Claire Kenmuir
Dubai
Summary
- Communications leader with over 20 years of global and regional experience spanning agency and client-side roles. A proven track record of success across government, oil and gas, technology, telecommunications, healthcare, banking, and FMCG sectors.
- Specializes in crafting and executing communication strategies that shape impactful local, regional, and international narratives, bridging organizational goals with stakeholder expectations to enhance reputation, drive trust, foster meaningful engagement, and deliver measurable outcomes across complex, multi-sector environments.
- Adept at aligning internal and external communications to ensure cohesive messaging, fostering employee engagement and building high-performance cultures by delivering clear, consistent messaging to diverse audiences - from senior leaders to employees - while ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
- Recognized for providing strategic counsel on crisis communications and issues management, proactively addressing reputational risks.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Strategic Communications Director
Abu Dhabi Media Office
02.2023 - Current
- Developing, executing and advising on comprehensive communication strategies at both a federal and emirate level, aligning with national priorities and organizational objectives
- Leading executive positioning strategies for senior Abu Dhabi figures
- Providing ongoing strategic guidance to government and semi-government entities. Examples include the recent $8.1 billion Mubadala/ Aldar partnership deal, the launch of full-fleet operations at Barakah nuclear plant and the official rebrand of Abu Dhabi Airport to Zayed International Airport
- Leading a multi-million dollar editorial and commercial partnership with CNN
- Analyzing and advising on complex communication and reputational challenges, offering proactive counsel to mitigate risks
- Leading on a number of sustainability communication strategies including developing and implementing the UAE communications strategy for COP28, the Abu Dhabi sustainability campaign and the Environment Agency Climate Change Strategy
Senior Consultant / ADSW Communications Lead
Masdar
11.2022 - 01.2023
- Leading on the development and implementation of Masdar communications for the company's flagship event - Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The largest to date, 36,000 participants from 170 countries, including 13 heads of state and more than 600 global speakers attended
- Achievements included AVE value of $29.4mn, 3.1bn media reach, 23,000 new social media followers and 220k social media engagements
SVP and Technology Practice Lead
Burson (formerly BCW)
11.2021 - 08.2022
- Overseeing the day-to-day activities of the USD 2 million practice portfolio including budgeting, planning and staff development
- Developing and implementing integrated strategic communication plans for clients to drive brand awareness and maximise the impact of their programs and priorities across key audiences
- Ongoing strategic communications support including leadership counsel, crisis communication planning and brand positioning
- Acting as senior advisor to BCW Middle East for all internal and HR client communications
- Preparing talking points and speeches for CEOs, company leaders and government figures
- Actively engaging, cultivating, and managing press relationships to ensure top-tier media coverage for client programs, events, public announcements, and other projects
Senior Communications Consultant
ADNOC
05.2021 - 11.2021
- Internal and external communications lead for ADNOC’s Al Dhafra Petroleum
- Trusted communications advisor and business partner to all company divisions, the CEO and leadership team
- Development of HR content across all employee engagement channels resulting in a ten-fold increase in internal news
- Corporate communications budget management
- Active member of Al Dhafra's Gender Balance, Social Risk, Employee Engagement and Happiness and Wellbeing committees
- Leading Group and OPCO-wide events including the Upstream Director's Town Hall, Women in Engineering Day, ADNOC Youth Forum, CEO People's Day Townhall and the Al Humrah First Oil celebration
Senior Communications and Marketing Consultant
First Abu Dhabi Bank
08.2020 - 04.2021
- Driving the development of a youth banking marketing proposition, positioning FAB as the bank of choice for young people in the country
- Supporting an employee banking initiative to improve FAB's reach across the Emirati population. These activations focused on the UAE's top 10 companies including ADNOC
- Supporting a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of personal banking products amongst new and existing customers
- Leading the communications for the pilot launch of FAB's digital banking service for corporate customers
- Managing communication activities for the Elite and Private Banking sector, including global events targeted at high-net-worth individuals
- Leading a campaign in collaboration with Huawei to mark White Friday
SVP - Communications
Burson (formerly BCW - Seconded to ADNOC)
10.2019 - 06.2020
- Internal communications lead for a Human Capital restructuring and transformation program spanning 14 specialist subsidiary and joint venture operating companies
- Planning, development, and execution of COVID-19-related internal communications from the lead-up to the crisis to preparations for a return to the office and the ‘new normal’
- Co-leading a team of agency secondees to deliver an exceptional level of client support
Corporate Communications Director
Hamad Medical Corporation
07.2013 - 10.2019
- Line management responsibility for a team of eleven within a Corporate Communications Department of over 100 employees
- Preparation and management of leadership communications including speech writing and weekly communication briefings for the HMC executive team, including the MD in her role as Minister of Public Health
- Leading on all major incident exercises and representing the organization on the Ministry of Public Health’s National Emergency Risk Communications Taskforce
- Reputation and issues management including briefing and advising organizational leaders and drafting as well as delivering press statements on issues that were causing, or were likely to cause, media interest
- Developing and executing all external and internal communications related to the opening of new facilities including those inaugurated by the Emir and the former Prime Minister of the State of Qatar
- Working closely with senior leaders and relevant stakeholders across the organization to drive employee engagement around key organizational priorities
- Growing HMC’s digital communications presence including leading the implementation of a new corporate website and intranet
- Overseeing website copy and social media platforms
- Building and strengthening strategic relationships with vendors, advertising agencies and leading industry partners
- Developing insights on marketing campaigns to assess performance against goals
Senior Internal Communications Manager
Ooredoo Group
11.2012 - 05.2013
- Working with external design and communication agencies to develop and facilitate the effective internal launch of the new Ooredoo brand
- Communication planning and execution lead for the launch of a new corporate intranet
- Creation and management of intranet campaigns related to the company rebrand in Qatar as well as operating companies across MENA and Asia
- Day-to-day communications planning, execution, and stakeholder management
Global Internal Communications Manager
Unilever
01.2010 - 06.2012
- Business partnering and coaching of senior executives and their teams
- Development and implementation of a global internal communications strategy to launch Unilever's teleconferencing platform
- Creation of channel-relevant content to support communication campaigns
- Implementation of measurement mechanisms for communication activities using the outputs to ensure continuous improvement
Global Marketing and Media Manager
Unilever
12.2007 - 01.2010
- Leading the development of a communications strategy to improve company-wide awareness and perception of Unilever's IT function
- Establishing an internal IT brand and ensuring planned communication activities were delivered to budget
- Developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with key stakeholders
- Performing a deputy role to the Global Marketing Director - IT
Global Communications Manager
Unilever
07.2005 - 12.2007
- Acting as the communication and marketing lead on global learning and development programs
- Utilizing a variety of training media to embrace different learning needs such as virtual classrooms, e-learning, intranet, and video news updates
- Coaching of senior Unilever executives selected by board members
Project Manager
Unilever Foods
09.2002 - 07.2005
- Integrating Unilever Foods UK marketing and sales information with the global information platform
- Leading communications around the outsourcing of Unilever’s internal consumer care line across three business groups to an integrated outsourced operation
- Leading a brand website creation process for Unilever UK in collaboration with the marketing function, IT, and infrastructure services
Global Brand Support Team Project Manager
Unilever
07.2000 - 09.2002
- Relationship marketing support for global brands including Dove, Knorr, Pro-Activ, and Lipton to help identify opportunities in interactive marketing, integrated channel management, and one-to-one marketing
- Advice and recommendations for Dove.com's global brand team including the provision of project coordination and agency briefing reports
- Management of the Dove Interactive Guidelines project and liaison with external agencies, learning and development, and brand teams
Communications and Project Manager
Intellect UK
09.1998 - 07.2000
- Marketing the association through a variety of different media including press conferences, industry press, and trade exhibitions
- Newsletter, website and press release content development
- Representing the organization at a senior management level
Education
Bachelor of Arts - History
Kings College, University of London
London, UKLeadership in A Time of Crisis -
Stanford Executive Education
Emergency Risk Communications -
World Health Organization
Crisis Communications & Cyber Threats -
MCIT
Business Partnering Programs (I And II) -
McLane Group
Certificate in Project Management -
APM
Certificate in Journalism -
NCTJ
Advanced Certificate in Marketing -
CIM
Storytelling And Influencing
Macquarie University
Skills
- Writing and Editing
- Internal Communications
- Change Management
- Communication Strategy
- Public Relations
- Leadership Positioning
- Reputation Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Crisis Communications
- Speechwriting
- Budget Management
- Team Leadership & Development
- Executive Communications
Timeline
Strategic Communications Director
Abu Dhabi Media Office
02.2023 - Current
Senior Consultant / ADSW Communications Lead
Masdar
11.2022 - 01.2023
SVP and Technology Practice Lead
Burson (formerly BCW)
11.2021 - 08.2022
Senior Communications Consultant
ADNOC
05.2021 - 11.2021
Senior Communications and Marketing Consultant
First Abu Dhabi Bank
08.2020 - 04.2021
SVP - Communications
Burson (formerly BCW - Seconded to ADNOC)
10.2019 - 06.2020
Corporate Communications Director
Hamad Medical Corporation
07.2013 - 10.2019
Senior Internal Communications Manager
Ooredoo Group
11.2012 - 05.2013
Global Internal Communications Manager
Unilever
01.2010 - 06.2012
Global Marketing and Media Manager
Unilever
12.2007 - 01.2010
Global Communications Manager
Unilever
07.2005 - 12.2007
Project Manager
Unilever Foods
09.2002 - 07.2005
Global Brand Support Team Project Manager
Unilever
07.2000 - 09.2002
Communications and Project Manager
Intellect UK
09.1998 - 07.2000
Bachelor of Arts - History
Kings College, University of London
Leadership in A Time of Crisis -
Stanford Executive Education
Emergency Risk Communications -
World Health Organization
Crisis Communications & Cyber Threats -
MCIT
Business Partnering Programs (I And II) -
McLane Group
Certificate in Project Management -
APM
Certificate in Journalism -
NCTJ
Advanced Certificate in Marketing -
CIM
Storytelling And Influencing
Macquarie University
Similar Profiles
Noor Al JneibiNoor Al Jneibi
Intern, production department at Abu Dhabi Government Media OfficeIntern, production department at Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
AMR EBAIDAMR EBAID
PR & Media Relations Consultant at Government Media Office, Abu Dhabi Space DebatePR & Media Relations Consultant at Government Media Office, Abu Dhabi Space Debate
Adel AwadAdel Awad
Head of design and Decor at Abu Dhabi Media NetworkHead of design and Decor at Abu Dhabi Media Network
Macy GillMacy Gill
Dancer at Gatsby DubaiDancer at Gatsby Dubai
SADIQ ABBASSADIQ ABBAS
Banking Advisor at Fintrek Marketing Management LLCBanking Advisor at Fintrek Marketing Management LLC