Liam
Clarke

Liam Clarke brings to his work 25 years of experience advising corporations, government entities, trade groups, foundations and NGOs around the world. He specializes in strategic communications, issue management and crisis, stakeholder engagement, public affairs, ESG, training and capacity building and strategic consulting.

As a senior director and head of global business development at APCO, Liam leads a team that helps design and build solutions for APCO’s clients that draw on the firm’s global expertise, experience and market access. He helps organizations evaluate and transform operations to bolster reputation and achieve organizational and societal goals by leveraging APCO’s innovation and ingenuity. He also advises clients on emerging issues and prepares senior government officials and business leaders for media and public speaking engagements.

Liam has served in a number of management roles with APCO throughout his two decade career. He has been head of market development in MENA & India, head of the Riyadh-based APCO Institute and led the firm’s Middle East climate practice. Liam founded and served as the first managing director of APCO’s operations in Saudi Arabia from 2017 to 2022. He built APCO’s operations from the ground up, developing government and private sector client relationships and recruiting a best-in-class local and international team in the Kingdom.

From 2008 to 2017, Liam served as head of worldwide business management for APCO. He oversaw global business operations including client compensation and profitability, budget development, resource planning and procurement. He also provided client counsel and served on the global management committee. Since joining APCO in 2003 he has developed many highly recognized programs for APCO’s Fortune 500 clients in areas including strategic philanthropy, employee engagement and DE&I.

“We don’t think ourselves into a new way of acting, we act ourselves into a new way of thinking.”

– Larry Bossidy, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

Prior to joining APCO, Liam worked at Weber Shandwick and previously served as program officer and communication manager for the Blandin Foundation, a U.S.-based private foundation with $400 million in assets.

Liam is currently the chair of the AmCham Abu Dhabi climate committee. He is the past president of the College Key of Bates College and is a former member of the Bates College Alumni Council. He has served on the boards of NGOs and as an adviser to several political campaigns. He has received APCO’s annual CEO Award and was shortlisted for “Educator of the Year” in PR News’ PR People Awards. Liam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bates College.