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.
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.
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 Sophia
Sheikh, Director of Strategic Communications at ERM. “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.”
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