Amman, Jordan – Seven Jordanians have been named among Forbes Middle East’s Most Influential CMOs in the Middle East 2026, a ranking that recognizes senior leaders responsible for building brands, driving growth, and leading commercial expansion across the region.
Among those recognized is Leena Shehadeh, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer (CMRO) at GWC, a publicly listed company on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) and one of the Middle East’s largest logistics and supply chain providers, with operations spanning the Gulf region and Europe.
With more than two decades of experience spanning strategic marketing, corporate communications, digital transformation, and business growth, Shehadeh has led brand-building and revenue growth initiatives across more than 60 countries throughout the Middle East, Europe, and emerging markets.
At GWC, she leads the group’s marketing, digital revenue, and Revenue Operations functions, with a focus on leveraging data and artificial intelligence to accelerate growth, enhance customer experience, and support expansion into targeted markets. She also oversees digital and commercial initiatives designed to accelerate customer acquisition and business growth through the application of AI across marketing, sales, and customer service operations.
Commenting on the recognition, Shehadeh said:
“I am proud to be a product of Jordan’s public education system, from its schools to its universities. I later pursued further studies in the United Kingdom after more than a decade in the workforce, but the foundations of my professional journey were built in Jordan.
It is no coincidence that one of the most significant milestones in the Arab digital economy was Yahoo’s acquisition of Jordanian-founded Maktoob, marking the first acquisition of a Middle Eastern digital company by a global technology company.”
She added:
“I still remember seeing a quote by the late King Hussein during my years at Yarmouk University: ‘People are our most valuable asset.’ At the time, I did not fully appreciate its depth as I do today. Over the years, I came to realize that it was not simply a statement but a national philosophy.”
Prior to joining GWC, Shehadeh served as Group Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Asyad Group in Oman. Earlier in her career, she held the role of Global Chief Marketing Officer at Aramex, as well as senior leadership positions within the financial services sector in the United Arab Emirates. She also served as Chief Operating Officer at Wamda Capital, a venture capital firm focused on technology startups across the region.
Shehadeh founded Nawa Corporate Communications and was a founding partner in Olympia Pass. She is also a TEDx speaker.
She holds an MBA from London Business School and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Political Economy and Artificial Intelligence Policy at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom.
On the role of artificial intelligence in business growth, Shehadeh said:
“Artificial intelligence is making it possible for businesses of all sizes to automate key marketing, sales, and customer service processes, reach customers more efficiently, and expand into new markets with lower costs and greater speed. This creates stronger opportunities for growth and long-term sustainability.”
She added:
“AI is helping level the playing field for SMEs. As customer acquisition and service costs decline, smaller businesses gain access to capabilities, expertise, and growth opportunities that were once available only to much larger organizations.”
