A new chapter for Q5 Arabia as we set our sights on 2025
Q5 Arabia is proud to welcome Scott Kennedy as its new Managing Director. With over a decade of experience across multiple sectors and regions, Scott brings deep expertise in strategy execution and organizational effectiveness. His leadership will drive Q5 Arabia’s growth, strengthen client relationships, and localize Q5’s expertise in the Middle East.
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Q5 is proud to welcome Scott Kennedy as the new Managing Director of Q5 Arabia. His appointment marks an exciting chapter for us as it strengthens our presence in the Middle East, helping Government and organizations navigate change and deliver exceptional results while achieve lasting success.
Originally from Dunfermline, Scotland, Scott’s career has been defined by transformation—both in the businesses he has led and the regions he has worked in. With over a decade of experience spanning the private, public, and non-profit sectors, he has played a pivotal role in driving impactful initiatives across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Italy, Sweden, Singapore, and South Korea. His expertise lies in strategic execution, organizational design, organizational effectiveness and operational excellence.
Scott brings an impressive background of experience with leading firms, including Maximus Gulf, AEI Saudi, and Working Links. As Vice President of PMO & Centre of Excellence at Maximus Gulf, he built a Saudi-based PMO function that supported regional growth and launched an advisory unit focused on strategy execution and social impact. As Chief Operating Officer at AEI Saudi, he initiated a company-wide transformation, forged strategic partnerships, and helped hundreds of international companies establish a presence in the Saudi market. At Working Links, he played a key role in shaping international strategy across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Europe, managing high-impact government advisory projects and overseeing a vast network of partners.
Now, as Managing Director of Q5 Arabia, Scott is responsible for creating and leading our long-term vision and driving its strategic growth. Scott is focused on building high-performing local teams, strengthening client relationships, and delivering transformational results. His vision includes localizing Q5’s expertise to better serve the region, enhancing the company’s reputation within Saudi Arabia, and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. A strong advocate for talent development, he is committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders, ensuring Q5 Arabia remains an employer of choice in the region.
Reflecting on his new role, Scott shared:
“After more than a decade of learning, growing, and working in Saudi Arabia, I’m excited to bring my experience to Q5. This is more than just a business opportunity—it’s about people, impact, and the future. Together, we’ll continue to innovate, create lasting value, and contribute to the Kingdom’s dynamic transformation as Q5 moves PowerPoint to dashboard.”
Olly Purnell, Managing Partner added:
“Scott is a super chap, with many years’ experience leading teams in Saudi Arabia. He’s been a good friend of Q5 since we opened our operation in Riyadh back in 2018, so we know what he’s capable of, what motivates him … and how he can help us make a profound impact on our clients in the Kingdom”.
For more information on Q5 and what we do, please visit https://www.q5partners.com/what-we-do/.
We are all about organisational health, which separates good organisations from the great. Whether our clients are at the top of their game (and want to remain there) or are in ‘turnaround’ mode, we all need to work on our organisational health.
Whatever the situation, be it a strategic conundrum, a market opportunity, or an operational gripe, we combine the art and science of organisational health to help our clients improve and excel.
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