad Itani, Founder & CEO, Cicero & Bernay Communication Consultancy. Chairman, PRCA MENA  Alexandre Beaulieu, Founder & CEO, TBWA DJAZ  Claire Micheletti, Founder & Joint Managing Director, Cosmopole Consultancy  Howard Kosky, CEO & Founder, Markettiers4DC  Ibrahim Al Mutawa, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Jummar PR  Imad Lahad, Managing Director, APCO Worldwide Dubai  John Rynehart, Managing Director, Seven Media  Joseph Nalloor, Discipline Lead - School of Communication, Murdoch University Dubai  Kamal Taibi, Founder & CEO, Strat?½usGroup  Khaled Alshehhi, Executive Director Marketing and Communications at UAE Government Media Office  Laureline Schwarz, Head of Global Corporate Communication, PR, Public Relations at Al-Futtaim Automotive  Louay Al Samarrai ?Çô Joint Managing Director, Co-Founder, Active (Digital. Marketing. Communications)  Natalie Amos, Managing Director - Lifestyle MENA at Four Agency  Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, Founder and CEO, TishTash Communications  Nick Sandham, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Alshaya Group  Petra B Spanko, Regional Director, Katch International  Samantha Bartel, CEO & Managing Partner, Instinctif Partners MENAThese professionals bring a rich tapestry of experiences and expertise to their roles, representing a diverse array of sectors and perspectives within the communications industry.