PR News
<span id="hs_cos_wrapper_name" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="text" >Thoburns strengthens senior team, welcomes new Director</span>

Thoburns strengthens senior team, welcomes new Director

Reputation management consultancy, Thoburns, has appointed Maram Alkadhi (pictured) as a Director, bringing nearly two decades of international experience advising public and private sector clients across the UK and the Gulf, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

At the consultancy, Maram provides senior counsel to clients with operations or interests in the Gulf, including private capital firms, sovereign-backed entities, and technology-enabled platforms. He will also support clients looking to strengthen their narrative and stakeholder engagement as they expand into or operate across the region.

Maram has held senior roles at international consultancies, most recently as Senior Vice President at Teneo in the Middle East. He has advised on some of the region's high-profile initiatives, including NEOM, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Saudi Research and Publishing Company, and the COP29 Presidency in Azerbaijan, where he was seconded to deliver international media relations.

Richard Thoburn, Chairman of Thoburns, commented: "Maram is a uniquely accomplished communications advisor, with an instinctive understanding of how to build trust and shape reputation in complex geopolitical environments. His experience in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and his ability to navigate government, media and investor landscapes with cultural fluency, will be of immense value to our clients across the Gulf and beyond."

On the appointment, Maram said: "Thoburns has an outstanding reputation for strategic counsel in markets that are dynamic, complex and fast-moving - many of which I have worked in over the past two decades. I am delighted to be joining a senior team that understands the nuances of operating across jurisdictions, and I look forward to supporting clients as they grow their presence and impact across the Gulf."
Previous story

Mazen Haykal steps up at luxury comms agency

Next story

Sun Life bolsters brand and marketing team with new hire

You might also enjoy

Azal
Moves

Azal Khan starts as Corporate Media Relations Manager

Azal Khan has joined IR Department as Corporate Media Relations Manager. She has finished her time at The Agency Real Estate, most recently as Communications and Content Manager. Prior to this, Azal was a business, real estate and news journalist at the ABC and News Corp.
GWPR
Industry update

GWPR announces recipient of its 2025 Australia Mentoring Scholarship

GWPR Australia has announced Maya Ivanovic, Associate Director - Client Services at Palin Communications, as the recipient of its inaugural 2025 GWPR Mentoring Scholarship.

Delivered in partnership with Beaumont People, the fully funded scholarship provides Maya with access to Beaumont People's 6-month LEAD Program, designed to improve leadership capabilities, executive presence, and career development. The program includes personalised mentoring, strengths-based coaching, interactive masterclasses, and strategic networking opportunities.

The pilot scholarship initiative was launched to address what the organisation described as a critical gap in professional development, supporting early to mid-career women in PR and corporate affairs, a cohort it says is often overlooked by existing coaching and mentoring programs.

GWPR Australia launched the local mentoring program with CPRA and Beaumont People as a pilot program in early 2025, with an aim to make mentoring accessible, practical, and tailored to real-world challenges faced by women in the communications industry.

Chair of the GWPR Australia Mentoring program, Carden Calder, said: "The response from the women who applied, and who took our offer of feedback up, was shocking. Every single participant we spoke to cited a lack of mentors in the profession, the difficulty of accessing quality mentorship, and the gaping absence of programs that go beyond role-specific skills development."

Reflecting on her selection, Maya said, "The LEAD program is an opportunity for me to step out of my everyday and invest in my development with intent. I'm looking forward to learning and mentorship that challenges my thinking, explores different leadership styles, and exposes me to important feedback to help me build executive-level confidence and clarity."
Roblox
Industry update

Roblox hires new APAC communications leader

Papri Dev has stepped into the role of APAC Communications Head at Roblox. Based in Singapore, she spearheads strategic communications and brand building across APAC for the gaming and creation company.

Papri has accumulated more than two decades of communications experience, having held senior roles at Tinder, Burson-Marsteller (now Burson), and Zeno Group.