Omar Hamdi (media founder)

Omar Hamdi is a British journalist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Mediatech scale up Pathos Communications.[1]

Early life

Hamdi is a native of Cardiff, Wales.[2] His parents had moved from Egypt to Wales in the 1970s.[3] He got into comedy through an ex-girlfriend, who suggested that he use comedy as an outlet for his energy.[2]

Early career

Hamdi rose to prominence working on the British academy award-winning[4] BBC consumer affairs TV show X-Ray[5] as well as the BBC debate show Free Speech.[6] He also wrote for national newspapers, including The Independent[7] and The Express.[8] His writing also led to a nomination by The Times for Book of the Year.[9]

He writes for newspapers and magazines, and was mentioned in Don't Panic I'm Islamic.[10] For the latter he undertook a stand-up and book tour around the UK,[11] after it was selected as Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year.[12] He has also written and presented on four series of BBC Radio 2’s award-winning show Pause for Thought.[13]

He appeared at major comedy clubs in the UK including The Comedy Store. His stand-up comedy is autobiographical, including varying perspectives on nationality, gender and love, as well as a satirical take on the big issues facing the world.[14]

He began performing stand-up after graduating from Leeds University. He made his TV debut in 2014, performing stand-up on Seann Walsh's late night show.[15] He also starred in the chat show "Free Speech"[16] Hamdi has been involved in the 2017 Super Muslim Comedy Tour.[17]

Involvement in AI

Hamdi says that he ‘was into AI before it was fashionable’, having studied computing at the University of Leeds.[18]

He has led Pathos Communications to develop proprietary AI tools, Pressella and PathosMind.[19]

Business career

Founding Pathos Communications in 2019, Hamdi rapidly grew the company.[20] This led to it being featured on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square in 2023.[21]

In 2024, it was recognised as the fastest growing professional services firm in the UK by the UBS Fast Growth Index.[22] The following year, Pathos was ranked by the Financial Times as the 33rd fastest growing company in Europe, and the fastest growing advertising and marketing company in the UK.[23]

Later in 2025, Hamdi was recognised by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, in the LDC Top 50 ranking of the UK’s most ambitious business leaders.[24]

The same year, Hamdi judged the UK Startup Awards, which were won by Magic AI.[25][26]

In November 2025, Pathos Communications was ranked by Big Four firm Deloitte as the 6th fastest growing tech firm in the UK in the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50[27] At the same awards, Pathos was also ranked as the fastest growing bootstrapped tech firm in the UK.[28]

Hamdi continues to lead Pathos as CEO, including its expansion into Mainland China and Latin America.

References

  1. ^ "Pathos Communications | Pathos Communications". payonresultspr.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Behind The Mic: Spotlight on Welsh comedians". Wales Online. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  3. ^ "UK comics: 'Arabs aren't funny'? That's a joke". english.alarabiya.net. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Ifans clinches Bafta 'Grand Slam'". 24 April 2005. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  5. ^ "BBC One - X-Ray, Series 16, Episode 7". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  6. ^ "BBC Three - Free Speech, Series 3, Episode 6, How is it right to have a lower minimum wage for young adults age 18-21?". BBC. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Omar Hamdi". The Independent. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  8. ^ Hamdi, Omar (29 March 2016). "Why of all places did ISIS choose to strike Belgium?...asks OMAR HAMDI". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  9. ^ Rudd, Reviews by Matt (26 November 2017). "Books of the year: Humour". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  10. ^ Gaspard, L.; Duffy, C.A.; Riddell, C.; Wheatle, A.; Manguel, A.; Farhi, M.; Aboulela, L.; Mahfouz, S. (2017). Don't Panic, I'm Islamic: Words and Pictures on How to Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Alien Next Door. Saqi. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-86356-993-7. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Don't Panic, I'm Islamic: Extreme Comedy NOW! | Saqi Books". www.saqibooks.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  12. ^ Rudd, Reviews by Matt (26 November 2017). "Books of the year: Humour". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Comedians at the Super Muslim Comedy Tour 2017 | PennyAppeal.org". www.pennyappeal.org. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Fringe Q&As: Omar Hamdi on politics and the Fringe punters". HeraldScotland. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  15. ^ "2014, Seann Walsh's Late Night Comedy Spectacular - BBC Three". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  16. ^ "How is it right to have a lower minimum wage for young adults age 18-21?, Episode 6, Series 3, Free Speech - BBC Three". BBC. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Have you heard the one about the Muslims making a splash on the UK comedy scene?". Arab News. 19 November 2019.
  18. ^ "From Problems to Possibilities". LDC. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  19. ^ Staff, Entrepreneur UK (23 June 2025). "Pathos Communications: Disruptive Influence". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  20. ^ "PATHOS COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  21. ^ Report, Gulf News (13 November 2023). "Pathos Communications Reviews featured on Nasdaq Tower in Times Square". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  22. ^ "FASTEST GROWING BUSINESSES IN THE UK IN 2024 – Fast Growth 50". Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Client Challenge". www.ft.com. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Omar Hamdi". LDC. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Omar Hamdi judging StartUp awards 2025 – UK StartUp Awards". Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  26. ^ "2025 Uk National StartUp Awards Winners – UK StartUp Awards". Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  27. ^ "2025 winners". UK Technology Fast 50. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Out of Focus: How Founders Feel About Britain's Media Landscape". The Entrepreneurs Network. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Hamdi_(comedian)