Simon Shaw has concluded his tenure as Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at King Salman Park Foundation in Riyadh, marking the end of an in-house leadership role he took up after several years of consulting across the Middle East.Shaw announced his departure in a LinkedIn post, describing his time with the foundation as an important professional chapter and an opportunity to contribute to one of the major projects associated with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme.During his tenure, Shaw said he helped shape the organisation's brand direction and strengthen its marketing and communications capabilities, while building a team to support the next phase of King Salman Park's development.The role also represented a move from regional consulting into a full-time leadership position in Riyadh. Shaw said the experience deepened his understanding of Saudi Arabia, its culture and the scale of the transformation underway in the Kingdom.With a professional background spanning strategy, creativity and architecture, Shaw said the opportunity to contribute to a project bringing together nature, culture and community was particularly significant.Reflecting on his departure, he said he was proud of the direction established for the King Salman Park brand, the development of its marketing and communications capabilities and the team assembled to support the project's future.He also thanked colleagues and partners involved during his tenure and said he looked forward to seeing the park's vision develop for the people of Riyadh.Shaw is now working as an independent adviser as he considers his next professional chapter. He said his advisory work will draw on his international consulting experience and in-house leadership background.His areas of focus will include strategy, brand development, corporate reputation, creative transformation, communications and marketing.The departure comes as Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in large-scale cultural, tourism, entertainment and urban-development projects under Vision 2030, creating demand for senior expertise across branding, communications and reputation management.King Salman Park is one of Riyadh's major urban-development projects and is designed to create a large-scale destination combining green spaces, cultural facilities, recreational attractions and community infrastructure.Shaw's departure leaves his next permanent leadership move open, with the communications and marketing executive indicating that he will initially focus on independent advisory work.Simon Shaw has concluded his tenure as Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at King Salman Park Foundation in Riyadh, marking the end of an in-house leadership role he took up after several years of consulting across the Middle East.Shaw announced his departure in a LinkedIn post, describing his time with the foundation as an important professional chapter and an opportunity to contribute to one of the major projects associated with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme.During his tenure, Shaw said he helped shape the organisation's brand direction and strengthen its marketing and communications capabilities, while building a team to support the next phase of King Salman Park's development.The role also represented a move from regional consulting into a full-time leadership position in Riyadh. Shaw said the experience deepened his understanding of Saudi Arabia, its culture and the scale of the transformation underway in the Kingdom.With a professional background spanning strategy, creativity and architecture, Shaw said the opportunity to contribute to a project bringing together nature, culture and community was particularly significant.Reflecting on his departure, he said he was proud of the direction established for the King Salman Park brand, the development of its marketing and communications capabilities and the team assembled to support the project's future.He also thanked colleagues and partners involved during his tenure and said he looked forward to seeing the park's vision develop for the people of Riyadh.Shaw is now working as an independent adviser as he considers his next professional chapter. He said his advisory work will draw on his international consulting experience and in-house leadership background.His areas of focus will include strategy, brand development, corporate reputation, creative transformation, communications and marketing.The departure comes as Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in large-scale cultural, tourism, entertainment and urban-development projects under Vision 2030, creating demand for senior expertise across branding, communications and reputation management.Prior to King Salman Park Foundation, he had worked with Burson as Global Chief Creative Officer.

The King Salman Park Foundation, a key player in Riyadh's urban development, has appointed Simon Shaw as its new Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. Shaw, formerly the Chief Creative Officer at the global communications firm Burson, will lead the park's brand and marketing efforts.Shaw, who relocated to Riyadh in April 2025 for the role, brings extensive experience from his career in marketing, communications, and creative strategy. His previous positions include Global Chief Creative Strategy Officer at Hill & Knowlton and Chief Creative Officer at Burson, where he worked with major brands and corporations across the Middle East, China, the U.S., and Europe.In a LinkedIn post, Shaw expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating that it "is an opportunity to bring together my communications, marketing and architectural experience and play a small part in the delivery and operation of one of the most exciting and impactful projects in the capital city of Riyadh."Shaw's background also includes a degree in architecture, which he says he will leverage in his new role. He has a long history of creative leadership, having served as a speaker and judge at prestigious global events like Cannes Lions and the D&AD.The King Salman Park project, one of Riyadh's four "mega-projects," is a massive urban regeneration initiative covering 17.2 square kilometers. It is a landmark of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, designed to create a vibrant space for nature, culture, and community in the heart of the city.