Business

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading multi-award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is pleased to announce the promotion of Malika Bouayad to Group Account Director, in the company's Public Relations & Strategic Communications division. This appointment, effective 1 December 2025, reflects APO Group's commitment to developing strong African talent and enhancing its delivery of world-class communications support to clients across the continent and beyond.

Born and raised in Morocco, Malika brings close to a decade of experience in communications, marketing, and stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, she holds both a bachelor's degree and an MBA from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane.

Since joining APO Group in 2022, Malika has played a pivotal role in delivering award-winning campaigns. She has spearheaded major media programmes for global events, including three consecutive editions of GITEX Global and GITEX Africa, managing African and international media with precision and excellence. She has also led local media engagement in Morocco for high-profile clients such as Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Canon and contributed to strategic communications work for organisations including APIX and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In her new role, Malika will be responsible for both strategic client leadership and operational delivery excellence. She will lead high-level client engagements, oversee quality assurance and commercial alignment, and ensure that all client programmes are strategically aligned, operationally sound, resource-optimised, and delivered to the highest standard. She will also play a key role in streamlining delivery operations across the team.

Commenting on the promotion, APO Group CEO, Bas Wijne, said: “Malika embodies the professionalism, creativity, and strategic insight that define APO Group's work across Africa. She has consistently delivered exceptional results for our clients and has become a trusted partner to senior leaders across the continent. Her promotion is a natural next step and a testament to her dedication, leadership, and passion for Africa's development. We are proud to see her take on this expanded role and look forward to all she will achieve.”

“Joining APO Group almost four years ago and growing into the role of Group Account Director has shown me that our strength lies in our people, our purpose, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. This promotion is not mine alone – it reflects every mentor, colleague, and client who inspires us to push further. I'm energised to lead with integrity, empower our team, and to advance African stories with credibility, creativity, and transformative impact across the continent,” said Malika.

By nurturing outstanding African PR and strategic communications talent, APO Group is delivering on its vision to pioneer the future of communication and serve as the channel for Africa's voices.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media contact: 
marie@apo-opa.com 

About APO Group: 
Founded in 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally.   

Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, we were honoured with the Gold distinction for Best PR Campaign and Bronze in the Special Event category at the Davos Communications Awards. 

APO Group's esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.  

Pan-African law and advisory firm CLG (https://CLGGlobal.com) signed a collaboration agreement with Libyan legal firm Zahaf & Partners this weekend, outlining a strategic partnership for long-term professional cooperation. Signaling CLG's entrance into the Libyan market, the agreement aligns with the company's broader North African expansion strategy, while underscoring growing international confidence in Libya's energy and investment landscape.  

Under the terms of the agreement, the two firms will collaborate on legal, tax, regulatory and business advisory mandates in Libya, with a strong focus on energy, infrastructure, finance and investment-related projects. The strategic partnership is structured to support both inbound international investors and domestic stakeholders seeking to navigate Libya's evolving legal and regulatory environment while advancing commercially viable projects.

Over the years, CLG has established itself as a renowned legal practice, with over 300 attorneys and advisors active across 50 countries worldwide. Alongside its Lawyer-on-Demand service, the firm operates across Africa, providing legal and advisory services covering mergers and acquisitions, oil and gas negotiations, project finance and banking, debt collection, labor and dispute resolution. Markets include South Africa, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Germany, Mauritius, Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Namibia. Core practice areas include energy and infrastructure, mining, metals and natural resources, agriculture and agro-allied industries, ESG and sustainability, corporate and commercial, among others.

As such, the collaboration brings together CLG's extensive pan-African experience across energy, infrastructure, natural resources, tax, regulatory advisory and cross-border transactions with Zahaf & Partners' deep-rooted expertise in Libyan law, regulatory frameworks, tax advisory and domestic business advisory services. Together, the firms aim to deliver integrated legal and advisory solutions for public and private sector clients operating in Libya.

The agreement also comes at a pivotal time for Libya, as rising production, renewed investment and strengthened global ties mark a new era for the country's energy development. On the back of its latest licensing round - launched in 2025 and set to close in February 2026 - the country is welcoming significant capital into its upstream market, with a proposed second licensing round building on investor momentum. In 2026, investors continue to expand their exploration and production portfolios, with the country on track to reach 1.6 million barrels per day by year-end.

Major projects are also advancing. The Bahr Essalam gas compression project targets a Q1 2026 start, Eni's $8 billion Structures A&E Project will begin operations in 2027 while a 25-year oil development agreement signed by TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips and the National Oil Corporation - backed by $20 billion in foreign-financed investment - will provide an 850,000-bpd boost for the country's hydrocarbon sector. Other active operators are also advancing developments, supporting the country's broader goals of reaching 2 million bpd in oil production. These include Repsol and OMV. Service providers have also begun strengthening their portfolios, with companies to the likes of Baker Hughes, SLB, ADC and more delivering innovative oilfield services.

Beyond hydrocarbons, both Libyan and international players are advancing developments in renewable energy, power and downstream infrastructure, supporting the country's broader diversification efforts and strengthening Mediterranean interconnections.  As the country continues to rebuild institutional capacity and attract international capital, the CLG-Zahaf & Partners collaboration positions both firms at the forefront of legal and advisory services supporting the country's next phase of economic development.

“This agreement brings together international experience and local insight at a time when Libya is actively seeking to unlock investment across key sectors. Partnering with CLG strengthens our ability to support complex projects while ensuring that solutions are grounded in Libyan law and practice,” stated Mahmud Zahaf, Managing Partner, Zahaf & Partners.

Beyond transactional collaboration, the agreement sets out a broad framework for long-term professional cooperation. This includes joint participation in the pursuit and execution of projects across the public and private sectors, professional training and capacity building initiatives, and the transfer of legal, regulatory and commercial know-how between teams. The firms will also work together on legislative, regulatory and policy-related assignments, comparative law and regulatory studies, and the issuance of joint legal briefings, publications and client alerts.

“Signing this collaboration in Libya is highly symbolic. It reflects our confidence in the market and our commitment to working alongside strong local partners to deliver value-driven, compliant and commercially sound advisory services. Zahaf & Partners' reputation and expertise make them an ideal partner as CLG expands its footprint in North Africa,” added Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo, Managing Partner, CLG.

CLG is listed on the Open Market of the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange in Germany.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CLG.

As global consumers increasingly focus on nutrition, health and wellbeing with a back-to-basics approach of consuming minimally processed food, this Veganuary Emirates (www.Emirates.com) confirms new concepts are in development to celebrate real, whole, and farm-to-fork plant foods. The current development project sees a team of chefs create dishes that feel authentic, vibrant and rooted in culinary tradition, without replacing typical proteins with engineered plant-based meats and substitutes. The new dishes are set to be onboard for customers in 2027.

Emirates Vice President of Food & Beverage Design, Doxis Bekris, confirms the philosophy;

‘Our focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate. These ingredients offer natural depth of flavour, texture, and nutrition without relying on ultra-processed alternatives. Instead of replicating meat, we want to draw from cuisines that have always been plant-forward like Mediterranean mezze, Levantine grain salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African stews such as South African chakalaka, Kenyan sukuma wiki, Ugandan groundnut stew, Tunisian lablabi, Senegalese thieboudienne, Ivorian attiéké with vegetables, Guinean peanut stew, , Egyptian koshari, and Tanzanian mchicha. In our view, this approach feels genuine and culturally rich.

‘Although there are many commendable lab-based alternatives available, real food aligns with our sustainability goals and guest expectations for health-conscious choices. It's about transparency for our customers who want to know what they're eating, as well as have confidence that it's good for them and the planet. We want to shift from substitutes to a celebration of plants, where it's not about what's missing - but instead what is gained in authenticity, flavour, and creativity.'

Emirates serves half a million vegan meals each year across Africa and globally

Emirates now has 488 vegan recipes in rotation across 140 destinations, representing a 60% increase in total recipes from 2024 and showing dedication to vegan customers.

Emirates currently serves half a million vegan meals each year. Vegan meal consumption grows in line with passenger volume increases, and last year the top destinations with customers ordering vegan meals were London in first place, followed by Sydney, Bangkok, Melbourne, Frankfurt, Manchester, Mumbai, Bali and Singapore. Emirates attributes some of the demand to non-vegan customers opting for vegan cuisine when flying, as a lighter option often considered easier to digest. Across its African markets, Emirates notes growing demand for vegan meals in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, , Egypt and Tanzania, reflecting increased interest in plant-based cuisine across the continent.

Vegan options are available to order and pre-order onboard, as well as in Emirates Lounges. Customers can request vegan meals on all Emirates flights and across all classes of travel up to 24 hours before departure. However, on high-demand routes, plant-based meals are also provided as part of the main menu options.

Emirates' vegan cuisine in every class

Highlighting its commitment to culinary excellence for all customers, Emirates offers vegan meals across all classes, as well as complementary products like vegan milk. Supporting the farm-to-fork philosophy, Emirates incorporates fresh produce from Bustanica - the world's largest hydroponic vertical farm. The farm is a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering that delivers pesticide and chemical-free leafy greens like lettuce, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach, directly to Emirates' catering facilities.

In Economy class, Emirates customers can enjoy dishes like pumpkin frittata with sautéed mushrooms and tomato concassé, or spinach cannelloni served with tomato basil sauce, toasted crumbs and parsley, and desserts like vegan chocolate mousse cake drizzled in chocolate sauce and biscuit crumbs, or carrot cake dashed with coconut cream.

In Premium Economy class, customers choosing vegan cuisine will be served dishes like kimchi fried rice served with roasted pumpkin and sautéed oyster mushrooms, followed by desserts like coconut cake with pineapple compote and pistachios.

In Business class, a range of creatively curated dishes is offered, including braised mushrooms with vegetables in five-spice soy sauce, served with steamed jasmine rice and blanched pak choi. Customers who have room for dessert can feast on coconut panna cotta with raspberry mousse with fresh berries or chocolate tofu cheesecake.

In First class, customers will be treated to elevated vegan cuisine like pumpkin and barley risotto served with rocket, caramelised walnuts, vinaigrette and vegan cheese. Dishes offering a burst of flavours include quinoa salad with grilled aubergine, courgette, sautéed Swiss chard and red pepper coulis. Decadent desserts include strawberry tart with vanilla custard and pistachios, served with berry compote, or a tempting sticky date pudding served with salted caramel sauce, vegan cream cheese, candied pecans and almond butter.

Crafted vegan options in Emirates' Lounges Dubai

At Dubai International Airport, Emirates has 7 lounges located in its flagship Terminal 3 - 3 for First Class and 3 for Business Class customers, as well as the Emirates' Lounge catering to all premium customers. The lounges offer a wide array of vegan options, from Baharat and turmeric-spiced kofta in coconut gravy at the buffet area, to an à la carte breakfast of warm amaranth porridge with compressed green apples, red grapes, raspberries and walnuts in the First-Class Lounge, amongst many others. In addition to an array of popular vegan salads, the most in-demand vegan dish in the lounges is the Emirates Green Burger – a soya and flaxseed green burger, with a signature sauce and pickled cucumbers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.

Your developers are in India. Your designers log in from Estonia. Your project managers are based in South Africa. For many businesses, this isn't an exception; it's the new normal. Remote work and digital collaboration have made it possible to build teams anywhere talent exists, says Sandra Crous, Managing Director at Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace (www.PaySpace.com).

“Global talent is now just a few clicks away. A generation ago, you'd rely on phone calls and faxes to collaborate across borders. Email changed everything. Then came shared digital files, and now modern collaboration tools mean you can onboard someone from the other side of the world and have them fully integrated by Monday.”

But as global hiring becomes easier, payroll hasn't kept up. Many systems simply can't handle the complexity of managing employees in multiple countries, pushing companies to patch together several tools or, worse, limit their global expansion plans.

Too many payroll vendors, too much complexity

Paying people across borders is complicated. Every country has its own tax rules, salary structures, currencies, leave policies, and regulatory changes. When your payroll system can't handle these nuances, the result is usually the same: a messy collection of spreadsheets, local vendors, and disconnected payroll tools.

According to Forrester's Is Global Payroll Truly Global? report (https://apo-opa.co/3LlQ1Gc), companies with international teams use six different payroll tools on average, and 86% split payroll between internal teams and third-party providers.

The cost of this fragmentation adds up quickly; financial errors, compliance risks, exchange rate surprises, and hours lost to manual interventions. Employees feel it too: delayed payments, inconsistent information, and slow support.

“Businesses want to hire globally, but their payroll setup often slows them down,” says Crous. “Teams are looking to consolidate, automate, and bring payroll into a single system. They want a simpler experience and the confidence that they're compliant everywhere.”

The new standard: modern payroll for a global workforce

As more companies hire remote talent and contractors around the world, a new generation of payroll solutions has emerged to meet the complexity of global employment. Two major shifts are driving this evolution:

1. Managed, cloud-native payroll platforms

Instead of buying and maintaining payroll software, businesses subscribe to fully managed platforms. These solutions automatically update tax and labour law changes, enable digital onboarding, support employee self-service, and integrate with wider HR and finance systems. No more manual updates. No more version control headaches.

2. Employer of Record (EOR) services

When companies want to hire someone in a country where they don't have a legal entity, they can partner with an Employer of Record. The EOR becomes the legal employer, handling compliance, contracts, tax registrations, and back-office admin.

The most effective approach? Combining both.

The real magic happens when an EOR integrates seamlessly with a modern payroll platform.

“Businesses offload the legal and administrative burden to the EOR while still managing payroll, reporting, and employee data through one unified system,” explains Crous. “With the right platform, one payroll solution can support every country you operate in. You stay in control and compliant without juggling multiple providers.”

Payroll has changed. Your tools should too.

Hybrid and distributed teams create more complexity than ever before. Regulations shift constantly. Leaders expect automation, real-time data, and smooth integrations across finance and HR systems. Traditional payroll software simply wasn't built for this world.

“Payroll is at a turning point,” says Crous. “The ability to hire talent anywhere is a massive opportunity but it's exposing just how outdated many payroll systems really are. Whether you want better automation, stronger compliance, or a simpler global hiring experience, cloud-native payroll platforms are solving challenges that older systems can't.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace.

For media queries please contact:
Victoria Lindsay
victoria@innocomm.co.za

About Deel Local Payroll:
Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace, revolutionises payroll management. It offers online, multi-country payroll and HR management for businesses from start-ups through to enterprise in over 40 African countries, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Brazil.

Cloud-native, Deel Local Payroll, is scalable, configurable, highly secure, and easy-to-use—delivering anytime, anywhere access. It features payroll automation, self-service features, automatic legislation and feature updates, customised reporting, and more.

Since 2024, Deel Local Payroll has been part of Deel, operating as an independent subsidiary, serving its customers through the PaySpace platform.