ITP Media Group appoints Lara Akkari as Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar portfolio in the Middle East

ITP Media Group has appointed Lara Akkari as the Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s BAZAAR in the Middle East, placing her in charge of the publication's regional editions, including Harper's Bazaar Arabia, Harper's BAZAAR Saudi, and Harper's BAZAAR Qatar, according to a press release shared by ITP Media Group.

Akkari assumes the role following two decades of leadership in brand strategy and corporate communications, having managed P&G's beauty portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa before moving into luxury editorial roles at Vogue Arabia and luxury re-commerce platforms. The appointment comes at a crucial growth phase for ITP Media Group as it standardizes its editorial strategy across print, digital, and live experience verticals throughout the region.

Akkari’s background signals an intentional operational shift toward combining brand strategy, commercial alignment, and content creation within fashion journalism. Holding an MBA from St. Ambrose University alongside a background in brand direction, Akkari brings corporate brand management methodologies directly to media management.

Under her leadership, the publications aim to establish a unified regional editorial standard while preserving localized voices tailored to the specific market dynamics of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the broader Middle Eastern landscape.

For fashion education institutions and students, Akkari’s career trajectory highlights a major evolution in the modern fashion ecosystem: the convergence of strategic brand management, commercial consulting, and traditional journalism.

Her transition from agency brand director to top-tier editorial leadership underlines the growing necessity for fashion curricula to integrate business analytics, cross-platform communications, and strategic brand positioning alongside creative writing and curation. As regional media houses place increased value on hybrid skill sets, academic programs must adapt by preparing students to navigate both the creative and commercial complexities of global luxury media.