RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Former Burson global chief creative officer Simon Shaw has been appointed as the new chief communications and marketing officer at the King Salman Park Foundation, the organization leading one of the landmark initiatives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Shaw announced his role transition in a LinkedIn post on Friday.
“It is an opportunity to bring together my communications, marketing and architectural experience and play a small part in the delivery and operation of one of the most exciting and impactful projects in the capital city of Riyadh,” he wrote.
The King Salman Park, set to become one of the largest urban parks in the world, is a pivotal component of Vision 2030 — the strategic national initiative helmed by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Launched in 2016, the park is envisioned as a cultural, recreational, and environmental hub, aiming to enhance the quality of life in Riyadh, foster economic diversification, and promote social progress.
Shaw brings with him over two decades of experience in the communications and creative strategy space. Prior to joining the foundation, he spent ten years at Burson, most recently as global chief creative officer, before departing the firm following its merger with Hill & Knowlton to create the unified entity Burson under WPP in 2024.
Earlier in his career, Shaw held multiple senior creative roles at Hill & Knowlton, including global chief creative strategy and innovation officer, chief creative strategist for H&K Shanghai Addition, and chief creative officer. He initially joined the agency in 2014 as CCO in its Centre of Creative Strategy, where he played a prominent role in reforming the London office’s creative efforts for global clients such as Huawei, Coca-Cola, and Envision.
Prior to his time with H&K, Shaw served as executive creative director and head of content at Good Relations, deepening his portfolio in brand storytelling and content innovation.
With his new role at the King Salman Park Foundation, Shaw is expected to contribute to expanding international awareness and local engagement around the park project, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global center for cultural tourism, sustainability, and urban livability.
At Burson, Shaw was succeeded by Taj Reid, formerly of Edelman, who stepped into the global chief creative officer role in January.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
