Edelman Names Ayham Kamel as President of Middle East Public & Government Affairs Practice
Monday, May 19, 2025 – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Edelman is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayham Kamel as president of its Public and Government Affairs practice in the Middle East. Ayham will lead Edelman’s regional offering across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), bringing more than two decades of geopolitical consulting, risk advisory, and strategic foresight to support clients navigating the region’s complex political and economic landscape.
A recognized authority on the Middle East, Ayham has deep expertise across the financial, energy, industrial, hospitality, and infrastructure sectors. He has advised C-suite executives and government leaders on crisis management, strategic positioning, and investment risk, and is a trusted voice on the region’s geopolitics, regularly appearing on CNBC, BBC, Al Jazeera, and Bloomberg.
“Ayham brings to Edelman an unmatched depth of regional insight, leadership experience, and client advisory that will enhance our capabilities across the Middle East and beyond,” said Rocco Renaldi, Global Chair of Edelman Public & Government Affairs. “His ability to translate complex geopolitical dynamics into strategic opportunity will provide significant value to our clients across industries.”
Ayham joins Edelman following more than a decade with geopolitical risk advisory firm Eurasia Group as Head of the Middle East & North Africa practice, where he built and managed a high-performing team, shaped the firm's analytical framework on MENA affairs, and spearheaded bespoke strategies for top-tier government, global finance, and corporate clients amid unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty and commercial opportunity.
Earlier in his career, Ayham held roles at investment firms in the Middle East, as well as positions with the US Senate, the National Democratic Institute, and the Center for International Private Enterprise. His work has centered on foreign policy, democratization, financial risk, and fostering strategic public-private partnerships in emerging markets.
“I am excited to join Edelman at a moment of critical change and opportunity in the Middle East,” said Ayham Kamel. “Edelman’s global platform and local expertise make it uniquely positioned to help clients navigate the region’s volatility and unlock long-term value. I look forward to working with an extraordinary team to deliver trusted counsel and impactful results.”
Ayham is a Fulbright Scholar and holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the Lebanese American University. He is fluent in Arabic and based in London.
About Edelman Public & Government Affairs
Edelman’s public and government affairs team of consultants are trusted and experienced public affairs advisors—including former government officials, political advisors, policy and regulatory experts, lawyers, economists, and industry professionals. Their experience within national, regional, and global government and regulatory systems allows us to help our clients understand and engage with them effectively. We help our clients engage with government, politics, policy, and regulation to help them earn trust and achieve success. Across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific, our teams are rooted firmly in local markets and local public affairs, and work together across regions and internationally to provide regional and global perspectives. Our best-in-class consultants ensure our services are business-driven and add value for clients through their insight and impact. We work seamlessly with Edelman’s 6,000+ other world-class communications professionals to integrate Edelman’s unparalleled suite of services—public and media relations, brand, marketing, digital advocacy, data analytics, and more—to add further value in building client confidence and stakeholder trust.
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