Khaled Abou Sleiman
Khaled Abou Sleiman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 28 March 1980 |
| Nationality | Lebanon |
| Alma mater | University of America (BBA) |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | CEO of Zamakan Agency |
Khaled Abou Sleiman (born 28 March 1980) is a Lebanese entrepreneur and media executive, known as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Zamakan Agency, a Saudi-based media, marketing and advisory firm.[1]
Early life and education
Khaled Abou Sleiman was born in Lebanon on 28 March 1980. He pursued business studies in the United States, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from National University of America. He later completed executive education programs, including Digital Strategies for Business: Leading the Next-Generation Enterprise at Columbia Business School (2018–2019) and Digital Transformation: Platform Strategies for Success at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management.
Career
Abou Sleiman began his career in media and advertising, in 2003, and rose through leadership roles in regional agencies. He joined Starcom MediaVest Group in Dubai, where he worked with multinational clients such as OSN, Diageo, and General Motors. He later advanced to Associate Media Director in Riyadh, where he oversaw the Saudi Telecom personal division and worked on campaigns in coordination with Apple Inc. USA. In 2012, he joined Spark Foundry, where he was promoted to Deputy General Manager and later In 2015 he was appointed General Manager of MediaVest Riyadh (part of Starcom MediaVest Group).[2]
At Spark Foundry, Abou Sleiman managed major client accounts including Almarai, Saudi Aramco, Riyad Bank, Lazurde, Mango, and Dallah Hospital, and oversaw the launch of the first MDLBeast music festival in Riyadh.
From 2020, he is the CEO of Zamakan Agency, an agency noted for advocating culturally resonant and human-centric marketing strategies in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Under his leadership, the agency emphasizes that Saudi Arabia demands more than generic regional strategies—it requires bespoke, culturally nuanced campaigns that speak authentically with local consumers.[1] During this period, he focused on assisting global and regional brands localize their strategies to resonate with Saudi culture and consumer behavior. His work emphasized the shift toward purpose-driven storytelling, Arabic-first campaigns, and data-informed creativity, aligning brand narratives with the rapid social and economic transformation taking place in the Kingdom under Vision 2030.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Faisal, Hiba (15 May 2025). "'In Saudi Arabia, relevance isn't optional; it's the benchmark'". Campaign Middle East. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ↑ Mahmud, Sana (13 January 2015). "Starcom MediaVest Gets New GMs At KSA". AM Marketing, Media, Advertising News in MENA. Retrieved 25 August 2025.