The move comes as the professional services giant seeks to repair relations following a significant dispute with a major Saudi Arabian client.

Ms Hinton, a former contender for the top UK job herself, is being lined up to succeed Hani Ashkar, who will step down next summer after a 12-year tenure as head of PwC Middle East. Mr Ashkar, who will transition to a new global role, announced his departure in May. While no formal decision has been made, sources close to the matter indicate Ms Hinton is the frontrunner among several candidates being considered by Mr Amitrano, Financial Times reports.

The leadership transition follows a one-year ban on new advisory work imposed on PwC by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in February. The suspension was triggered by what sources described as “friction and angst” over PwC’s attempt to hire the chief internal audit officer from Neom, the $500 billion megaproject managed by the PIF.

PwC’s Middle East operations, which are integrated with its UK firm, have become a crucial revenue stream, buoyed by major contracts like the Neom project. This has helped to offset sluggish consulting demand in Britain. In the financial year to June 2024, sales in the Middle East surged by 26 per cent, contributing nearly a third of the combined £6.3 billion revenue for the UK and Middle East region.

During his leadership, Mr Ashkar was instrumental in cultivating strong relationships with key companies and government bodies, overseeing a period of significant growth. His departure coincides with a broader slowdown in the Saudi consulting market, as officials grow concerned about over-reliance on Western firms.

The potential appointment of Ms Hinton, an outsider to the region, is an unconventional move in a business landscape that heavily relies on long-standing local relationships. If confirmed, she would become the first female head of a Big Four firm in the Middle East.