January 2015 – Page 6 – The Media Network

Mediaquest & C Squared to launch Festival of Media

January 7, 2015/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Mediaquest has joined with C Squared to launch the first-ever Festival of Media in Dubai. The partnership between two of the region’s leading publishers and events companies will bring the internationally renowned industry awards and networking programme to the city, with the inaugural event scheduled to take place on April 15, 2015.

“The Festival of Media has a well-earned reputation as being one of the foremost marketing and media events in the world and one that celebrates the very best in industry thinking,” says Alexandre Hawari, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mediaquest. “The Festival comprises a number of components that marks it out as a global leader. These include an awards programme that recognises the very best marketing campaigns, an exhibition that enables vendors to promote initiative to prospective clients and several platforms that provide networking and thought-leader opportunities. In fact, the high quality of discussion and debate at the Festival has led to it becoming known as ‘the Davos of advertising.’

Launched in Venice in 2007, the Festival of Media Global was created to highlight key developments in the media sphere, such as consumer trends, branded content, advertising and social media. The Awards element was added in 2009, establishing the Festival as a leading media event on the international marketing calendar. The Festival of Media MENA will add to the pantheon of global Festival of Media events, which currently take place in Rome, Singapore and Miami.

Charlie Crowe, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of C Squared adds, “The Festival of Media is more than just an event, it is a movement. Since 2007, we have not only been reflecting the changes taking place in media, but we have also been part of shaping this change. After our partnership with our friends at Mediaquest, we now have the Festival of Media in four regions and we look forward to inviting media professionals and advertisers across the MENA to be part of the conversation.”

The Festival of Media Global Awards is one of the world’s largest advertising ceremonies, attracting work from more than 40 countries. The awards are judged by a senior panel of media agencies and advertisers and are open to all who are involved in advertising. The MENA edition of the Awards is expected to attract a multitude of entries that reflect the diverse array of media operators producing high-quality work in the pan-Arab region. Alongside the awards programme, The Festival of Media MENA’s one-day conference is set to feature seven to nine global media leaders who have been invited to offer their thoughts and expertise on a number of topical and pertinent MENA media subjects.

house of comms appoints new Account Executive

January 7, 2015/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Dubai-based PR agency house of comms has appointed Hannah Shanks as its newest Account Executive. Hannah joins the team from UK creative agency, The Black Eye Project, where she worked as Senior PR Account Executive across various industry sectors on a client list of national and international accounts, including Spanish olive and Mediterranean brand, Fragata, as well as global ice skating brand, HD Sports.

“It’s a fantastic time to be joining house of comms and I’m thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and forward thinking team,” says Hannah. “I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and supporting on client accounts across the region.”

TCApr wins Six Senses Zighy Bay partnership

January 7, 2015/0 Comments/in Account win /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

After a competitive bid, TCApr has won the account to represent Six Senses Zighy Bay, a resort located on the northern Musandam Peninsula in the Sultanate of Oman. Zighy Bay offers an authentic and traditional experience in indigenous village style villas, with guests having the option to choose from one of the 82 one or two bedroom villas that boast different specialities, as well as two bedroom retreats and four bedroom private reserves. With experience across sectors including luxury, hospitality and lifestyle, TCApr won the pitch to represent Six Senses Zighy Bay throughout the GCC and will execute high quality projects and communications for its new client.

“Winning the Six Senses Zighy Bay pitch is a huge achievement for TCApr and reaffirms our company’s commitment to what we are and what we achieve for our clients,” says Ahmed Soliman, Managing Director, TCApr. “Our company is based on passionate marketers, so to win such an account reaffirms our passion in not only delivering, but also excelling in service and expertise to each of our clients, ensuring that that we go over and above their expectations. We are excited to have Six Senses Zighy Bay as our client and are looking forward to working closer with the resort in the ever expanding GCC business market.”

Imagine Communications signs Alarab News Channel

January 6, 2015/0 Comments/in Account win /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Imagine Communications, a market leader in advertising management and video infrastructure solutions, has been awarded a contract to supply an integrated media traffic, planning and scheduling system for Alarab News Channel, a new broadcaster based in Bahrain. Alarab TV is scheduled to join the competitive news market in the Middle East in early 2015 and has selected Imagine Communications to help launch and manage a cost effective and efficient workflow for managing its operations.

“Our goal is to change the way news is broadcast in the Middle East, bringing the news that matters to our viewers in a completely fresh way,” says Jamal Khashoggi, Editor-in-Chief and General Manager, Alarab TV. “Imagine Communications’ software will help us meet that goal.”

Alarab TV will use Imagine Communications’ advertising management platform for detailed scheduling of both program content and commercials, as well as advertising sales.

Bob Lamb, Product Manager of Imagine Communications’ Media Software portfolio adds, “Alarab is the most anticipated television channel launch in the Middle East for many years, and we are excited to be a part of it. Alarab recognises that to be effective in the broadcast arena as a news provider, you need to manage operations as simply as possible. By implementing our integrated media software system, they will be positioned to realise those efficiencies through secure, streamlined and flexible operations.”

Boye Balogun heads up Future Tech Media

January 6, 2015/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Boye Balogun, former Region Head of Digital at Mindshare, has left the company to head newly established Future Tech Media as Co–Founder and Managing Director. Having been with Mindshare since 2012, Boye will now oversee Future Tech Media, a Middle East & Africa digital media solutions and consultancy business, which focuses on innovative digital solutions.

“We have a perfectly curated suite of innovative digital products across native advertising, mobile and video to help drive the next wave of digital advertising in this market,” says Boye.

With its first office currently open in Dubai, another is set to be established in Lagos to cater for the African region later in the year.

Facebook acquires voice-recognition firm

January 6, 2015/0 Comments/in International News /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Facebook has acquired Wit.ai, a company that makes voice-recognition technology for wearable devices and internet-connected appliances. While a price for the deal has not been released, the 18-month old company, which is based in Palo Alto, California, is to move to Facebook’s offices in nearby Menlo Park, with Facebook set to hire a number of Wit.ai’s employees, including its three Co-Founders – Alex Lebrun, Willy Blandin and Laurent Landowski.

In an official blog post by Wit.ai, the team has noted “Facebook has the resources and talent to help us take the next step. Facebook’s mission is to connect everyone and build amazing experiences for the over 1.3 billion people on the platform – technology that understands natural language is a big part of that, and we think we can help.”

The company currently makes software that can understand spoken words as well as written text phrased in ‘natural language’, and highlights Facebook’s ambition to extend its reach beyond computers and smartphones by potentially integrating the software into apps and home-automation devices.

Cressida Meale moves across to Stylist Arabia

January 6, 2015/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Cressida Meale has been appointed as the new Deputy Editor for Stylist Arabia. Having held the position of Deputy Editor for Grazia Middle East since 2013, Cressida has worked across a number of publications including Motilo.com and Vogue Turkey. She now moves across to the weekly women’s magazine at Arab Publishing Partners (APP), which is part of the ITP Group.

DPQ Communications to represent Adagio Premium

January 6, 2015/0 Comments/in Account win /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

In another addition to its hospitality portfolio, DPQ Communications has secured the account to represent Adagio Premium in the UAE. A high-end concept of hotel apartments set to launch in February 2015, it will be the second Adagio Premium property in the world, catering to people who are seeking familiar and luxurious long-term accommodation.

“We are excited about launching Adagio Premium into the market, as the concept sets a new standard for long-term stay, especially within the corporate market,” says Katie Harvey, Co-Founder, DPQ Communications. “We are really looking forward to strengthening our partnership and contributing to the success of the Adagio brand.”

TNS welcomes new Middle East CEO

January 6, 2015/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

TNS, a leading global custom market research consultancy, has appointed Stephen Hillebrand as CEO Middle East. With this promotion, Stephen takes over from Steve Hamilton-Clark who had been in the position for the past 17 years, guiding the business through a period of exponential growth. Having joined TNS in 2000 and spending the past seven years in the Middle East, Stephen most recently held the position of Vice President for the Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East region, playing a pivotal role in enabling the acquisition and leading the subsequent integration of RMS, the then independent Sub-Saharan market research agency, into TNS.

In his new role, Stephen will be responsible for leading TNS’ Middle East business units into the next phase of growth with a strategic concentration on technology-enabled research, focused on the complexity of digital-influenced integrated marketing, particularly in the culturally diverse regional markets.

“I am excited to further push the boundaries in the work we conduct with our clients, ensuring that we are continually evolving to meet their changing needs in a region with such great potential for growth,” says Stephen.

Kim MacIlwaine, Regional CEO TNS AMME adds, “We are proud to partner to so many local businesses as well as global players. I know Stephen’s vast experience in business planning and executing will bring new energy and ideas to build on our strength, especially in the UAE, Saudi and the Gulf states.”

Seven Media wins Red Star Wok account

January 5, 2015/0 Comments/in Account win /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Seven Media has secured its latest client win in the form of Red Star Wok. Offering high quality Asian cuisine at an affordable price, Red Star Wok’s venues currently include two delivery and takeaway locations in Dubai and an Asian Kitchen restaurant in Ras Al Khaimah. Seven Media will be launching a PR and social media campaign this week, ahead of the Chinese New Year in February.

“We are thrilled to be adding Red Star Wok to our portfolio,” says Hollie Thomson, Lifestyle Director, Seven Media. “The quality of the food and swift delivery time has made it a personal favourite in our office, long before we pitched for it. Red Star Wok will now sit alongside our other F&B clients such as Reform Social & Grill, Ultra Brasserie, China Grill, Original Wings & Rings and eateries within hotels such as Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, to name but a few, as we create an interactive campaign across multiple platforms.”