About
I’m an award-winning strategic marketing leader with 15+ years across B2B and B2C. I’m…
Articles by Richard
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Predictions 2022: Environment, Tech, & Telling The Truth
Predictions 2022: Environment, Tech, & Telling The Truth
We all knew this year wasn’t going to be smooth sailing for anyone. But within the waves of renewed uncertainty, beauty…
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How To Discover & Incorporate Beauty Brand Advocates Into Your Marketing Strategy
How To Discover & Incorporate Beauty Brand Advocates Into Your Marketing Strategy
5 Min Read | Now more than ever, beauty brands of all sizes are making use of what they view as their strongest asset-…
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Why Are Product Experience Technologies Boosting Brand Success In The Beauty Industry?
Why Are Product Experience Technologies Boosting Brand Success In The Beauty Industry?
6 Min Read | Disruptive technologies are changing the way consumers discover, experience and purchase beauty products…
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How Covid-19 Has Affected The Influencer Landscape
How Covid-19 Has Affected The Influencer Landscape
5 Min Read | Not too long ago, a slew of brunch photos, your coworker’s recent trip abroad, and post after post of…
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Can Social Distancing Be Turned Into A Luxury Experience?
Can Social Distancing Be Turned Into A Luxury Experience?
8 Min Read | For some beauty businesses, maintaining sales during and after the global pandemic is a source of fear and…
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The Future For Beauty Publishers In A Post Pandemic Internet Age
The Future For Beauty Publishers In A Post Pandemic Internet Age
7 Min Read | The global pandemic poses as a significant threat to publishing groups like Condé Nast and Hearst, which…
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Collaboration & Politics: Shifting Dynamics Of The Influencer Economy
Collaboration & Politics: Shifting Dynamics Of The Influencer Economy
5 Min Read | In the ever changing landscape of social media marketing, it’s increasingly clear that not all influencers…
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Life Without Likes? The Future of Beauty Influencers on Instagram
Life Without Likes? The Future of Beauty Influencers on Instagram
5 Min Read | Scrolling through Instagram, it’s not unusual to glance at the number of ‘likes’ on a post before looking…
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Visual Search; Why Are Beauty Brands Investing In Pinterest?
Visual Search; Why Are Beauty Brands Investing In Pinterest?
5 Min Read | Until recently, Pinterest didn’t receive significant attention from beauty brand marketing teams. But in…
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Should You Attend Or Exhibit At Beauty Industry Events?
Should You Attend Or Exhibit At Beauty Industry Events?
9 Min Read | Opportunities to connect face-to-face with beauty consumers and network with other brands and industry…
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15K followers
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Richard McKeon reposted thisRichard McKeon reposted thisA proud moment for us at Tahaluf. At this year’s EN Awards, we secured three wins across five shortlisted categories: - EN Rising Star – Money20/20 Middle East - EN Marketing Campaign of the Year – LEAP - EN Best Tradeshow – Global Health Exhibition - ملتقى الصحة العالمي These awards recognise the relentless hard work of our teams, our growth, and the way we approach our shows. Our goal is to consistently raise the bar, and each of these wins highlights a different strength. Money20/20 Middle East is a new platform establishing itself with the confidence and momentum of a mature event. LEAP continues to deliver campaigns that reach global audiences and create lasting impact. Global Health Exhibition delivers real value for the healthcare sector, both in terms of content and commercial growth. This achievement reflects the strength of Tahaluf’s business model and the consistency of our delivery. Congratulations to all colleagues involved.
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Richard McKeon reposted thisRichard McKeon reposted thisThree years. One hell of a journey. This month marks three years since we established Tahaluf — and three years since I was appointed #CEO. To reflect on that journey, we’ve created three short films that chart: • where we started • what we’ve built • and where we’re heading next Part One is live here now. It tells the story of our beginnings, the marquee events we’ve launched in a remarkably short time, and why #Tahaluf got off to such a strong start. None of this happens in isolation. I want to thank our shareholders — Informa, الاتحاد السعودي للأمن السيبراني والبرمجة والدرونز | SAFCSP and Events Investment Fund — for the belief, backing and patience that made this growth possible. On a personal level, I owe a huge debt to the guidance and mentorship of: Faisal Al-khamissi, Lord Stephen Carter, Muteb Al Qani and Patrick Martell. Your counsel has shaped not just the business, but the leader I’m becoming. But day to day, it’s the people around me who make this journey genuinely special. My senior leadership team — for the honesty, the challenge, the encouragement, the humour (often brutal), and the belief: Annabelle Mander Mohaned Abdullah Rachel Sturgess Abdulaziz Alghurayr Richard McKeon Ish Fatani Deqa Ibrahim Stephanie Bernadus And to all your teams — many of whom have been with us from the very start — thank you for building, stretching, fixing, laughing, and pushing this company to new heights. It’s been an intense, rewarding, occasionally chaotic three years. And honestly, the best is yet to come 👊
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Richard McKeon reposted thisRichard McKeon reposted thisAre you a Digital Marketing Executive looking to join my team at Tahaluf, one of the biggest events companies in the Middle East, right here in Riyadh? If you have Paid Media experience and want to join the team that is the marketing backbone driving attendees to large scale events like LEAP and Cityscape Global we'd love to hear from you. Please apply here: https://lnkd.in/edReAhi9 (Saudi nationals only) #job #paidmedia #riyadh #events #Tahaluf
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Richard McKeon posted thisProject Manager (3 Months + rolling contract) Looking for someone who can bring order and structure to a new creative production project. This is a role for someone who knows how to move ideas from concept to delivery with pace, and clarity. You’ll be working across content, video, and storytelling that need both structure and instinct. You should: ▪️Know how to plan and prioritise without overcomplicating things. ▪️Be good with people - especially creative ones. ▪️Understand how content gets produced and distributed. ▪️Get things done when others get stuck. If that sounds like you, send me an email at richard.mckeon@tahaluf.com
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Richard McKeon shared thisWhat a week. Money20/20 Middle East has officially landed - our first edition wrapped with: ➡ 38,000+ visitors ➡ 1,000+ investors ➡ 450 speakers ➡ 451 exhibitors Behind those numbers was a campaign built on months of strategy, creative alignment, and flawless on-site execution from an outstanding team. The result wasn’t just another fintech event- it was a launch that felt fresh, different, and exactly what this market needed. Huge congratulations to Annabelle, Steve, and our brilliant sales, content, ops and marketing teams at Tahaluf for delivering at such a high level. LinkedIn this week has been full of reminders of the talent, graft, and creativity that went into this launch. It’s clear this was more than just an event - it was the start of something much bigger for the fintech industry in the region. This is just the beginning. 🚀 #Events #Marketing
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Richard McKeon posted thisAre you a marketing leader with a passion for driving audience growth and delivering stand-out campaigns? We’re hiring a Head of Attendee Marketing on a 6-month contract, based in Riyadh, with an immediate start. You’ll shape strategy, lead a high-performing team, and take our events to the next level. Apply here - https://smrtr.io/t3zP6 #Careers #Opportunities #Brand
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Richard McKeon reposted thisExciting Opportunity for Marketing Manager to Join Tahaluf Looking for a rewarding career move in marketing? Consider joining Tahaluf for an exciting journey ahead! Why Join Us? - Be part of a high-growth venture with limitless opportunities. - Collaborate with global powerhouse brands in technology, real estate, and cybersecurity. - Play a vital role in advancing Saudi Vision 2030 goals through top-tier, sustainable events. - Harness Informa's extensive global expertise while pioneering new and innovative initiatives. If you're passionate about marketing, events, and contributing to Saudi Arabia's transformation, we are eager to connect with you! #MarketingCareers #EventsIndustry #SaudiArabia #Tahaluf #JobOpportunity #Vision2030
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Richard McKeon shared thisAre you a marketing leader with a track record of building distinctive brands and leading high-performing teams? We’re looking for an experienced Marketing Director to join our energetic team. https://smrtr.io/sPGbp #Careers #Opportunities #Brand
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Richard McKeon reposted thisRichard McKeon reposted this'We're being lied to about AI's real purpose and it's costing us our humanity.' Just one of the many podcasts I’ve listened to on AI but I really enjoyed this one ⬇️ Simon Sinek brings it back to what it really means to be a human and the importance of human connection and true relationships 🥰 With so many AI-written emails, LinkedIn posts and automated messages out there, it's easy for moments like this to get overlooked. He reminds us that relationships are built over time and consistent effort. But we’re in danger of prioritising convenience over a connection. I’m all for the support and speed AI brings and I’m excited about what’s to come. But I also truly value relationship, personal or professional and I’d rather have a meaningful conversation than a quick interaction with a potential robot 🤖 Or perhaps there's a fine balance between the two... https://lnkd.in/dcX4GSMXSimon Sinek: You're Being Lied To About AI's Real Purpose! We're Teaching Our Kids To Not Be Human!Simon Sinek: You're Being Lied To About AI's Real Purpose! We're Teaching Our Kids To Not Be Human!
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Richard McKeon liked thisRichard McKeon liked this🚨 Content creators for B2B events - HERE WE GO. 🚨 👇 The loafers are diversified. The AUM small talk is ready. The calendar has zero white space. Corporate Bro is getting ready for Money20/20 USA - and yes, he's joining us in Vegas. We've got every major bank, fintech, founder and investor and now, Corporate Bro. Who says B2B marketing needs to be all about emails. ;)
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Richard McKeon liked thisRichard McKeon liked thisAmerica builds while Brussels abdicates. We should demand accountability from our political leaders for the sorry state of growth in pretty much every important indigenous sector in the EU. We are being let down nationally and regionally by leaders that have no strategic vision for technology and risk.
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Richard McKeon liked thisRichard McKeon liked thisJust back from #UNBOUND2026 in Boston and still processing what an incredible few days it was. 🧡 For me, the best part was getting to spend time with founders, partners, customers, our team & hearing firsthand how they’re thinking about growth in this next era of AI. Of course the message again hasn't changed: AI is only as good as the context you give it. 90% of companies are using AI, but only 6% are seeing transformational results. And the data across 300,000+ HubSpot customers really brought that to life: with the right context, the same AI models drove MQLs up 264% and deals won up 197%. That is relevant for startups. Small teams don’t need more tools or more work. They need technology that understands their business and actually helps them get to an outcome faster. Announcements like HubSpot’s self-updating CRM, Breeze Assistant and the new ChatGPT Ads integration are so exciting. Less time on admin, more time building, selling and growing. There were plenty of other highlights too: customers taking the HubSpot main stage, Battle of the Builders, Tom Brady talking about mindset, and yes, Kyle Jepson on saxophone 🎷 But one of my favourite moments was a little more personal. My Mum came to the event with me back in 2017, so finding this photo and looking back at how much has changed since then was pretty special. A lovely full-circle moment ❤️ Huge thank you to the HubSpot events team, the HubSpot For Startups crew, and every founder and partner who stopped by for a conversation. Lots to bring back into what we’re building for Series A founders next. Thank you, Boston! 🧡
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Richard McKeon liked thisRichard McKeon liked thisI was told that videos get twice as much engagement as other posts, so here goes… After working quietly in the background for a while, it’s time to officially introduce Bridge Exhibitions, a new initiative between Arabian World Events and Orchestra Media Please follow Bridge Exhibitions and reach out directly to know more. #sales #marketing #defence #aerospace #bridgeexhibitions #middleeast #africa #apac #latam #europe #technology #security
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Richard McKeon liked thisRichard McKeon liked thisFrom plans to a standing home 🏡 Another build taking shape in Co. Galway. A 231.2 sq. m home built using the MMC Eco Homes airtight shell system. Our SIP panels bring structure, insulation and airtightness together, helping to reduce on-site construction time and create an energy-efficient building envelope. Whether it’s a one-off home or a multi-unit development, send us your plans and we’ll take it from there. #MMCEcoHomes #SIPBuild #ModernMethodsOfConstruction #EnergyEfficientHomes
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Richard McKeon liked thisRichard McKeon liked thisWriting this Money 20/20 wrap-up has been hard this year. Not because there's nothing to say, because I'm not sure I can do justice to what this team has pulled off. Unless you work in events, it's genuinely difficult to understand what the last two months have demanded. We launched LEAP East in Hong Kong in July. Then at the end of August, the fifth edition of LEAP alongside DeepFest. And last week, we closed out Money 20/20 Middle East another outstanding success. Massive well done to Steve and Kinga, the leadership behind Money 20/20 Middle East and the entire team. Like every wrap up we've ever had, this one ended in an abundance of happiness and laughter. And as always for Money 20/20 Middle East, a massive thank you to our partners at SAMA, FSDP, IA and CMA. It would not be possible without them. For my team, we're now at the 50% event mark for the year. Four events still to go, three of them brand new launches. I have never seen a team work this hard, stay this committed, and still be this happy even through uncertain times. Momentum ✨ let's keep it going. Couldn't be prouder of you all. A few of my favourite snaps from Money 20/20 below ❤️🥰 #TeamMoney 💸 Tahaluf
Experience
Education
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UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
Second Class Honours, Grade One (2.1)
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Areas Studied: Innovation - Deep Dive and Problem Solving, Driving Innovation to Success, Gaining Customer Insights and Mapping Customer Experience, Developing Effective Business and Customer Value Propositions, Brand Building, Assessing Competition, Strategic Marketing, International Market Entry Strategy and Business Growth, Buyer Behaviour, Adapting to New Markets and Cultures, International Business Development, Using Myers-Briggs in a Business Context, Client Management,
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Licenses & Certifications
Honors & Awards
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Accessory Designer of the Year 2014
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Winner of 'Accessory Designer of the Year 2014' at the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards.
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Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
The Bord Bia Marketing Fellowship Programme is run in association with the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. It is a fully funded programme offered to only twenty-five industry professionals in Ireland each year, who get the opportunity to work on behalf of export focused Irish food companies in overseas markets whilst completing an MSc in International Marketing Practice.
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Shehnoor Ahmed Imran
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐌𝐎’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 Over the years, I’ve had the chance to speak with many CMOs and marketing leaders, especially in the UAE and the UK, and it’s given me a whole new perspective on what being a Marketing Director really means. At first, I thought it was all about creating strategies, executing campaigns, and hitting targets. But after these conversations, I’ve realized it’s so much more than that. Here’s what I’ve learned: →Alignment with the CFO is Key You can have the best marketing strategy, but if it’s not aligned with the CFO’s vision, it’s going to fall apart. From talking to CMOs, I understood that success comes when marketing and finance work as one. Without that synergy, you’re just going in circles. →The Team: It’s Not Just About Structure, It’s About Energy I’ve realized that as a Marketing Director, your role is to create a structure where the team’s energy never drops. You’ve got to keep them motivated and focused – and this is what makes the difference between success and burnout. I’ve seen this first-hand across both the UAE and UK markets, and it's been crucial to staying ahead of the curve. →Hiring People Smarter Than Yourself One key piece of advice I’ve gotten from the CMOs I’ve spoken to is this: hire people smarter than yourself. The best teams are built on diverse talent and fresh perspectives. In both regions, I’ve made it a point to surround myself with people who challenge me and push the boundaries of what’s possible. →Owning the Work & Presentations Lastly, I’ve learned that being a Marketing Director isn’t about just overseeing the work it’s about owning it. You’re responsible for setting the tone, making sure every presentation is on point, and ensuring that your team feels empowered to execute on your vision. Through these conversations with industry leaders, I’ve realized that being in this role is about leadership, accountability, and a clear vision for the future. #marketingdirector #CMO #CFO #Team #Dubai #UK
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CommunicateOnline
Geopolitics is reshaping not only headlines but also how audiences behave online. In this interview, Maira M.Programmatic Manager at WPP Media, explains how real-world tensions are shifting browsing patterns across the GCC — from luxury shopping to geopolitical analysis — and what that means for advertisers. Brands are becoming far more cautious about where their ads appear, balancing brand safety with audience sentiment during sensitive news cycles. Read full interview: WPP
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