May 2014 – Page 3 – The Media Network

Wissam Younane joins BNC Publishing

May 13, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Team TMN

Wissam Younane has joined the BNC Publishing team as Managing Partner. Previous Sales Director for ITP Publishing, Wissam will now act as Director for Entrepreneur Middle East, Entrepreneur Qatar and Entrepreneur AlArabiya and and will be corporately and commercially responsible for other company interests.

“Entrepreneurship in the Middle East has long been an interest of mine,” says Wissam. “My newest position as the Managing Partner of BNC Publishing acts as a vehicle to put my ambitions to work while simultaneously supporting the MENA business community through our various channels, both print and digital.”

Amit Kakkar joins ENVOGUE Events Management

May 13, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Team TMN

Amit Kakkar has joined ENVOGUE Events Management as Head of Events and PR in Dubai. For the previous four years, Amit has worked as Senior Manager at The Times of India in New Dehli, and in his new role, he will be involved in events-related consultancy, event planning and handling key PR accounts.

“I have seen ENVOGUE Events Management growing and executing events successfully in the Middle East, and I feel proud to be a part of it,” says Amit. “The events industry is something I always wanted to explore as a work field, and as the UAE is a country where global events now happen, I am committed to giving it my best.”

AP to launch research study at Arab Media Forum

May 12, 2014/0 Comments/in New Launch /by Team TMN

The Associated Press has announced the launch of its Middle East research study, outlining the changing demands for video news in the region and the impact on the news consumption habits of consumers. The Associated Press research findings will be announced at the Arab Media Forum on May 20, 2014.

The study, conducted by Deloitte, addresses questions around the news consumption habits of consumers in the Middle East, looking specifically at – who are the key consumer of news, how they access news coverage and how often, the consumption habits of different demographics, how and why the demand for video content is changing and how social media and mobile devices are impacting the trends.

Additionally, John Daniszewski, Vice President of International News at Associated Press will be hosting a session on ‘The Future of News in the Middle East’, showcasing his views from the perspective of an international news agency on the challenges that news gathering organisations face in light of recent trends, and the changing needs and behaviours of contemporary audiences within the region.

ITP announces Harper’s Interior Design Awards

May 12, 2014/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Team TMN

ITP Consumer group, publishers of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors has announced the planning for the inaugural Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Design Awards 2014. The event will be held in October 2014, and forms part of Downtown Design Dubai’s official programme.

The event will feature 12 award categories, ranging from statement lighting and textiles, to fashion-inspired furniture and hot new technology. The entries for each category will be shortlisted by an impartial judging panel that will include an internationally renowned designer, an accomplished creative director and the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. Further voting will be conducted online, where readers will be able to vote for their favourites in each category.

“The awards will recognise the most successful commercial players in the marketplace, while also celebrating the most promising emerging talent from the region and beyond,” says Rue Kothari, Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar Interiors. “We’ll seek to highlight the best and most innovative products, furniture brands, retail brands and designers.”

Talking about the Best Emerging Designer category, Rue adds, “As the leading consumer interiors title in the region, we understand the importance of supporting and incubating new talent, as well as to be a vocal advocate of the local design industry. So we’ll be putting out a call for new talent from all over the world to submit original designs based on a Middle Eastern theme; giving the winner a unique opportunity to be mentored by an event partner and to see their winning designs put into production.”

Sassy Mama to launch in Dubai

May 12, 2014/0 Comments/in New Launch /by Team TMN

Sassy Media Group, a digital marketing group targeted at women, has announced that it will be launching a Dubai version of the online parenting platform Sassy Mama, set to go live May 25, 2014. Following the launch of Sassy Mama Hong Kong in 2009 and Sassy Mama Singapore in 2013, the Dubai platform will provide a well-researched and trustworthy parenting site for the female community in Dubai who juggle kids, careers and family lives, directly from one source. Sassy Mama Dubai will bring the brands signature mix of helpful articles, covering health, eating out, shopping, schools, parent profiles, travel with and without the kids, and everything in between. There are currently over 40,000 members of the Sassy Mama brand, and over 300,000 site visitors each month in Hong Kong.

“We are so excited to be bringing Sassy Mama to Dubai – and judging by the response we’ve had so far we’re not the only ones,” says Kaya Scott, Co-Founder and Editor, Sassy Media Group. “Dubai is a fabulous city in which to be a mum and a woman and we aim to showcase the very best it has to offer, by unearthing all the fabulous secrets which make a city tick whilst also providing a valuable mum-friendly resource – a sort of little black book if you like!”

DPQ Communications signs G-Star Raw UAE

May 11, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

DPQ Communications has won the PR account to handle G-Star Raw UAE. The DPQ team will be working closely with the clothing brand, whose headquarters are located in the Netherlands, to bring new collections and stores into the UAE market. G-Star Raw currently has stores in various malls in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as a collection in Bloomingdales.

“We’re really excited about having G-Star Raw UAE on board,” says Katie Harvey, Managing Partner, DPQ Communications. “We have already put in place some cool ideas to push the brand further into the market.”

Expose Communications signs Rhong-Tiam

May 11, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

Expose Communications has won the PR account to handle traditional Thai restaurant Rhong-Tiam in Dubai. Rhong-Tiam currently has restaurants in Texas, China, Japan and Canada, and its first Middle Eastern launch will take place in June 2014, in Business Bay.

“I am a big fan of Rhong-Tiam and love what the brand represents, by offering customers an organic, gluten-free Thai option,” says Dana Abdelhadi, Director, Expose Communications. “We are excited to be working with the award-winning Thai concept and look forward to launching its first venture in the Middle East this summer.”

Omnicom Media Group signs The Walt Disney Company

May 8, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

The Walt Disney Company Europe, Middle East and Africa has appointed Omnicom Media Group as lead agency to handle its communications planning and media implementation, effective July 1, 2014. This will be at a regional level and in the UK and Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, Nordics, and the Emerging Markets – Middle East, Greece, South Africa and Turkey.

In a separate move, The Walt Disney Company MENA has signed Omnicom Media Group’s agency OMD to handle its social media in the Middle East.

“Furthering its goal of bringing content to consumers on platforms they prefer, The Walt Disney Company MENA has appointed OMD as its social media agency in the Middle East,” says Didier Vanneste, Country Head, The Walt Disney Company MENA. “We saw in OMD’s approach a potent blend of science and creativity. With their proven experience in crafting social media strategies and executions, we believe OMD is ideally placed to give Disney its true voice in the region via social media channels. As we grow our fan base in MENA, conversing in both English and Arabic is of paramount importance. Disney MENA believes this partnership will bring many exciting initiatives (and a little bit of magic) in the social space.”

Nadim Samara, Managing Director of OMD UAE and Lower Gulf adds, “We all grew up with Disney so its only fair that we should now contribute to Disney’s growth. This is a very meaningful appointment for us since not only did we win the account internationally, but we will also be handling their social media in this part of the world. This new partnership represents an exciting and fun opportunity for us to deploy specialist services such as social media, and we look forward to coming up with some magical innovations in the space with and for the master wizards of entertainment.”

Transform Awards announces MENA finalists

May 8, 2014/0 Comments/in Award win /by Team TMN

The MENA edition of Europe’s annual Transform Awards has revealed the names of the regional finalists. Those shortlisted for the 2014 Transform Awards MENA include Commercial Bank of Qatar and Industry, du, Mey (Diageo) and Landor Associates and Toyota Al-Futtain and Bellwether Brands in the ‘Best brand evolution’ category. In addition to this, entries shortlisted for ‘Best strategic/creative development of a new brand’ are; Abu Dhabi Technology Department Committee and Brand Union, Al Mutawakelah and Omnia, ARN and Brash Brands, Fundo Soberano de Angola and Grayling, Mubadala Petroleum and Omnia and The Supreme Council of Health and Agency222.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner for the inaugural awards, which will take place on June 2, 2014 at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. The awards will bring together professionals from the regional branding, advertising, digital and communications sector to celebrate the most successful rebranding, repositioning and brand transformation projects in the Middle East and North Africa. The event also includes a full day conference where industry experts will talk about the implications of multi-marketing branding, the effect of Gen-Y on employer branding and the challenges and opportunities of building brands in the Middle East.

Expose Communications signs ChikaLicious

May 7, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Team TMN

Expose Communications has won the PR account to handle New York based dessert bar, ChikaLicious. Established in 2003, ChickaLicious Dessert Bar features innovative individual desserts, and is set to open in Dubai this summer. The dessert experience will be prepared by Chef David Schour, who will act as ChikaLicious’s ambassador for the Middle East.

“We are thrilled to introduce the infamous dessert bar to Dubai,” says Dana Abdelhadi, Director, Expose Communications. “With the award-winning venue opening this summer, we’re expecting to attract foodies from all over the Middle East.”