Reservoir SVP of Creative and A&R Spek joined the company in early 2015, bringing with him a uniquely international perspective. Having lived in Toronto and London, toured globally as a member of Us3 and Dream Warriors, and launched the Abu Dhabi-based publishing company PopArabia, Spek’s insight to the global music marketplace is, as Managing Director Annette Barrett puts it, “rare and valuable”.

Recently, Spek’s perspective has earned nods from his peers. Specifically, LinkedIn’s blog, Pulse, published a piece by Media Zone Authority and twofour54 CEO Noura Al Kaabi entitled “This Is What Drives Entrepreneurial Success”. In the first point of her three-step how-to for aspiring entrepreneurs, Al Kaabi points to Spek’s vision, saying, “Meet Spek and [his business partner] Yassine, both young men working in the music industry internationally that increasingly engaged with the UAE market. Spek saw an opportunity in the region’s music industry value chain and knew if he could fill it, more young Arabic artists would be able to forge successful music careers. He brought in Yassine and PopArabia, a music publisher and rights consultancy, was born.”

At the same time, CNN has been running an ad for its Embracing Entrepreneurship campaign, showcasing PopArabia and Yassine as part of Abu Dhabi’s new creative media hub.

Spek is based in Reservoir’s New York City headquarters, with frequent visits to Los Angeles, Nashville, Miami, and London.

Take a look at CNN’s Embracing Entrepreneurship campaign below: