Sanober Abdullah

Director, Marketing and Communications

Sanober Abdullah is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Pakistan, where she leads the institution's integrated Marketing and Communications function. She oversees marketing strategy, health system communications, market research, digital engagement, visual communications, and reputation management, partnering with institutional leadership to strengthen patient engagement, support business growth, and advance AKUH's strategic priorities.

Sanober joined AKUH in 2015 as Manager, Market Research and was appointed Director, Marketing and Communications in 2021. Over her tenure, she has supported market research, marketing and communications across major institutional initiatives, including research and communications during the COVID-19 pandemic, the commissioning of the Princess Zahra Pavilion, expansion into new markets, new clinical programmes and digital patient access initiatives. As Director, she has strengthened the department’s role as a strategic partner for the institution, broadening its impact across marketing, communications, market research, digital strategy and reputation management.

Under her leadership, the department’s impact has expanded significantly, both in scale and scope, supporting patient education, physician engagement, institutional reputation and service growth. She has also led the expansion of AKUH’s digital presence and enhanced its performance, contributing to significant growth in website traffic and social engagement. Known for building high-performing, highly engaged teams, Sanober has fostered a culture of trust, respect and continuous learning, while maintaining employee retention rates of more than 90%.

Before joining AKUH, Sanober worked at a Washington, DC-based market research agency, leading strategic research projects for several Fortune 500 companies. Her background in economics and market research continues to shape her evidence-based approach to marketing, communications, and strategic decision-making.

Sanober holds an MBA and a BSc (Honours) in Economics, with a minor in Accounting and Finance, from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Sanober believes effective leadership is rooted in integrity, respect, intellectual curiosity, and service. She views MarCom as a strategic function that strengthens patient access, builds trust, and supports better health outcomes, while developing empowered teams that deliver meaningful and sustainable impact.