New Senior PR Exec for Venture Communications

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Charles Santhakumar has today joined the team at Venture Communications in the role of Senior PR Executive. Hailing from India, Charles has over seven years of PR experience in agencies including Edelman, Hanmer MSL and Vaishnavi Corporate Communications, and his new role at Venture Communications will be his first step in to the Middle East PR industry.

“I am very much looking forward to commencing my career in the Middle East and putting the experience I gained in India to good use,” says Charles. “I love to work under pressure and am looking forward to getting stuck in to this new role.”

Charles will look after the lifestyle, healthcare, hospitality and transportation accounts and can be contacted at charlessanthakumar@venture-com.com / +971 (0)56 744 7423

Style.com/Arabia Men launches

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Style.com/Arabia Men has launched as an online publication dedicated to gentlemen of the Middle East. Encompassing a broader, more diverse set of topics than the women-focused Style.com/Arabia, the new gent’s portal will cover style, culture, design, gadgets and gear.

“We believe that men in the region have long been deserving of a publication that understands their evolving interests,” says Shashi Menon, CEO & Publisher, Style.com/Arabia. “Style.com/Arabia Men will be the definitive guide on how to live as a sophisticated, modern man in the Middle East, underpinned by the distinctive Style.com/Arabia voice, perspective, and approach.”

As with Style.com/Arabia, the new men’s site is available in both English and Arabic language. Visit www.arabia.style.com/men/ to learn more.

New platform set to transform taxi advertising

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Taxi Media Middle East is to soft launch its new state-of-the-art touchscreen technology for taxi advertising in late November. The advertising platform is set to transform taxi advertising effectiveness through the means of time based, location based and real-time updates allowing advertisers full control of their content.

Taxi Media Middle East has the exclusive rights to the Middle East for the world’s largest taxi media platform. Currently operating in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Canada, with further expansion to Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, France and Germany planned in 2014, the units are heavily patented and have won many awards for their advances in technology.

The soft launch will roll out across 7,146 taxis in the Abu Dhabi Emirate involving Emirates Taxis, Cars Taxis, Arabia Taxis, National Taxis, Tawasul and Al Ghazal Taxis. The official launch is set for January 2014, with expansion into other Emirates and countries within the region planned later in 2014.

entourage honoured at Dubai SME 100 Awards

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entourage marketing and events were honoured at the prestigious Dubai SME 100 awards that took place yesterday. Key management were present to receive the industry recognition at the award ceremony that took place at Dubai World Trade Centre, in the presence of HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

“At entourage we don’t just work for awards but for results for our clients, this approach is now being recognised by the guardians of industry,” says Mohammed Tayem, Managing Director of entourage. “Personally I am extremely proud of my team and thank our clients to giving us a chance to serve them.”

SME 100 is a premier ranking of Dubai’s 100 top performing SMEs, launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME).

Lonely Planet Traveller & BBC Good Food relocate

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Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East and BBC Good Food Middle East have moved to new offices. The entire editorial, sales, marketing and events teams have shifted to CPI Media Group’s headquarters in TECOM. The new address is office 804, Grosvenor Business Tower, TECOM and the switchboard number is 04-440-9100. Individual email addresses and direct lines remain the same.

Insignia Worldwide launches new PR division

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Branding and communications agency, Insignia Worldwide, has today launched its new PR division, Insignia PR. The Dubai-based agency will provide representation for destination brands, including international hotel groups, boutique properties, leading restaurants and lifestyle venues and the arts and culture segments.

“We speak the language of travel and lifestyle fluently as we understand consumer dynamics, key feeder markets, seasonalities and segmentation,” says Founder & CEO, Gaurav Sinha. “When you complement this knowledge with our insights about the region, our ability to influence media as well as the market, and our imagination to deliver creative and compelling messaging platforms, you have a refreshing new perspective on PR services.”

At the helm of Insignia PR is Director, Gabriela Asquith, who adds: “Our foremost strength lies in our international media relations, promoting homegrown brands across the world and connecting international brands to this region.”

New Editor joins Mother, Baby & Child magazine

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Dina Maaty has today joined Mother, Baby & Child magazine as Editor, superseding Zaina Shihabi, who stepped down last month after relocating to Liverpool. With over five years of experience in the media industry, Dina has previously held both editorial and PR roles in leading lifestyle publications and government communication hubs in the US, Qatar and Egypt.

“I am delighted to join this publication which has been helping women in the UAE make a smooth transition into the world of parenting and motherhood,” says Dina. “I look forward to presenting readers with more quality content as expected from a magazine of this calibre.”

The Dubai Mall Magazine Features Writer, Sarah Jimaa

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Name: Sarah Jimaa
Age: 23
From: London, United Kingdom
Current job title: Features Writer, The Dubai Mall Magazine

When did you arrive in the UAE?
I’ve been here for about eight years with the exception of last year where I was based in London – my second home. Time notoriously flies in Dubai!

Where did you work prior?
Before coming aboard at NPI Media I worked at HELLO! Middle East for two years as Fashion & Beauty Writer, before heading back to London to pursue my master’s degree. I also did some freelance styling while I was in London before returning to Dubai.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
When I first started out in media it was still a growing industry but one that has now flourished immensely.

Have your views changed the second time around?
Absolutely! It’s a vibrant and growing scene and it would be difficult to name a title that has yet to be produced in this region besides the obvious few…

What challenges are you facing?
None so far, knock on wood. I think it helps having worked and lived in the region before and understanding how things work here – in terms of timing, priorities and deadlines.

How do you plan to make your mark with this title?
By delivering original, up-to-date fashion and beauty news and providing readers with their must-have season staples issue after issue.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Reporting on the latest trends in both fashion and beauty is rewarding in itself but getting to meet new people and traveling along the way are always added bonuses.

How do you find the PRs in the region?
Persistent but pleasant!

What’s your pet PR peeve?
Incessant calling. If I say I will get back to you, I will – I promise!

What advice can you offer PRs seeking coverage in your magazine?
Know the magazine and the type of products we would feature – it makes life so much easier for both parties. I am responsible for the fashion and beauty pages, plus gifts, trends, style, travel an gadgets, so make sure your news is relevant to me.

Work calls via landline, mobile or both?
I would say email first and then landline if urgent! Either would be just fine.

Describe yourself in five words…
I’ll leave that for others to judge!

What’s your most overused saying?
“Absolutely!” I think I’ve actually used it somewhere in this feature – oops!

Five things you can’t live without?
My iPhone, statement heels, food, friends and family

If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be?
I’m a massive foodie, so anything related to food would be fab – perhaps a cooking show presenter – one can dream!