Assembly has announced a significant restructuring of its leadership in the MENA region as the global omnichannel agency gears up for its next phase of expansion. As part of this transition, seasoned media leader Ravi Rao has joined the organisation as Senior Advisor, while Faisal Dean will exit at the end of the year after serving the company for ten years. Assembly confirmed that a new MENA CEO will be appointed in Q1 2026.
With over three decades of experience across MENA and South Asia, Rao has held prominent roles including CEO of WPP Media MENA (formerly GroupM MENA), CEO of Mindshare MENA, and leader for South Asia. In his advisory role, he will collaborate closely with Zubair Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer, and Kinloch Magowan, Managing Partner, to accelerate Assembly’s strategic growth across the region.
Siddiqui and Magowan—who have been managing client operations, people functions, commercial delivery, and overall organisational performance—will continue leading daily operations. Both will work alongside Rao and report directly to Assembly Global CEO Rick Acampora.
Dean’s departure concludes a decade-long contribution where he played an instrumental role in enhancing capabilities, strengthening teams across Dubai, Cairo, and Riyadh, and adding a diverse portfolio of global and regional clients.
Acampora acknowledged his tenure, stating: “The region is operating from a position of strength as we prepare for a new MENA CEO in 2026. I appreciate all that Faisal has contributed, and for me personally, the partnership we’ve had over the last four and a half years. I wish him the absolute best in his next chapter. The team has built real momentum here in the region, and we’re focused on carrying that forward.”
Assembly reiterated that MENA continues to be one of its most critical global growth markets and confirmed ongoing investment in leadership, technology, and talent to meet increasing client needs.
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