Samar Akrouk

Joining MBC GROUP in 1995, Samar Akrouk has played a pivotal role in establishing both MBC’s foundation and its exponential growth. She currently serves as Group Director of Production.

Akrouk kicked off her career with ARA Group International, MBC GROUP’s holding company, at its Washington DC office. She later moved to join MBC Group’s US branch of ANA Radio and Television, a media company targeting Arab-Americans, as Assistant Director in 1996. In 2001, Akrouk relocated to Beirut where she was tasked with establishing the first main office for the Group in the Middle East, even prior to MBC GROUP’s relocation from London to Dubai.

Today, Akrouk heads a dynamic team of producers, directors, technicians, and creators, and directly oversees all of MBC GROUP’s non-scripted productions for MBC TV channels, Shahid and social media – which comprises over 1,500 hours of original content production annually. This includes chat shows, social programming, game shows and competitions, comedy, as well as local adaptations of international franchises: “Arab Idol”, “Arab’s Got Talent”, “Project Runway”, “Top Chef”, “The Voice: Arabia”, “The Voice Kids”, “The Voice Seniors”, and “X Factor Arabia”.

Akrouk has not only been credited playing a major role in building MBC GROUP’s in-house production powerhouse, but she has also led on the transformation of production from solely linear TV broadcast content, to a full, 360-degree multi-platform content operation.

Born in Amman and raised in New York, Akrouk received her bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Law from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.