TrailRunner International (TRI), a leading global strategic communications advisory firm, today announced the expansion of its Middle East operations. Following the recent appointment of Seth Hand as the new Head of Middle East, TRI has further enhanced its presence in the region with the addition of three new senior team members.The new hires reaffirm the firm's commitment to the dynamic and rapidly developing MENA region and are in direct response to growing demand from TRI's diverse client base. To meet this demand, TRI established offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai last year.Joining the team are Anan Ibrahim and Christoph Diesch, both appointed as Directors, bringing a wealth of regional experience. They are joined by Associate Hannah Guenther, who recently transitioned from TrailRunner’s New York City office, adding her significant U.S. and international expertise to the firm's local capabilities in the UAE. “This is a real statement of our commitment to investing in top talent and expertise, particularly across the key sectors of energy, technology, and finance,” said Seth Hand, Managing Director of the Middle East. “Strengthening our team in the Middle East, a region of immense growth and opportunity, will help us serve the dynamic needs of our clients as we kick off 2024.”With 15 years of experience in communications, Ibrahim will work closely with TRI’s team in the U.S. to build TRI's expanding energy portfolio. Her notable achievements include leading the energy practice in the UAE for Edelman and serving as Head of Media Relations for the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC).Diesch brings over a decade of experience across government, corporate, and startup sectors. His expertise in technology, built through his leadership of projects for notable clients at other global agencies in the region, including Edelman and APCO Worldwide, will be invaluable in his new role at TRI.Guenther, with more than five years at TRI’s New York office, will leverage her extensive experience in government, finance, technology, and healthcare sectors to directly support both TRI's regionally based clients and international clients looking to unlock opportunities in the region.TrailRunner International is poised for an exciting year of growth and innovation in the Middle East, driven by its expanded team and enhanced regional capabilities.

The global strategic communications advisory firm TrailRunner International today announced the appointment of Seth Hand as a Managing Director and head of the firm’s Middle East business. Hand brings more than 20 years’ experience, including 15 years in the Gulf region. He joins TrailRunner from Edelman Middle East, where he served as Managing Director for the Middle East and led the regional corporate reputation practice. “We are excited to have a leader of Seth’s experience, caliber, and character coming on board as we grow our business internationally, in the Gulf, and in the broader Middle East North Africa region,” TrailRunner International CEO Jim Hughes said. “Our focus at TrailRunner is on delivering for our clients and on creating great career opportunities for ambitious, hard-working communications professionals. We are pleased to have found in Seth a leader who sees the world the same way we do and who will help us find the best ways for TrailRunner to contribute to the broader success of this incredibly dynamic and critically important part of the world.” “When TrailRunner International approached me to lead their market entry into the Middle East, I jumped at the opportunity,” said Hand. “With offices across the U.S. and in China, TrailRunner has established a strong reputation as a high-impact firm with an unusual commitment to client service and to its incredibly tight-knit team. I believe TrailRunner’s approach to delivering best-in-class strategic communications counsel will be welcomed by clients across the region and I look forward to the work ahead as we build and grow here.” Headquartered in Dallas/Fort Worth, TrailRunner International was founded in 2016 and today has offices in New York, Nashville, Shanghai, and Truckee, Calif. To date, it has supported clients in the region with teams drawn from its U.S. and China offices. Before Edelman, Hand held other senior leadership roles in the Gulf region, including at Finsbury, where he was regional managing director for the Middle East, Grayling, where he served as director for new market development, and H+K Strategies, where he was an account director. A native of Scotland, Hand graduated from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in corporate communication.