EXPERIENCE

Jihad, a partner at LINK Advisory, the 2Y3X® master licensee in the MENA region, is a senior marketing professional with more than 17 years of experience across all GCC Markets. His proficiency spans across multiple industries including luxury retail, apparel, FMCG, real estate, and Consultancy. Houwayek managed regional and international brands such as Damas, Cole Haan, McDonald’s, Yves Rocher, Graff Diamonds, Fabergé, Mouawad Jewellery, amongst others. Jihad possesses extensive experience in all aspects of customer interactions that allows him to develop transformative strategies to optimise customer outreach, create brand equity, increase advocacy and most importantly create the necessary pipeline for positive market growth and healthy bottom-line.

In a previous role, Jihad was leading the marketing function at Damas Jewellery, the region’s largest jewellery brand with over 300 stores along with more than 20 international brands represented by Damas in the region. During this tenure, he was assigned to transforming Damas brand from a leading jewellery brand in the region to a leading international brand from the region. Houwayek was earlier the group marketing lead for Mouawad Jewellery, being part of the leadership team responsible for the transformation of the business from a Multi-Brand model to a Mono-Brand one. In addition, Jihad lead multiple client’s portfolios in his capacity within two of the leading regional advertising groups Promoseven and TBWA, where he handled a diversified portfolio of brands.

Jihad was a panelist at the Arab Luxury World Conference in 2017. He was also a Jury Member at the Festival of Media MENA Awards in 2017 as well as thrice a Jury Member at the prestigious MENA Effie Awards in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

CURRENT ROLE

Jihad is a Partner at LINK Advisory, the 2Y3X® Master Licensee for the MENA Region, where he handles regional growth for the group. Jihad leads the customer interactions transformation practice for multiple clients as well as designing brands’ journeys and customer experience across various mediums in the marketing realm.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Jihad holds a BA in business management and marketing and is a certified digital marketing professional by the Digital Marketing Institute with a distinction level.