As director of strategic communications and executive director at the Executive Affairs Authority Simon Pearce is entrusted with building and protecting Abu Dhabi’s reputation. Pearce has a big budget and an even bigger remit. He is considered one of the UAE’s most influential officials, particularly close to Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the CEO of Mubadala, for whom he helped “smooth the communication of the Manchester City Football Club takeover”, according to the Wall Street Journal. Since taking on the position in 2006, Pearce has overseen a significant revamp of Abu Dhabi’s communications offering, and also plays an important role in key assets such as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and media initiative twofour54. Pearce came to the Middle East role after a varied life in the agency world, including a lengthy stint at Burson-Marsteller, encompassing positions on four continents and — in his last job at the firm — CEO of Australia.