Cyril Louis departs The Royals in Australia to join AKQA MENA as ECD, based out of Dubai
After only 10 months The Royals creative partner and ECD Cyril Louis has departed the agency to take on the role of Executive Creative Director at AKQA Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
As revealed exclusively by Campaign Brief over a year ago, Louis joined The Royals in late 2024 after two and a half years as global ECD at LePub. He has previously held senior creative roles in London, Sydney, Singapore, Dubai and Los Angeles.
With a foundation in both Mechatronics and Fine Art, Louis embodies a rare hybrid of technological acumen and artistic vision. His global journey spans over two decades, with leadership roles across Europe, Asia, the United States and the Middle East, where he has helped shape award-winning work for some of the world’s most admired brands. His creative leadership has earned him recognition as a top ECD in APAC on The Drum’s World Creative Rankings 2024, with more than 250 national and international awards to date.
Says Louis: “This role brings together everything I care about: creative ambition, a culture of innovation, and the chance to build something meaningful in a region full of energy and potential. I’m excited about the opportunity to shape a new chapter for AKQA MENA, one where the work isn’t just world-class, but also deeply culturally resonant and globally relevant.”
Says Jon Holloway, Managing Director AKQA MENA: “At AKQA, our mission is to push the boundaries of what’s possible through creativity and innovation. Finding a leader who could bring that ambition to life with deep regional expertise was no small task. From the outset, Cyril stood out, a globally recognised creative whose rare blend of systems thinking and storytelling offers a powerful vision for our future.”
Says Andrew Siwka, Founder and managing partner at The Royals: “The Royals understand and support Cyril’s decision to relocate to Dubai to be closer to family and wish him nothing but the best in his new role. For all of modern technology, the tyranny of distance remains. In the 10 months Cyril was with The Royals, he has made an impact that will last far longer. The search for his replacement has commenced.”