Liam Clarke

Liam Clarke is senior director of market development in MENA & India, head of the Riyadh-based APCO Institute, a new educational resource for training and development for professional communicators of all levels, and leads the firm’s Middle East climate practice. He works from APCO’s offices in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Mumbai and Delhi. 

Mr. Clarke specializes in strategic communications, issue management and crisis, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, ESG, training and capacity building, and strategic consulting. He helps organizations evaluate and transform their operations, including communications, public relations, ESG, external and corporate affairs to bolster reputation and achieve organizational goals. He also advises multi-national corporations on ESG matters. He brings 25 years of experience working with corporations, government entities, trade groups, foundations and NGOs in the US and around the world.

From 2017-2022 Mr. Clarke served as the first managing director of APCO Worldwide’s operations in Saudi Arabia. During this time of unprecedented growth, he built APCO’s operations from the ground up, developing government and private sector client relationships and recruiting a best-in-class local and international team in the Kingdom. 

From 2008 to 2017, Mr. Clarke served as head of worldwide business management for APCO. In addition to his management responsibilities, he provided client counsel and served on the global management committee. Since joining APCO in 2003 and serving as a director in APCO’s sustainability practice, he has developed many highly recognized ESG programs for APCO’s Fortune 500 clients.

Prior to joining APCO, Mr. Clarke worked in the corporate relations and public affairs practices at Weber Shandwick. Before joining Weber Shandwick, Mr. Clarke served as program officer and communication manager for the Blandin Foundation, a U.S.-based private foundation with $400 million in assets. He led foundation communication activities and served as a spokesman.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bates College in the US.