Speakers

coming soon

With over two decades of strategic marketing leadership experience, Hussein is a seasoned commercial executive who has shaped brand narratives across diverse sectors in the Middle East and Europe.

Following his education at Dublin Business School, Hussein established his foundation in advertising technology and digital marketing in Ireland before relocating to Qatar in 2004 to join Qatar Airways as Marketing Manager. His career trajectory continued as he spearheaded marketing and communications divisions for prominent financial institutions including Rayan and Barwa Bank.

An entrepreneurial vision led Hussein to establish multiple successful ventures in Doha, specialising in advertising, film production, and talent services. In 2018, he joined the leadership team as founding CEO at Katara Studios.

Ahmad Fahad Al-Shagra, a graduate of the University of Sunderland, currently serves as the Chief Platform Officer, specializing in product growth and innovation . A recognized figure in the Middle East tech arena, Ahmad is not only a mentor to emerging startups but also a startup enthusiast himself, having successfully achieved an exit previously. His visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence continually set new industry standards.

Alessandro is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at STARZPLAY, in charge of data analytics, business planning, M&A, fundraise and special projects. Alessandro joined the company in 2021 to lead the transformational fundraise where e& Group and ADQ took the majority of STARZPLAY and injected $100m of primary capital to support its growth. After that, Alessandro was key to conceptualise and execute the Sport and Advertising strategy that fuelled STARZPLAY growth in the last 2 years. Before that, Alessandro was a principal investor at Delta Partners Capital, a $200m growth capital fund investing in technology companies across several markets. In his role Alessandro invested in more than 20 companies with several exits including Ciphercloud (acquired by Lookout), Knowlarity (Gupshup), Aricent (Altran) and Virgin Mobile Poland (Play)”

Mohamed Elgohary is the Head of Business Development at Yango Play, a cutting-edge AI-powered entertainment streaming Super App. He oversees the B2B distribution strategy, forging partnerships with leading telecom operators, eCommerce platforms, voucher distributors, and big screen providers across the MENA region.

With a rich background in sales management, partnerships, and commercial operations, Mohamed has successfully led initiatives across the OTT, broadcasting, e-commerce, telecommunications, and retail sectors. He has been instrumental in driving revenue growth for global brands by negotiating and managing key relationships with telecom operators and OEMs in the region. His expertise lies in building strategic alliances, navigating complex commercial deals, and expanding market presence for digital and entertainment platforms

coming soon

Freddy is a seasoned sports and media executive with over a decade of experience driving commercial growth across the MENA region. Currently serving as the Senior Commercial Manager at Dentsu Sports International, he leads strategic partnerships and rights commercialization across key sports properties and brands.

With a track record of delivering innovative sponsorship solutions Freddy has worked with rights holders, broadcasters, brands, tech platforms, and government entities to activate impactful campaigns and drive ROI through sport. Prior to joining Dentsu, he held senior roles at VUZ and before that Opta (Stats Perform), where he pioneered immersive content initiatives with leading sports leagues and events across football, combat sports, and esports.

As Channel Director for MBC 2, MBC 4, MBC Max and Shahid AVOD content, Lina Matta steers the
creative and strategic vision of the channels as well as works on achieving the ratings and financial
milestones. On AVOD she does a balancing act between TV & AVOD while shepherding new initiatives
like launching FAST channels and integrating podcasters and YouTubers to enrich the platform’s offering.
Matta also sits on the Content Coordination Unit (CCU) that assesses all pitches submitted to MBC, and
on the Content Board that makes the case for getting the selected projects greenlit.
Before joining MBC GROUP, Matta was a media consultant at Dubai Media Incorporated, where she
masterminded the transformation of Dubai One, overseeing everything from content acquisition to
production.
As the co-founder of the New York based Brown Hats Productions, Lina Matta co-produced two award-
winning documentaries Running for Bogota, and Prison Lullabies, and a digital talk show about books,
Titlepage.tv . Since 2012, Matta has curated ANA an annual film series at BAM in Brooklyn that
celebrates the best of Contemporary Arab Cinema.
Matta sits on the Advisory Board of the Mohamed Bin Rashed School of Communication (MBRSC) at
AUD and is a voting member of BAFTA.
A native of Lebanon, Lina Matta has an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication from LAU and a
Master’s degree in Film Production from Boston University.
She divides her time between Riyadh, NY, Dubai, and Lebanon

Scott heads B2B distribution and partnerships for the Shahid VOD service at MBC GROUP, focused on enhancing Shahid’s network of partnerships with telecom operators, connected device manufacturers, payment services, and a variety of consumer finance, retail, travel and digital service companies.  

Through 25 years’ experience in the ICT sector, Scott has conducted business in over 50 countries on six continents.  Following his passion for leading expansion in international growth markets, he relocated to Dubai in 2009, and has since helped open distribution and operations across the Middle East, African and Asia. Prior to Shahid, Scott has worked with Mondia Group, Docomo (Buongiorno!) and Motorola, and holds an MBA from the University of Miami Herbert Business School

Kalpesh Barot, Vice President of Product at StarzPlay, brings over 15 years of leadership in the OTT and digital media space. A pioneer in shaping scalable streaming experiences across MENA, Kalpesh has led transformative product strategies at Shahid and now at StarzPlay—delivering innovations in SVOD, AVOD, sports interactivity, and cross-platform UX. His approach is rooted in data-driven design, AI-powered personalization, and innovative monetization strategies that elevate user engagement and business growth

Rana Jerdak is an accomplished Acquisition & Planning Supervisor at Al Mashhad,
where she leverage her extensive experience in content acquisition and strategic
programming. With a strong background in the media industry since 2014, Rana
Jerdak previously held key roles serving as a Senior Programming Executive and
later as an Acquisition Executive.
She improved her skills in identifying and securing high-quality content, developing
programming strategies, and fostering relationships with content providers. Her
expertise in market trends and audience preferences has consistently contributed to
successful programming initiatives and audience growth.
Passionate about delivering compelling content, Rana Jerdak is dedicated to
enhancing the viewer experience and driving the success of Al Mashhad’s
programming lineup.

Darine El Khatib is the Vice President – Film Productions, Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment. With over 20 years of experience in regional and international broadcasting and media industry, she is a senior media executive and storyteller who strongly believes in women empowerment and providing a platform for upcoming and passionate talent. Darine’s widespread knowledge in high quality production, content and brand development best position her to reflect the regional audiences’ demands and expectations.

In her current role, Darine is responsible for building capabilities to source, review scripts, validate the development and production budgets, and oversee the different stages of film production from pre-production to release. Prior to joining Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, Darine was the Senior Vice President – Original Productions & Arabic Services at OSN, where she oversaw the new content umbrella dedicated to the production of regional content such as OSN+ Originals.

Previously she was the Senior Director at Warner Media where she oversaw the Creative/Content Strategy & Brand Development and have successfully strengthened the brand’s presence and competitiveness in MENA, Turkey, Greece & Cyprus.  Prior to joining Warner Media, she spent a decade at Discovery Networks as Channel director, to launch and oversee multiple Channels in the region.

Darine played a key role in launching the Middle East’s first dedicated 24-hour food network ‘Fatafeat’ and securing the first deal of having a local media brand acquired by Global Media Company – Discovery.

She has helped develop and commission numerous successful original programming formats and content across the region. Pursuing her passion, Darine directed the mid-length film Barriers of Time, screened at the Monaco Film Festival. Notably, she was the lead actress in the feature film ‘Love’s Improvisations’ screened at the Dubai International Film Festival and shortlisted for ‘Best Actress’ at the Madrid International Film Festival & St. Tropez International Film Festival in 2013. She also has a Travelogue show “My World to You” among other TV shows. Darine is the UNFAO Goodwill Ambassador for Zero Hunger in the Middle East & North Africa. She holds a Masters in Fine Arts degree (MFA) in Film Directing from California Institute of the Arts, CalArts

coming soon

In addition to his strategy and investment role at beIN Media Group, Hugues was directly involved in the technical and commercial launch of TOD in January 2022 and the development of this OTT business since then.

The launch of the first sports and entertainment OTT platform in the MENA region was a key milestone in beIN Media Group’s digital transformation, one of the key pillars of the Group’s corporate strategy.

Before joining the pay-TV industry at beIN Media Group in 2017, Hugues worked for 10 years in the FTA environment at the strategy department of the TF1 Group.

This explains why Hugues believes there is a path to sustainability and growth through good customer segmentation and a mix of business models.

Hugues lives in Paris with his wife and three daughters.

Raghida Abou-Fadel is Chief Growth & Commercial Officer at VUZ, where she drives global growth for a
next-gen OTT platform. A media executive with 20+ years of leadership at STARZPLAY, OSN, and NoorPlay, she brings deep expertise in commercial strategy, partnerships, and scaling digital platforms.

Shujah is an entertainment executive with extensive experience in partnerships, content distribution/acquisition. He has been in the content industry for over 10 years; looked after Partnerships for 5 years at Huawei, prior to that he launched EE TV in the UK, and built several VOD services in Europe. Shujah was on the forefront of the AVOD take up in Europe and MENA since 2020.

Now at TCL, the world second largest TV manufacturer, Shujah looks after Content Partnerships and TCL CTV monetisation.

coming soon

Investment banker turned madman, Faris Sibai is a recognized leader in the MENA & APAC media landscape, with over two decades of experience driving transformation, innovation, and growth across global and regional markets. 

Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Advertising & Sponsorship at STARZPLAY, he is spearheading the platform’s commercial evolution—bridging technology, creativity, and performance to unlock new revenue opportunities for brands and media partners.

Peter El Daher is a dynamic executive at LBCI, one of Lebanon’s leading broadcasters,
where he oversees all operational, programming, and commercial initiatives. Leveraging
a deep understanding of the network’s heritage and strategic direction, Peter plays a pivotal
role in driving innovation and audience growth.

Anam Amin is an expert programmatic integration and consults on innovative media solutions across the region and Globally. With a strong background in digital media products, Anam focuses on bridging data and creativity to deliver more effective and engaging advertising solutions.

She’s also a featured guest and Panellist on various platforms, she discussed the evolving role of programmatic trading, the future of connected TV and more. Beyond her day job, Anam hosts a exploring the unspoken realities of navigating media, career, and culture. She also actively contributes to industry initiatives including IAB, DE&I efforts, and founding member of Women in Media network and a member of other communities in the industry focused on elevating individual contributions.

I’m open to more than one panel to moderate. The below you’ve shared work, but also open other topics. So please feel free to pick multiple, I’ve highlight the ones I’d prefer but I’m open to the others too. I’ll just need to know the schedules in advance.

Saadeddine Nahas is a seasoned digital media and advertising leader, currently serving as Head of Product and Partnerships at Dentsu MENA. With over 15 years of experience across the MENA region, Saadeddine has built a proven track record in crafting and executing digital media transformations. Before joining Dentsu, he held senior roles at Initiative and at e& where he drove tech- and data‑driven strategies for enhanced business outcomes

In his current role, he leads the development and rollout of innovative digital and data-centric product stacks across Dentsu’s media brands. His remit includes designing scalable, customizable media solutions that boost competitiveness and drive measurable improvements in marketing performance

Shayan is currently the MENAP Head of Media for Reckitt with 14 years’ experience working across verticals of media; managing consumer connect strategy and media executions. He has previously worked across multiple agencies & companies working on various clients in FMCG & consumer goods category. He is super passionate on measurability and building bridges between media metrics and brand growth.

Anshul is a highly experienced digital marketing professional with over a decade of expertise in performance marketing, digital planning, and app growth strategy. Proficient in data-driven decision-making, he has consistently delivered exceptional results for his clients.

With over 15 years of experience in the broadcast media industry, Aya Hammad leads digital content
production and management for the Kids Brands portfolio across the MENA region at Warner Bros.
Discovery. She is responsible for shaping and executing the strategy behind the brands’ non-linear
presence, ensuring high-quality, locally relevant content that resonates with Gen Alpha across multiple
platforms and digital spaces.
Aya’s expertise lies in new media, editorial, and marketing communications, with a strong focus on
Arabic kids’ content. She is certified in Audience Growth and Content Strategy by YouTube and holds a
B.S. in Multimedia Design, along with a minor in Design Management and multiple certifications in
Digital Marketing.
Driven by a passion for storytelling, innovation, and diversity, Aya’s mission is to create authentic,
immersive brand experiences that maximize platform potential while aligning with the values and vision
of Warner Bros. Discovery. She thrives on continuous learning and meaningful collaboration, always
seeking to push creative boundaries and connect with audiences in impactful ways.

Karim Fouad has been leading marketing communications at Talabat Egypt, the leading online delivery platform in Egypt and the MENA region, for the past three years. In his role, Karim has been instrumental in shaping the platform’s brand presence and driving impactful campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences across the region.

Prior to joining Talabat, Karim built a strong foundation in marketing, growth, and sales at Vodafone Egypt, where he held various roles over an 11-year tenure. His experience at Vodafone allowed him to develop a comprehensive understanding of the telecommunications industry and sharpen his skills in customer engagement and business development.

Karim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Cairo University

Global marketing leader with FMCG expertise and a strong foundation in finance and commerce. Most of my career was shaped at L’Oréal, with the years in leadership roles at Bacardi. I bring a track record of building brands across global, regional, and local levels( lived in 5 countries & launched products & campaigns worldwide) with belief that data-driven creativity fuels growth. INSEAD alum with a curious mindset—I dedicate part of every week to experimenting and learning as a core leadership principle.

Hamid Davari is the Director of Ad Sales at OSN Group, the premier network for premium
entertainment in the MENA region. A respected thought leader in the field of connected
advertising, Hamid is an active contributor to industry advancements as a member of the
IAB MENA CTV/OTT Advertising task force. His expertise helps drive forward-thinking
strategies that redefine the regional advertising landscape.
Prior to joining OSN, Hamid served as the Commercial Head and Director of Ad Sales for
BME, a joint venture between MOBY Group and 21st Century FOX. In this role, he was
instrumental in launching a suite of TV channels that expanded across the Middle East and
Africa, successfully establishing new market opportunities and enhancing brand reach. With
over two decades of experience across TV, OTT, advertising, and content, Hamid has
developed strategic partnerships with multinational media corporations, significantly
contributing to their growth in emerging markets.
Hamid’s career is marked by his commitment to innovation, strategic vision, and industry
insight, positioning him as a pivotal figure in shaping the future of advertising in the MENA
region.

Shyam is one of the leading marketers in the region with experience in building successful brands across sectors and markets. 

The first half of his career was in advertising in India having started with DDB India building several brands  including Citibank, Apple and Henkel before going on to becoming the Country Head of a leading Pan-Indian Brand Activation agency. 

shyam moved to Dubai in late 2005 and after a successful stint in Real Estate, Shyam moved to the Landmark Group, driving growth of their Shopping malls and Hospitality businesses before taking on Centrepoint, the largest fashion omnichannel retailer in the region. Over a 7.5 years period, the brand achieved several milestones with  pathbreaking initiatives and award winning work in the Retail Fashion category 

Since leaving Landmark Group, he is consulting multiple clients including TBO.COM, the world’s largest travel distribution platform where he heads the Global marketing and seen to be bringing his B2C marketing and branding experience to break conventions and bring in freshness and creativity in the B2B marketing space. 

Shyam is an Executive Member of the Marketing Society and the CMO Council, Judge/Juror in leading marketing & advertising festivals including the Drum Awards and speaks at leading marketing and advertising forums including Seamless Middle East, The Sales & Marketing Show, Campaign Middle East’s Marcomms & Vibe Martech. 

He was listed in the Top Marketers in GCC by Gulf Marketing Review and recognized as the Top 10 Clients by the B&W Report and has won several coveted awards including the LIAs at New York, Loeries South Africa, Cristals in France and Dubai Lynx 

Coming soon

coming soon

Cecilio Chidiac is an experienced growth strategist having worked extensively across MENA and within the Media & Entertainment industry. Cecilio is currently the Head of Strategy and Business Planning for evision/ e& life, e&’s media entertainment arm, driving evision’s growth and most strategic projects.

Cecilio is passionate about revolutionizing the way entertainment is consumed across the region with specific focus on Video, Audio and Gaming.

coming soon

Maroun Bedran is a digital media leader with over 20 years of experience in transforming content, communications, and audience growth. As Head of Digital at Al Mashhad, he drives innovation in digital products and data-driven storytelling for Gen Z and millennials.

He previously worked with the World Bank, led brand building at Algorythma Group, where he helped launch Alef Education, and headed the business department at Sky News Arabia. Starting his career in business journalism, Maroun has since built a track record across technology, finance, and entertainment.

Abdelnabi is currently the digital lead at UMMENAT overseeing the digital product and managing partnerships across the region. Abdelnabi has an overall 15+ years of experience in the industry and managed a large portfolio of clients and industries. In addition to his role at UM, Abdelnabi has been one of the leaders of the IAB Measurement workstreams in the MENA region. 

Muhammad Peerally is an award-winning digital and marketing leader with 13+ years of experience building ecommerce brands and scaling marketing across global markets. He currently leads Ecommerce & Marketing for iHerb MENA, driving growth through data-driven strategies, customer acquisition, and loyalty innovation. His previous leadership roles at Chalhoub Group, The Hut Group, and OMD UK included global brand activations for clients such as Shell, with a strong focus on Connected TV, programmatic, and performance marketing in luxury retail, health & wellness, and consumer goods

coming soon

Shruthi Nair is an award-winning journalist and multimedia storyteller based in the Middle East. She began her career at the age of 20 with Times of Oman, where she was part of the founding team of Times TV, the country’s first and only online television platform. Her work was widely credited with reshaping Oman’s new media landscape, and she quickly became the face of the nation’s largest daily.

During her tenure, Shruthi reported extensively on major national events, including being the only English-language journalist to cover Cyclone Mekunu directly from Salalah. Her exclusive coverage reached millions worldwide and led to interviews with BBC World and Sky News. She was also invited to deliver a TED Talk in Muscat, highlighting her journey as a visual media storyteller.

In 2018, Shruthi moved to Dubai to join Arabian Business as a video reporter. Within a year, she was promoted to Head of Video Content for seven of the GCC’s leading B2B magazine titles. She launched five online shows for Arabian Business and produced multiple digital series for other titles, earning industry recognition for her debate show Crossfire, which she both produced and hosted.

She later served as Executive Editor of Images RetailME, a B2B retail news platform, where she oversaw the monthly magazine, digital platforms, and industry events.

Currently, Shruthi is the Multimedia Editor at AGBI, a London-headquartered business news publication serving MENA audiences. She leads video and audio strategy, consistently innovating new ways to tell compelling business stories across digital platforms in an increasingly competitive media environment.

Tony Saab is the Founder of Tesliya Entertainment, an OTT platform, and a seasoned media executive, as well as a Member of the International Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences. With over a decade of leadership in OTT, broadcast, and entertainment, he previously served as SVP Content & Partnerships at StarzPlay. As Vice President of Content & Production at Intigral, Tony leads a team of 70+ specialists across production, acquisition, and content delivery for Jawwy TV and Dawri Plus, managing P&L and driving original productions that have positioned Intigral as a regional OTT leader. Over the past 11 years, he has been instrumental in building high-performance broadcast infrastructure, securing strategic content partnerships, and enhancing the viewing experience for millions across the MENA region. Tony has spearheaded the launch of Jawwy Home and Jawwy TV across KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the wider MENA region, served as Executive Producer of 18+ Arabic series and films, designed workflows for the Saudi Premier League (SPL) broadcast, built and managed two data centers hosting 375+ IPTV/OTT channels and 15,000+ VoD assets, and led the complete media delivery facility for STC’s IPTV/OTT services, including Dawri Plus. With a proven record of innovation and operational excellence, Tony continues to shape the future of digital entertainment in the Middle East and beyond.

coming soon