Former CNN Business emerging markets editor and anchor John Defterios has joined APCO Worldwide as a senior adviser, bringing more than 35 years of experience covering top business developments with a special focus on trade, geopolitics and energy, CEO Brad Staples announced.

 

“John is highly sought after at high-level meetings, as both a speaker and a moderator, by global leaders looking for his insight and perspective on pressing issues, founded on decades of experience being on the frontline covering world-shaking events,” Staples said.

 

“With deep knowledge of critical issues impacting emerging markets, including climate change, healthcare, energy and sustainable development, John’s insight will surely be highly sought after by clients, as well as by APCO colleagues around the world.”

 

Based in London, but splitting his time between Europe and the MENA region, Defterios will support the development of branded content for global media platforms.

 

“I have watched with great interest and respect APCO’s strategic expansion into the most relevant sectors and high-growth emerging markets over the past two decades,” said Defterios. “The inroads it has made, especially on the Arabian Peninsula, have been impressive.” 

 

Until recently retiring from CNN, Defterios was based in the network’s Abu Dhabi bureau since 2011. As an award-winning journalist, Defterios established a reputation for securing exclusive interviews with high-level figures, including interviews with Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; King Abdullah II of Jordan; as well as Ali Al Naimi, Khalid Al Falih and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia. He received The Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation award for the Advancement of Energy Journalism.

 

"John joining APCO Worldwide represents a unique addition to our MENA team, particularly in the Gulf countries, as he will strengthen an already deep bench that the company enjoys in terms of managing government relations with senior officials, developing advanced communication strategies for the most critical government projects, as well as actively contributing to a variety of regional and international programmes,” Mamoon Sbeih, president of APCO in the MENA region, said. “I am delighted to welcome John to APCO, and I look forward to his insightful counsel.”

 

Defterios joins APCO at a time of growth for the company. In May, it unveiled “.Pomelo,” a new creative practice in the MENA region. It also recently launched APCO Impact — the company’s global nerve centre, supporting and accelerating its work on sustainability and social impact — and kicked off a strategic partnership with Vector Center — a leader in AI-powered, real-time environmental intelligence. In January, APCO acquired the Global Philanthropy Group, a consulting firm specialising in helping individuals, foundations and corporations design and implement philanthropic strategies and programmes.

 

With decades of experience covering global business issues at CNN, Reuters and PBS, Defterios has in-depth insight and perspectives on emerging markets strategies based on international and intergovernmental collaboration — with a particular focus on the Middle East, global energy issues and sustainability.

 

He further augments APCO’s advisory and advocacy capabilities and expertise, joining other experts at APCO, including Sbeih, MENA CCO Elizabeth Sen, Dubai Managing Director Imad Lahad, Abu Dhabi Managing Director Muhannad Al Badri, Saudi Arabia Managing Director Liam D. Clarke, Bahrain General Manager Jolyon Kimble, APCO Impact Global Lead Denielle Sachs, Senior Director Jennifer Butte-Dahl, Climate and Sustainability Global Lead Heather McGeory, ESG expert Julie Jack, co-lead of the European Energy & Sustainability Practice Danuta Slusarska, healthcare expert Dr. Joyeta Ghoshal, health communications and stakeholder engagement expert Stephanie Tan, Director Elaine Yang and emerging markets specialist Nic Labuschagne. - TradeArabia News Service