MBC Group names veteran Samar Akrouk as MD of Studio division

Samar Akrouk (Source: MBC Studios)

MENA-based MBC Group has named veteran exec Samar Akrouk as MD of its in-house production division.

Akrouk, who has been with MBC for almost three decades, will lead MBC Studios in addition to her role as group director of production.

Her remit includes expanding the reach of MBC content to global audiences and managing the studio’s attempts to leverage the trend for non-English-language TV series.

Akrouk’s current responsibilities include oversight of MBC’s unscripted productions, which comprises over 1,500 hours annually including local adaptations of formats ranging from Arab Idol, Arab’s Got Talent and The Voice: Arabia.

She said that opportunities in drama and film production were coming at an “opportune moment”, citing the surging investment from countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Akrouk joined MBC in 1995 via its US-based office and relocated to Beirut in 2001, where she was tasked with establishing the first main office for the Group in the Middle East, prior to MBC Group’s relocation from London to Dubai.