folgate middle east
providing world-class strategy and hands-on support
The nations of Middle East make it the most dynamic region in the world. Characterised by bold ambition and a clear vision, every country is changing rapidly and having a significant impact on the wider world. And with that change comes a requirement to communicate purposefully with a wide range of stakeholders.
Folgate exists to turn strategy and vision into compelling communications for Middle East governments and businesses looking to tell their stories on the world stage, and for ambitious organizations looking to land and expand in the GCC region.
Our advisors have provided communications counsel to government ministers; leaders of quasi-government entities; heads of NGOs; and chief executives of the region’s largest corporations, family companies, SMEs and promising start-ups.
For local, regional and global communications consultancies, they have also provided critical senior leadership to the young teams driving regional growth.
Based in the Middle East, our regional advisors work shoulder to shoulder with clients to develop communication structures, operations and strategies to engage at the highest level with domestic, regional and international stakeholders.
INdustry expertise
Technology | data | ai
Energy | Oil | Gas | Renewables
sports | sports management
public sector
tourism | entertainment
healthcare | life sciences
logistics | infrastructure
our services
Our support covers a wide range of client needs in communications and beyond.
strategic communications
Including corporate narrative and storytelling
Executive positioning and profiling
Including platform creation and activation
Regional Research and insights
Helping plan and communicate market entry or market pivot strategies
issues and crisis communications
Proactive planning and reactive response to major crises
mergers and acquistions
Including due diligence services and communications
Ensuring companies and governments are getting the best out of their third-party relationships with consultancies and agencies
Agency Selection and Evaluation
International relations
Including government relations and public affairs
bid - event communications
Helping win or maximize the impact of major events
thought leadership support
Quantitative and qualitative research, analysis and editorial / production support
Sport and sponsorship support
Maximizing investment in sports industry assets
Organizational design and transformation
For communications, corporate affairs, pubilc affairs and adjacent functional areas
Senior judgement. Connected expertise.
Folgate Business of Sport is led by Peter Thomas, Robert Hanvik, Christophe Ginisty and David Gallagher, bringing together complementary senior experience across commercial strategy, partnerships, brand-building, marketing communications, reputation, issues and crisis management and stakeholder engagement.
Our experience spans international markets, global brands, influential civil society organizations and some of the world's most significant media organizations.
As needed, we draw on Folgate’s international network of consultants, practitioners and business partners and work alongside clients' existing advisers and specialist partners.
We bring together the right combination of independent, senior specialists for each challenge - no fixed team, no predetermined set of services.
Our principals
Peter thomas
David gallagher
christophe ginisty
robert hanvik
Peter Thomas (Abu Dhabi)
Peter Thomas is a 35-year veteran of the global PR industry and has worked across Europe and the Middle East for some of the world’s largest professional services and technology organisations including Accenture, PwC, Microsoft, Oracle and HP. In the Middle East specifically he led Accenture’s Middle East Marketing and Communications team for 5 years and was based in Dubai activating their global partnership with Expo2020.
He has advised senior business and communications leaders on how to turn business strategy into a compelling story for multiple audiences including clients, partners, staff and the media, analysts and other influencers, He has extensive experience in reputation management, executive communications, media and analystrRelations, crisis and issues management and sponsorship strategy and activation.
David Gallagher (London)
David Gallagher is a globally recognized thought-leader and innovator in public relations and communications, with 30-plus years of experience running some of the largest agencies and networks in the world for Omnicom group before co-founding Folgate in 2024. He has overseen major engagements and events in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE for clients in the energy, culture and heritage, healthcare and consumer goods sectors.
Robert Hanvik (Riyadh)
With 40 years of experience as a professional communicator, Robert Hanvik has served as a communications advisor to the most senior leaders in the public and private sectors, working at the nexus of government and business. In addition to strategy development, this has included project delivery, team management, media and presentation training. Based in Riyadh, he currently supports ministries across the Middle East, and private sector clients in a diverse constellation of sectors, including finance, economic development, energy, minerals and healthcare.
Christophe Ginisty (Bahrain)
Christophe Ginisty is a French strategic communications professional with over 35 years of international experience. After senior leadership roles at Edelman, FTI Consulting, and Publicis Groupe, and as Global Head of Digital Engagement at the OECD, he spent four years in the Middle East advising the Saudi government on some of its most ambitious programmes, including the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Public Investment Fund, the Ministry of Investment, the FII Institute, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. He advises organisations on strategic communications, reputation management, public affairs, and digital transformation across Europe, the Gulf, and Africa.