HSBC has appointed Farah Farooq as Head of Communications for Middle East, North Africa, and T??rkiye (MENAT) region, effective 1 February 2025.In this role, Farah will lead the development and implementation of HSBC?ÇÖs communications strategy across the MENAT region, leveraging the bank?ÇÖs long-established history and presence in the region and the role it continues to play in supporting the world?ÇÖs most ambitious economic transformation agendas undergoing in the Middle East.Farah will help to position the MENAT region as a crucial driver of the bank?ÇÖs internationalism, highlighting the region?ÇÖs significance as a strategic economic, trading, and wealth hub bridging East and West.Based in Dubai, Farah will report functionally to Jessica Lee, HSBC?ÇÖs Interim Group Head of Communications, Businesses & Markets at HSBC, and to Selim Kervanc, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC MENAT, on an entity basis.Farah brings more than 20 years?ÇÖ experience across financial services. She is a seasoned leader with experience in building and enabling high performing teams. Farah has been with HSBC for 14 years, overseeing communications for business lines and markets across the Middle East and European regions. Most recently as Head of Communications for the UAE, Farah has helped shape and share the bank?ÇÖs growth story.Prior to joining HSBC, Farah set up the financial communications practice for Weber Shandwick in the Middle East, leading a strong team servicing key government, financial services, multilateral banks, and investment agency clients.

Malaysian integrated consultancy firm Invictus Blue Group has appointed Jo Yau as its new Group CEO. Yau takes the helm, assuming responsibility for all public relations efforts alongside her broader leadership duties. She brings over two decades of experience working with prestigious international brands like Maybank Group, Toyota, Emirates, American Express, HSBC, and Volvo.Yau expressed her excitement about the role: "It's truly an honour to come back home as the new Group CEO. With the solid foundation laid by our late President Gerald Miranda over the past 30 years, I see this as an opportunity to lead the team into the next chapter. I'm excited to apply my experience and expertise towards fostering innovation, driving growth, and facilitating transformation within the company. Our vision is to cultivate an agency that prioritizes people, be it our employees or clients, at every step of the way." Yau's proven track record in media ownership, integrated agencies, creative agencies, and fintech startups positions her well to implement Invictus Blue's transformation agenda, emphasizing women in leadership, client focus, and a pivot towards technology and artificial intelligence.