ERM, a specialist sustainability consultancy, has appointed Sophia Sheikh as Director of Strategic Communications. In this role, she leads the development and growth of its strategic communications agency across the Middle East, where the team has secured mandates from government, listed and private businesses spanning real estate, energy, manufacturing and financial services.
With more than 20 years in marketing, communications and content development, including 17 years in the Middle East, Sophia's experience spans media, financial services and sustainability. She has helped position Dubai as a destination for international business at Dubai World Trade Centre, to leading marketing and content for the Masdar-hosted World Future Energy Summit.
“With sustainability increasingly central to business strategy, investment decisions and corporate reputation, having the right strategy and delivering meaningful change are only part of the equation,” said Sophia. “Organisations also need to communicate clearly what they are doing, why it matters, and what it means for their stakeholders.
“The Middle East is an especially interesting market in this respect. The scale of ambition and investment across energy, infrastructure and economic transformation creates significant opportunities, but it also brings greater scrutiny of sustainability claims and expectations around measurable progress. This is where the ability to promote, but also defend, strategy and investments in sustainability is so critical – and where the power of communication comes in,” continued Sophia.
Emily Luscombe, Partner Lead for Strategic Communications, EMEA, added, “I am ever so excited to have someone of Sophia’s calibre join our team. Her experience in building brands, engaging audiences and developing strategies that build both reputation and international visibility around sustainability is integral to the continued growth of our offering, in the GCC and beyond. By bridging the ‘do’ and the ‘say’ of sustainability, ERM enables organisations to protect and unlock greater value from their investments. Through the power of communication, we can help them navigate growing stakeholder scrutiny, build trust and, crucially, translate the commercial and societal impact of what they do.”