Nick Cooper joins Seven Media

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Nick Cooper has joined Seven Media as Director, working across the Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices. Prior to this, Nick held the position of Head of Corporate Communications at Middle East Communication Network (MCN) looking after its 13 agency brands. Having joined Seven Media as the third Director alongside founders Matt Slater and Gregg Fray, Nick will be responsible for key clients, content and campaign direction, as well as business development and project management.

“I have watched Seven Media grow over the past five years, and am delighted to be joining as the agency continues on its next phase of expansion,” says Nick. “Seven has a proven track record of success for its wide range of lifestyle, business and government clients and I look forward to working with such a professional team.”

MB Consultancy undergoes rebrand

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MB Consultancy has undergone a full rebrand, inclusive of a name change to Boguslavsky & Co. Having first established in South Africa in 2011, the agency will now specialise in digital strategy for businesses – primarily startups and SMEs – with the full redesign including a new name, logo, positioning and new website – www.boguslavskyandco.com.

“We’re still offering the same level of service and commitment,” says Marianna Boguslavsky, Digital Strategist and Managing Director, Boguslavsky &Co. “But we have made some exciting strategic investments that will benefit both our current and future clients, by investing in a premium consumer trends data service, digital analytics tools and hiring new talent in the digital field.”

Resolution MENA launches Current@Resolution

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Omnicom Media Group’s Resolution MENA, the global network specialising in performance and content marketing services, has launched Current@Resolution, a social marketing solution for brands. Current@Resolution provides consolidated live insights from paid, owned and earned (POE) sources to ensure brands capitalise on public sentiment with timely, relevant and engaging content.

Current@Resolution enables historical, real-time and predictive analysis to be conducted across brand, competitive and category-based metrics. It allows brands to turn real-world events into rapid response marketing opportunities and business results through rapid response content creation, supported by creative and speciality agencies across the Omnicom Group. Current@Resolution also facilitates the amplification of content, supported by core integration of real-time social media planning and buying services, as well as the use of unique data, social performance reporting and analytics.

“While marketers understand the value of data, many struggle to measure and synergise a range of varying data points,” says Dimitri Metaxas, Managing Director, Resolution MENA. “It’s also a common challenge to unify traditionally standalone disciplines. Current@Resolution brings together paid media and content marketing teams to work in a cohesive, intelligence-based environment. It ensures that key content opportunities are correctly evaluated and maximised.”

Starcom MediaVest Group ranked top MENA agency

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Paris-based research agency RECMA (Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry) has announced Starcom MediaVest Group the number one ranked agency in the MENA region in its 2013 Global Billings Rankings Report. In 2013, Starcom MediaVest Group increased its billings by 18 percent, with an industry share of 17.5 percent.

RECMA’s report evaluates the overall activity – including buying billings and specialised services – of all global media agencies across 62 countries. This is the fourth consecutive year that Starcom MediaVest Group has attained this position.

In addition, RECMA has named Starcom MediaVest Group number one in the ‘Top 14 Countries’ ranking, which is a key chart in the overall report, accounting for 81 percent of the media agency industry. Starcom MediaVest Group also retained its position in the overall regional evaluations – including its top rank in North America – and was named the number two agency in Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

Nominations open for BBC Good Food ME Awards 2014

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Nominations are now open for the fifth annual BBC Good Food Middle East Awards. The nomination phase will run until September 30, 2014, with two new categories added to the list – Best Sustainable Restaurant and Best Food Blogger – taking the total number of awards to 35. Nominations can be made at www.bbcgoodfoodme.com/awards/2014.

Categories for the BBC Good Food Middle East Awards 2014 include:

FINE DINING: Restaurant of the Year Dubai, Restaurant of the Year Abu Dhabi,  Best New Restaurant Dubai (opened on or after January 2014),   Best New Restaurant Abu Dhabi (opened on or after January 2014), Restaurant of the Year – Doha, Qatar – NEW Category, Chef of the Year, Best European, Best Asian, Best Contemporary British,Best Latin American, Best Indian, Best Middle Eastern, Best Steakhouse, Best Brunch, Best Italian, Best Seafood and Best Experiential Dining Venue (an outlet that offers a unique entertainment experience along with great food)

CASUAL DINING: Best International, Best Indian, Best Asian, Best Middle Eastern and Best Café

INGREDIENTS: Favourite Supermarket, Favourite Speciality Food Store/Market, Favourite Brand for Store Cupboard Items, Favourite Dairy Brand, Favourite Olive Oil Brand, Favourite Tea Brand, Favourite Coffee Brand and Favourite Juice Brand

ACCESSORIES: Favourite Large Kitchen Appliance Brand, Favourite Small Kitchen Appliance Brand and Favourite Tableware Store

NEW CATEGORIES: Best Sustainable Restaurant and Best Food Blogger

The awards ceremony will take place on January 28, 2015, with a venue yet to be confirmed.

Second edition of VFDE announced

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Vogue Italia, in association with The Dubai Mall, has announced the second annual Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience (VFDE), to be held at The Dubai Mall from October 30 – November 1 2014. A platform to encourage the upcoming generation of fashion designers and set a benchmark to encourage future talent, VFDE will host an array of workshops and panel discussions for the public.

Additionally, VFDE will showcase the talent of eight new international designers at a fashion show to be held at The Dubai Mall Fashion Catwalk on October 30. The designers have been selected by Vogue Italia as part of VFDE’s focus on mentoring new talent. A panel of international fashion players will attend the exhibit of the S/S 2015 collections.

Following the first global talent scouting competition which launched in January 2014, organised by The Dubai Mall and Vogue Italia, with the support of BySymphony.com, 20 emerging designers will also showcase their S/S 2015 collections at this year’s VFDE, at the ‘International Talents Showcase’ at Armani Hotel Dubai, held from October 31 – November 1.

Stanislava Burianek joins Active PR

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Stanislava Burianek has been appointed as PR Consultant for Active PR in Dubai. Previously with Matrix PR as Senior PR Executive, Stanislava will head the team who overlook five accounts for the company, and will provide support on media relations, copywriting, client servicing and strategic planning.

“It’s a great transition for me and my career to join Active PR,” says Stanislava. “The team is full of drive and energy, and the whole corporate culture is amazing! I hope this new career journey will be long and fruitful for both me and the team.”

Alison Tay joins Grazia Middle East

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Alison Tay has joined ITP Publishing Group as Editor-in-Chief of Grazia Middle East. Having previously held the role of Style Editor at British celebrity weekly Now magazine, Alison brings over 15 years of experience interviewing and styling international celebrities, a nomination for Fashion Journalist of the Year 2014 by UK’s industry portal Fashion Monitor, and her expertise as TV opinionista for BBC News,  ITV1, Sky News and Channel 4.

Alison joins the team to head up the Grazia portfolio of titles across the Middle East, taking in Grazia Middle East, Grazia Bahrain and Grazia Luxury.