ERM, the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, has appointed Sophia Sheikh as Director to lead the development and growth of its fast-growing strategic communications agency across the Middle East.
With more than 20 years in marketing, communications and content development, including 17 years in the Middle East, Sheikh brings a cross-sector perspective shaped by the region’s evolving business landscape. Her experience spans media, financial services and sustainability, from helping position Dubai as a destination for international business while at Dubai World Trade Centre to leading marketing and content for the Masdar-hosted World Future Energy Summit.
Sheikh joins ERM’s pan-EMEA communications agency at an exciting time in its growth trajectory. Founded by Partner Lead Emily Luscombe at the start of 2025, the agency has already been recognised as ‘One to Watch’ by PRWeek, securing international accolades for its distinctive model of delivering multi-channel communications and stakeholder engagement programmes, grounded in the technical and strategic depth of the 8,000-strong specialist sustainability firm.
Sustainability reporting
Sheikh will build on the agency’s rapid growth in the Middle East, where the team has secured mandates from government, listed and private businesses spanning real estate, energy, manufacturing and financial services. This work has included supporting local clients in achieving international recognition for their ERM-led sustainability reporting.
The commercial case for effective sustainability communications is increasingly clear. According to ERM’s Global EcoPulse 2025, 85% of organisations say sustainability is a tie-breaker in procurement tenders. The research also found that 67% of people are interested in hearing from companies about their efforts to reduce environmental impact, and 90% of employees say a company’s environmental or social record is important when considering where to work.
Together, these findings highlight how sustainability performance and the ability to communicate it effectively can influence commercial opportunities, corporate reputation, customer engagement and talent attraction.
Growing role of communications
Sheikh’s appointment reflects the growing role of communications in connecting sustainability ambition and technical delivery with commercial value, stakeholder confidence and market positioning.
“With sustainability increasingly central to business strategy, investment decisions and corporate reputation, having the right strategy and delivering meaningful change are only part of the equation,” said Sheikh. “Organisations also need to communicate clearly what they are doing, why it matters, and what it means for their stakeholders.
“The Middle East is an especially interesting market in this respect. The scale of ambition and investment across energy, infrastructure and economic transformation creates significant opportunities, but it also brings greater scrutiny of sustainability claims and expectations around measurable progress. This is where the ability to promote, but also defend, strategy and investments in sustainability is so critical – and where the power of communication comes in,” continued Sheikh.
Emily Luscombe, Partner Lead for Strategic Communications, EMEA, added: “I am ever so excited to have someone of Sophia’s calibre join our team. Her experience in building brands, engaging audiences and developing strategies that build both reputation and international visibility around sustainability is integral to the continued growth of our offering, in the GCC and beyond. By bridging the ‘do’ and the ‘say’ of sustainability, ERM enables organisations to protect and unlock greater value from their investments. Through the power of communication, we can help them navigate growing stakeholder scrutiny, build trust and, crucially, translate the commercial and societal impact of what they do.”—TradeArabia News Service