Instinctif Partners launches Public Policy Advisory practice in MENA

Instinctif Partners has launched a Public Policy Advisory practice in the MENA region, with the aim to help its private sector clients in the region with policy-related decisions and government dealings.

Headquartered in London, Instinctif Partners is a business communications consultancy with 330 people across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The firm’s clients in the region are serviced through its offices in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Extending its portfolio of offerings in the Middle East, the freshly launched Public Policy Advisory practice specialises in advising corporate clients on market entry – including strategic positioning, competitive intelligence, organizational resilience, and capital raising – as well as government relations and stakeholder engagement more broadly.

“It’s an important and strategic step for Instinctif Partners to roll out our longstanding and thriving Public Policy practice in Africa and Europe across the booming MENA region,” said Ed Amory, CEO of Instinctif Partners.

Leading the new practice is Alexander Wegner, who has been hired from Teneo to kickstart and grow the offering. A German national, Wegner most recently served as Vice President for Strategy & Communications at Teneo, and spent two years at the Future Investment Initiative , also known as ‘Davos in the Desert’, where he led Technology Partnerships and was part of the management team.

Throughout his career, Wegner has advised government, corporate, and philanthropic clients throughout the GCC on matters of strategic and executive positioning, reputation and risk management, geostrategy and influence, as well as market entry. He is a Member of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce, AmCham Abu Dhabi, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Wegner has been living and working in the region (Doha, Dubai and Riyadh) for the past 15 years. He is currently based out of Dubai.

“The addition of Public Policy to our advisory services will further strengthen our capabilities and create value for our clients,” said Samantha Bartel, MENA CEO and Managing Partner at Instinctif Partners.

“We’re delighted to welcome Alexander both to the firm and to our leadership team in MENA. He has an exceptional track-record of working with clients at the highest level, a global background, and a strong reputation as a trusted advisor, mentor, and colleague,” she continued.

Outside of its two offices in the Middle East and UK headquarters, Instinctif Partners has locales in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and South Africa. The company was founded in 2007.