News

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.