ERM Hires Sophia Sheikh To Grow Middle East Comms Business
(MENAFN- PRovoke)
ABU DHABI - Global sustainability consultancy ERM has appointed Sophia Sheikh as director of strategic communications to lead the development and growth of its communications agency across the Middle East.
Sheikh (pictured) brings more than 20 years' experience in marketing, communications and content development, including 17 years in the region, spanning sustainability, financial services and media.
She joins from the Masdar-hosted World Future Energy Summit, where she led marketing and content. Her previous experience includes working at Dubai World Trade Centre, helping position Dubai as a destination for international business.
The appointment comes as ERM builds its communications offering across EMEA under Emily Luscombe, the former Instinctif Partners chief client officer who joined in January 2025 to establish the regional business. The firm combines communications and stakeholder engagement with the capabilities of ERM's wider sustainability consultancy.
In the Middle East, the agency says it has secured mandates from government organisations, listed companies and private businesses across real estate, energy, manufacturing and financial services. Its work includes supporting clients with sustainability reporting and communications.
Sheikh said:“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. Organisations also need to communicate clearly what they are doing, why it matters, and what it means for their stakeholders.”
She added:“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.”
ERM's move into communications began with its acquisition of North American sustainability marketing communications specialist Shelton Group in 2022. Founder Suzanne Shelton established that business in 1991, initially as The Write Stuff, before developing a specialism in energy and environmental communications and subsequently broadening into corporate sustainability. She remains a senior partner in ERM's marketing and communications agency.
Luscombe was recruited to build a complementary EMEA operation, working alongside Shelton. Before joining ERM, she advised clients across energy, industrials, retail, technology and financial services at Instinctif Partners. Her earlier roles included deputy managing director at Golin London and partner at Bell Pottinger.
The agency's offer spans integrated communications, brand building, reputation management and advocacy, drawing on ERM's sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement capabilities. Its model is designed to connect companies' sustainability strategies and operational progress with communications to customers, investors, employees and regulators.
Luscombe, partner lead for strategic communications in EMEA, said Sheikh's "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.”
She added:“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.”
London-headquartered ERM has more than 8,000 specialists across 40 countries and territories, with more than 50 years' experience in sustainability consulting.
Sheikh (pictured) brings more than 20 years' experience in marketing, communications and content development, including 17 years in the region, spanning sustainability, financial services and media.
She joins from the Masdar-hosted World Future Energy Summit, where she led marketing and content. Her previous experience includes working at Dubai World Trade Centre, helping position Dubai as a destination for international business.
The appointment comes as ERM builds its communications offering across EMEA under Emily Luscombe, the former Instinctif Partners chief client officer who joined in January 2025 to establish the regional business. The firm combines communications and stakeholder engagement with the capabilities of ERM's wider sustainability consultancy.
In the Middle East, the agency says it has secured mandates from government organisations, listed companies and private businesses across real estate, energy, manufacturing and financial services. Its work includes supporting clients with sustainability reporting and communications.
Sheikh said:“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. Organisations also need to communicate clearly what they are doing, why it matters, and what it means for their stakeholders.”
She added:“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.”
ERM's move into communications began with its acquisition of North American sustainability marketing communications specialist Shelton Group in 2022. Founder Suzanne Shelton established that business in 1991, initially as The Write Stuff, before developing a specialism in energy and environmental communications and subsequently broadening into corporate sustainability. She remains a senior partner in ERM's marketing and communications agency.
Luscombe was recruited to build a complementary EMEA operation, working alongside Shelton. Before joining ERM, she advised clients across energy, industrials, retail, technology and financial services at Instinctif Partners. Her earlier roles included deputy managing director at Golin London and partner at Bell Pottinger.
The agency's offer spans integrated communications, brand building, reputation management and advocacy, drawing on ERM's sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement capabilities. Its model is designed to connect companies' sustainability strategies and operational progress with communications to customers, investors, employees and regulators.
Luscombe, partner lead for strategic communications in EMEA, said Sheikh's "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.”
She added:“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.”
London-headquartered ERM has more than 8,000 specialists across 40 countries and territories, with more than 50 years' experience in sustainability consulting.
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