FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) has appointed Oliver Williams as the Head of its Strategic Communications segment in the Middle East. In this role, Williams will spearhead the segment’s business strategy and support the firm’s regional expansion to cater to international clients operating in the area.
A Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting since 2008, Williams has held leadership positions in the firm’s London and Washington, D.C., offices. He has advised on various cross-border communication challenges, including complex advocacy campaigns, regulatory and legislative uncertainty, securing investment, and enhancing credibility through third-party stakeholder engagement.
Williams’ appointment is part of FTI Consulting’s ongoing investment in the region, following the firm’s move to larger premises in Dubai, the opening of new offices in Abu Dhabi and Doha in 2023, and the establishment of an office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2022.
FTI Consulting’s Middle East team addresses a range of critical business issues, including crisis and cybersecurity, forensic investigations, corporate finance, construction solutions, public sector advisory, and strategy consulting. The team combines deep financial, technical, and business expertise with local and global industry experience to help organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value amid a complex legal, regulatory, and economic environment.
“With many global leaders focusing intently on entering or expanding their presence in the Middle East market, significant opportunities abound for the business industry,” said Mark McCall, Global Leader of the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. “Oliver brings tremendous value and experience to our rapidly growing team in the region. His appointment will strengthen collaboration across our global network, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise to further solidify our position as a leading global consulting firm.”
FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications segment has secured significant mandates in financial communications, corporate reputation, public affairs, and crisis management in the Middle East. Their leadership in capital markets communications is demonstrated by milestones such as Parkin’s record-breaking IPO on the Dubai Financial Market and Modern Mills Company’s historic IPO on the Saudi Exchange.
“The Middle East is evolving and developing at an exciting pace and with this, clients’ communications needs and challenges evolve too,” said Vikas Papriwal, Senior Managing Director and Head of FTI Consulting Middle East. “Oliver’s solid track record and experience will be of great benefit to our client base across our core geographies as they navigate these communications needs. I very much look forward to working with Oliver to develop our strategic communications solutions across the region.”
Commenting on his new role, Williams said, “The Middle East is clearly an increasingly critical nexus for business. The sense of opportunity is palpable, and I’m excited to build on the work of our local team as we take our business to the next level.”
“At the heart of our strategy is a vision to marry our local expertise with our international capabilities and footprint, to not only support those companies who are already in the Gulf Cooperation Council market or entering it, but also the growing number of regional leaders who are expanding internationally.”