2026 Virtual Coaches
Cyril Louis
Regional Executive Creative Director MENA
AKQA
Dubai
Cyril began his career designing robots in the South of France, a lesson in how things work. His training in Fine Art was a lesson in how things feel. Together, they shaped his approach: treating creativity as an operating system that fuses brand, product, and experience into one cohesive idea built to inhabit culture, not just campaigns.
For over 20 years, he has scaled this approach across Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Middle East. Whether at R/GA, Ogilvy, or LePub, he has led teams to raise the floor of craft for brands such as Nike, Beats by Dre, Heineken, and Audi. His work has earned more than 250 international awards, including Cannes Lions, LIA, D&AD, and The One Show, though his true metric is cultural impact.
In an era where AI has made execution cheap, he believes taste is the only true differentiator. Louis uses technology as leverage rather than a gimmick. His background in Fine Art, combined with technical rigour, allows him to navigate automation with a human eye, bringing the cultural sensitivity and discernment required to keep brands relevant.
Currently focused on the MEA region, he is building work that earns attention rather than buying it, work that begins locally, travels globally, and moves the needle for business.
For over 20 years, he has scaled this approach across Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Middle East. Whether at R/GA, Ogilvy, or LePub, he has led teams to raise the floor of craft for brands such as Nike, Beats by Dre, Heineken, and Audi. His work has earned more than 250 international awards, including Cannes Lions, LIA, D&AD, and The One Show, though his true metric is cultural impact.
In an era where AI has made execution cheap, he believes taste is the only true differentiator. Louis uses technology as leverage rather than a gimmick. His background in Fine Art, combined with technical rigour, allows him to navigate automation with a human eye, bringing the cultural sensitivity and discernment required to keep brands relevant.
Currently focused on the MEA region, he is building work that earns attention rather than buying it, work that begins locally, travels globally, and moves the needle for business.
Comments
"I’ve had the chance to mentor in Creative LIAisons before, and it reinforced something I strongly believe: what you’ve learned only matters if you pass it on, so the next wave can go further than you did. It’s about giving the next generation whatever they need to move forward with more clarity, confidence, and momentum."