Markets mea Q3 2026 Featuring: Cyber Expert Reveals the Misconceptions Leaving Businesses Exposed
News This vibrant region is ever evolving to meet the growing needs of our modern world, and we’ve found incredible contributions from companies delving into the world of socio-economic advisory, advertising, construction and engineering, and more. The successful businesses, and their teams, in this quarter’s issue are positively impacting and influencing the world around them, especially as they keep their customers at the center of their operations. We wish you all the best for the months ahead, and we look forward to sharing our Q4 issue when the time comes. Welcome to the Q3 2026 issue of MEA Markets magazine. As always, we are dedicated to providing our readers with all the latest news and features from across the Middle East and Africa. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
News Contents 4. News - Allianz Partners Appoints Carsten Staat as Regional Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa - LG Electronics Appoints Ahmad Abed as Chief Operating Officer for ES Company, Air Conditioning, MEA 6. Cyber Expert Reveals the Misconceptions Leaving Businesses Exposed 8. KD Strategies: Most Strategic Socio- Economic Advisory Firm 2026 & Capital & Community Alignment Excellence Award 2026 – South Africa 9. Wetpaint: Most Trusted Advertising Agency 2026 – Johannesburg 10. TPV Construction & Services Limited: Most Client-Focused Construction & Engineering Firm 2026. 9. 10.
News Allianz Partners Appoints Carsten Staat as Regional Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa Carsten Staat brings a proven track record of delivering exceptional business results. Over the past four years as Managing Director for Allianz Partners Germany, he drove strong growth, elevated customer satisfaction, and secured strategically important partnerships that strengthened the company’s market position. He has been with the Allianz Group since 2001, building extensive experience across a diverse range of leadership roles. Carsten succeeds Vinay Surana, who has been leading the APAC and MEA region for six impactful years and will assume a new role as Senior Advisor to Allianz Partners CEO Tomas Kunzmann from 1 August 2026 through the end of the year. Jacob Fuest, Chief Markets Officer of Allianz Partners, said: “Asia Pacific is one of the most dynamic growth regions for Allianz Partners. The opportunities across this diverse market — from travel and student health to mobility and roadside assistance — are immense, and we are committed to capturing them. Carsten’s ability to drive highperforming teams, create long-lasting partnerships, and deliver sustainable growth makes him an invaluable asset as we enter this next chapter for APAC and MEA. I have every confidence he will achieve exceptional results for our customers, partners, and people across the region. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Vinay for his exemplary leadership and contributions to the region, building a solid foundation to achieve our future ambitions.” Allianz Partners, a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, announced the appointment of Carsten Staat as Regional Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APAC & MEA), effective 1 August 2026. Carsten will report to Jacob Fuest, Chief Markets Officer of Allianz Partners.
News LG Electronics Appoints Ahmad Abed as Chief Operating Officer for ES Company, Air Conditioning, MEA Appointment reflects LG’s strategic commitment to expanding its HVAC operations and advancing smart, energy-efficient air conditioning solutions across the Middle East and Africa • LG Electronics (LG) has appointed Ahmad Abed as Chief Operating Officer of the ES Company - Air Conditioning division for the Middle East and Africa region. • Abed brings close to one decade of experience within LG, including his most recent role as Gulf Sales Director for LG HVAC, where he led commercial operations across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. • The appointment supports LG’s broader strategy to strengthen its HVAC business as one of the company’s key B2B growth pillars, with a focus on smart, energy-efficient, and digitally enabled cooling solutions. • In his new role, Abed will oversee operational strategy, commercial performance, and business development for LG’s HVAC division across the MEA region. LG Electronics has appointed Ahmad Abed as the new Chief Operating Officer of the ES Company Air Conditioning division for the Middle East and Africa region. The change is effective immediately, aiming to bolster LG’s HVAC growth in a region with ongoing high demand for advanced, energy-efficient cooling solutions. Abed has nearly twenty years of experience in the HVAC industry at LG, advancing through various senior commercial and sales leadership roles in the Gulf region. Most recently, as Gulf Sales Director for LG HVAC, he gained in-depth knowledge of the region’s construction and infrastructure projects, as well as the procurement needs of developers, contractors, and consultants. He also understands the performance requirements for cooling systems suited to the Gulf’s climate. His experience covers key markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. “The MEA region is at a pivotal stage in its development, with major infrastructure projects, urban expansion efforts, and rising energy efficiency expectations influencing how organizations approach cooling. I am excited to collaborate with LG’s teams and partners throughout the region to build on our solid foundation and assist clients in maximizing the benefits of LG’s HVAC solutions,” stated Ahmad Abed, Chief Operating Officer of LG ES Company Air Conditioning, MEA. HVAC as a Core Growth Pillar for LG LG’s appointment aligns with its ongoing focus on HVAC as a core B2B growth area. In late 2025, the company announced organizational adjustments aimed at boosting its vehicle solutions and HVAC sectors. These included forming new divisions within the ES Company dedicated to applied HVAC solutions, M&A activities, and international sales. Such structural shifts demonstrate LG’s goal of broadening the scope and global presence of its HVAC business, with the MEA region identified as a key growth market. In the MEA region, LG’s HVAC division has built a strong presence in various applications. These include large-scale variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems used in hospitality, commercial, and mixed-use projects, as well as air-cooled chillers and building energy management systems. Key products feature the LG MULTI V 5 VRF system, offering AI-powered, adaptive cooling for large buildings, and the BECON platform, which enhances facilities teams’ ability to monitor and control energy use. “Abed’s appointment reflects the investment we are making in our MEA operations and our confidence in the region’s longterm potential. His deep familiarity with LG’s product portfolio, combined with his track record of building commercial relationships across the Gulf, positions him well to lead our HVAC business through the next phase of growth,” said Michael Park, VP ES Company, MEA Regional Market Context The MEA region offers substantial opportunities for advanced HVAC solutions. Infrastructure projects, expansion in the hospitality sector, and increasing regulatory and corporate emphasis on energy efficiency and building performance are fueling demand for smarter cooling systems throughout the Gulf and the broader MEA markets. LG’s HVAC units are designed to deliver full cooling capacity at ambient temperatures up to 43°C, and partial operation at temperatures up to 52°C, aligning well with the climate conditions in much of the region. Under Abed’s leadership, the ES Company Air Conditioning MEA division aims to expand LG’s presence in underserved regional markets, strengthen technical and commercial collaborations with contractors, consultants, and system integrators, and further promote LG’s intelligent HVAC solutions to clients looking to enhance energy efficiency in their building portfolios. For more information on LG’s full range of HVAC solutions, please visit https://www.lg.com/ae/business/hvac
Feature Cyber threats are no longer confined to IT departments. As AI, ransomware and cloud adoption reshape the risk landscape, businesses across the Middle East are under growing pressure to strengthen their defences. Shaikh Muhammad Adeel is a cyber security expert with more than 15 years of experience across security consultancy, AI, governance, risk and compliance. He is the Sales Director at Keystrike, an author on AI and cyber security, and has spoken at conferences including RSA Conference, Black Hat, GISEC and GITEX. In this exclusive interview with the Cyber Security Speakers Agency, Shaikh examines the shift from reactive to proactive security, the misconceptions leaving businesses exposed and the threats organisations must prepare for. Question 1: How has the cyber security landscape evolved over the past 15 years, and what has that meant for businesses? Shaikh Muhammad Adeel: “I started in 2010, and we are now sitting in 2025. I’m seeing a shift from a reactive to a proactive approach. “Earlier, people would only take action when something went wrong. They did not take cyber security as seriously. Now, companies are investing heavily in this area, especially midsized businesses and enterprises. Regulations are also driving this shift. “People are paying more attention to how AI and machine learning can support real-time threat detection and solve cyber security issues. Bad actors also have access to AI and machine learning. Services such as ransomware as a service make it easier for an attacker to launch a targeted attack against an organisation. “The adoption of AI and machine learning in cyber security is increasing significantly. Cloud computing, remote working and zero-trust security are also affecting how organisations protect themselves. The industry is moving from a reactive approach to a proactive one.” Question 2: Which misconceptions about cyber security continue to influence business decisions? Shaikh Muhammad Adeel: “One of the main misconceptions is that cyber security is solely an IT issue. It is part of information security as a whole. Governance, risk and compliance teams also have responsibility for it. Cyber Expert Reveals the Misconceptions Leaving Businesses Exposed “Cyber security is a critical business risk. Whenever you discuss business risk, compliance, governance or risk management, you must pay attention to cyber security. “Another misconception is that only large enterprises are attacked. Smaller and mid-sized businesses often think they have no valuable data or that attackers will not target them because they do not operate in financial services. “Statistics show that small businesses are attractive targets. Some attackers use ransomware, while others steal and sell data or attack organisations for other reasons. “People also believe cyber security is very expensive. In sales meetings, if a public company has published its financial data, we sometimes reverse-engineer the figures to show how much a breach lasting 10 or 20 minutes could cost. “Cyber security is an investment, similar to insurance. Organisations need suitable protections in place. “It does not always require significant investment. An organisation may already have a cyber security solution and only need to fine-tune it, add another layer or introduce additional rules. These are some of the misconceptions I am seeing in the market.” Question 3: Which cyber threats currently pose the greatest risk to organisations, and how should businesses address them? Shaikh Muhammad Adeel: “The first major threat is phishing and social engineering. There is a statement that you cannot patch a human. You can train people, enforce rules and provide This exclusive interview with Shaikh Muhammad Adeel was conducted by Tabish Ali of the Motivational Speakers Agency.
Feature security awareness training. HR, IT or information security departments may conduct these exercises. “With phishing and social engineering, you may receive an email that appears to come from your CEO or someone you know. It can look completely genuine. When you click it, your computer may be compromised, a back door may be created or the attacker may move laterally towards sensitive systems and encrypt your machines. “This is happening frequently. People are receiving phishing emails that appear to come from their CEOs. “Organisations should train their employees and place greater emphasis on security awareness. Humans are the weakest link in cyber security. You can have excellent technology and processes, but failing to invest in people can lead to a serious incident. “Ransomware is another major threat. An attacker encrypts your machines or servers and then demands money. Ransomware began increasing around 2015 or 2016 and has since become extreme. I regularly receive calls from people whose machines have been encrypted. “Insider threats are another risk. Some organisations believe they are safe because they are air-gapped and do not have internet access, but that is not always the case. “Businesses can address this through least-privilege access controls and solutions such as Keystrike, which can stop lateral movement and provide continuous authentication.” Question 4: What principle should business leaders remember when developing their cyber security strategy? Shaikh Muhammad Adeel: “Cyber security is not a one-time effort. It is a continuous process. “Businesses must move quickly because cyber security does not become outdated. Different attack vectors emerge as technology develops. With Web 3.0 and blockchain, we need blockchain security. With AI, we need AI security. With quantum computing, encryption must become quantum-proof for the future. “Cyber security is a continuous investment that protects the organisation and provides visibility. Cyber security is not a onetime effort. It is a continuous process.”
Q3 2026 8 Most Strategic SocioEconomic Advisory Firm 2026 & Capital & Community Alignment Excellence Award 2026 – South Africa A boutique African advisory firm, KD Strategies works across economic development, transformation, and sustainability, primarily in the infrastructure, renewable energy, mining, financial services and industrial sectors. It has been almost 25 years since the firm started out, and consistency across its services has built to its recognition with two titles here in our African Excellence Awards 2026. Kalnisa Singh, the founding director of KD Strategies, was on hand for more following this achievement. ounded in 2003 as an independent research practice advising on South Africa’s industrial and economic transformation, KD Strategies got its name in 2008, before being incorporated as a private company in 2016. A decade on from this major milestone, its work remains rooted to the same principle that it has been from day one: understanding what is happening on the ground first, then build from there. Compliance is the anchor, not the ceiling - the aim has always been exponential development value that compounds well beyond the minimum.” Working with project developers, investors, corporates, institutions, and development agencies operating in the complex environments of South Africa and across the wider continent, the services provided by this sustainability and transformation advisory sit across three core areas, all aligning with its purpose of catalysing those projects that accelerate towards more equitable and sustainable economies across Africa. First of all, Emerging Dynamics helps organisations understand the context they are operating in - bringing together socio-economic intelligence, stakeholder realities, risks and emerging opportunities to strengthen investment, planning and implementation decisions. Breaking Ground focuses on what happens once a project or strategy moves into execution, helping organisations translate commitments into practical operating approaches, governance arrangements and on-theground systems.. Finally, Future Focused takes a broader community and economic development view, helping organisations align business priorities with the needs and opportunities of the societies in which they operate - identifying ways to create shared value, strengthen local economies and communities, and achieve better long-term outcomes for both business and society. KD Strategies underpins its work across all three areas with the values of purpose, collaboration, leadership, insight-driven action, sustainability, stewardship, visionary thinking, integrity and empowerment. In practice, this starts with listening and recognising that different stakeholders can experience the same project very differently. Understanding these different perspectives helps the firm build a fuller picture of the context and forms the foundation for the research, advice and solutions it develops. “Communities, workers, and local institutions shape outcomes as active participants in the projects that affect them, and we design our engagement around that.” Exploring the impact of its work in more detail, Kalnisha told us that these services start from the communities, workers, and environment a project sits within, assessing the social, economic, and environmental stakes before strengthening the systems that manage stakeholder relationships and commitments over time. The intention to shape outcomes at a systemic level has shaped how KD Strategies works too. Information is shared broadly rather than held close. Intelligence is not something the firm gatekeeps. Communities and institutions around a client’s project are treated as collaborators, not bystanders, sharing in the benefit the project ultimately creates.” KD Strategies interprets what is on the ground: what is seen, what is missing, whose perspective has gone unheard. That understanding does two things at once. It creates jobs, builds supplier capacity, and strengthens local economies. And it gives clients what they need commercially: contractual obligations met, responsible conduct, optimised productivity, and ultimately, profitability secured. On the back of this, Kalnisha commented: “Our strength is connecting contextual intelligence with implementation. Many firms can produce research or strategy. Fewer can also build what it takes to deliver it: the relationships, governance systems and operating architecture a project needs on the ground.” As Kalnisha continued: “We call this going Beyond the Blueprint. Strong technical design, financing, and policy still depend on people, institutions, incentives and trust to succeed, and that is usually where good plans stall.” This is a stance, not just a service model: working from a Global South perspective, questioning frameworks built elsewhere and applied here unadjusted. The advice that comes out the other end is credible and buildable, because it starts from the conditions a project actually has, not the ones a textbook assumes. Looking ahead, the next phase of development for the firm revolves around deeping its three service areas and building longer advisory relations across the continent. It is investing in research, thought leadership, and convening, bringing people and intelligence together rather than holding either close, scaling alongside the continent as Africa receives huge investment in infrastructure, energy, minerals, and industry over the course of the next decade. In closing, Kalnisha explained: “The decisions made now about how that investment lands will shape the economies that follow. We want KD Strategies to be part of that conversation, as a trusted African source of contextual intelligence and implementation capability.” When a technically sound strategy fails in the real world, it is often because of context, relationships, institutions, and the choices organisations make about how they create value. KD Strategies has spent almost 25 years building the intelligence and implementation capability to get those choices right. And for this, KD Strategies deserves acclaim. Contact: Kalnisha Singh Company: KD Strategies Web Address: kdstrategies.co.za F KD Strategies
Q3 2026 9 Whether a brand is seeking to break into new territories or strengthen their foothold in existing ones, it requires more than just visibility to make a lasting impact. Successful marketing campaigns can only be achieved through strategic partnerships that cut through the noise to drive growth and innovation. Enter Wetpaint, a trusted advertising agency blending deep local insights with a global perspective to create customised solutions that are guaranteed to drive measurable results and help brands thrive. We took a closer look at these superlative solutions below, following Wetpaint’s recent recognition in the African Excellence Awards 2026. “Bringing Africa to the World, and the World to Africa.” Based in Johannesburg, Wetpaint is a 100% independently female-owned and African-grown BEE Level 2 advertising agency that has been delivering measurable impact since its inception in 1997. For almost three decades, the agency has been on a mission to elevate everything and everyone it engages with, helping brands around the world to discover themselves and define, design, and build their identity from the ground up. Beyond branding, Wetpaint is committed to supporting its clients in improving their bottom line, understanding that there is no advantage to having an exceptional brand that does not bring in good revenue. Therefore, Wetpaint is equally dedicated to bringing profitable growth to its clients’ brands, placing them on a positive trajectory to dominate their respective industries. Active across 14 African countries, Wetpaint maintains strategic alliances with offices in Botswana, Mozambique, and Angola; offers services to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda in East Africa; operates in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon in West Africa whilst managing French West Africa from Nigeria and Cameroon; and works in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt across North Africa. Beyond Africa, the team is also active in Dubai, the United Kingdom, Malta, Australia, the USA, and Switzerland. “Thinking bigger, doing better, and owning it with great storytelling.” To clients across this diverse selection of markets, Wetpaint offers tailored solutions that help brands grow, maximise ROI, and achieve long-term success. Its audit and research service is essential for digging deep into a client’s business, industry, and competition to uncover insights that drive better business decisions. Wetpaint identifies opportunities, spots risks, and provides clients with the solid data they need to set up a strong foundation for growth and ensure that every business decision counts. At Wetpaint, all insights are transformed into smart, actionable strategies to drive real growth. These strategies align with real business goals, ensuring that every marketing effort is purposeful and personal. Through its meticulous media service, Wetpaint creates strategies that make sure its client’s brand is seen by the right audience at the right time, across both digital and traditional channels. Wetpaint’s creative solutions provide brands with strong voices, whether through copywriting and scriptwriting or video production and social media content. Its team combines human creativity with AI-powered innovation to build smarter, faster, and more profitable marketing. From predictive analytics and automated ad creation to intelligent chatbots and AI-driven insights, Wetpaint delivers AI transformations that boost performance, efficiency, and growth across brands. For companies seeking to stay ahead in the fast-paced landscape of the digital world, Wetpaint offers cutting-edge digital and tech solutions that drive businesses forward. The agency leverages the latest tools and platforms to help its clients’ businesses thrive, from AIpowered applications to dynamic eCommerce platforms. Together, these industry-leading technologies help brands work smarter, engage meaningfully with their audiences, and get the best return on investment. Across these standout services, Wetpaint strives to help each client make the very most of their marketing budget. The agency’s management and ROI service is focused on tracking performance and ensuring that every investment delivers results. Its team closely monitors KPIs, constantly optimises campaigns, and provides clients with clear, detailed reports that support better decision-making. Through this service, Wetpaint intends to help brands boost efficiency and get the most from every rand spent on their marketing initiatives. For 29 years, Wetpaint has made significant strides in reshaping Africa’s corporate landscape by supporting brands across the continent in enhancing and expanding their digital presence. The agency has played an instrumental role in bridging the gap between markets and connecting countless clients with opportunities that drive measurable results. For its meaningful contributions to a wide range of industries throughout Africa, we at MEA Markets Magazine are proud to recognise Wetpaint as Johannesburg’s Most Trusted Advertising Agency 2026. Contact: Petra Mc Cardle Company: Wetpaint Web Address: www.wetpaint.co.za Most Trusted Advertising Agency 2026 – Johannesburg
Q3 2026 10 Jul23190 Most Client-Focused Construction & Engineering Firm 2026 TPV Construction & Services Limited (TPV) was founded in 2005 as “Top Tech Premium Ventures”, and was incorporated as a limited liability company in 2012. Since its inception, TPV has always strived to provide excellent services to its clients by exceeding all expectations through safe, cost effective, efficient, timely and world-class solutions in construction, engineering, and real estate services. We learn more below as TPV was recently recognised for its incredible services. This outstanding Nigeran company began with five core values in mind: Stakeholder satisfaction, Excellent service delivery, Respect and humility, Value Creation, and Exceeding expectations (SERVE). TPV continues to offer solutions to serve its clients fairly, respectfully, carefully, and wholeheartedly, even to this day. By adopting project management principles and tools to guarantee cost, quality, communication, and time requirements are met through any and every project, TPV continues to gain loyal and satisfied clients on a yearly basis. For example, its dedicated team of deeply experienced professionals deliver complete solutions to private and public sector clients. Through their diligent approach to each client, TPV’s team provide a reliable and innovative selection of services across a myriad of areas such as building engineering, civil engineering, project management and consultancy, marine and oil field services, electricals, and fabrication and industrial cleaning. This year TPV was awarded specifically for its client-centric approach to providing construction and engineering services, in our esteemed African Excellence Awards, but its entire roster of offerings are worth talking about. Therefore, no matter the project or task at hand, clients can contact TPV for worldclass solutions to everyday pain points in an assortment of areas. The company aims to not only meet the needs of its clients, it also endeavours to exceed expectation each time. It uses its own resources wherever possible to give greater control and ensure the highest quality products are delivered efficiently. TPV’s qualified team builds long-term alliances with both national and international supply chain partners so they can offer premium, reliable services to clients looking for unparalleled results. Recently, the firm has been collaborating with Rivotel International where its team’s involvement in designing a building extension for Golden Tulip Port Harcourt has helped the project to blossom. With over seven floors, plus a basement, this project is no small feat. However, TPV’s experience in the industry positions it to be a solid partner for unrivalled success. With this project underway, and so many more successful projects completed, TPV’s future is an exciting one. For the years ahead, TPV keeps its sights set firmly on becoming a household name in construction, engineering, and real estate services for private clients as well as corporate and government organisations both locally and internationally. Although expansion may be on the horizon for TPV, it is ever-committed to consistently providing the same sophisticated level of quality. This devotion to client and stakeholder satisfaction is just one prime example of why TPV has been named Most Client-Focused Construction & Engineering Firm 2026, and we’re sure to see the firm continue to nurture both current and future partnerships. Contact: Temitope Adeyemi Company: TPV Construction & Services Limited Website: www.tpvconstruction.com.ng
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