IHC welcomes new Director of Social Marketing

Nihal Osman has joined IHC Integrated Communications as Director of Social Marketing. Previously Senior Communications Specialist at MBC for six years, Nihal handled all corporate and media relations including protocol management. She also oversaw the media buying and acquisition process and was Associate Producer for Arabs Got Talent and Arab Idol.

In her new role as Director of Social Marketing at IHC Integrated Communications, Nihal will handle all social marketing campaigns, traditional and digital including press releases, social media campaigns, SEO, brand activations and ground promotional campaigns as well as promoting IHC’s new Event Management department.

“I’ve chosen to join IHC because of their impressive portfolio and excellent work ethic,” says Nihal. “I am extremely excited to be working with IHC – their ability to combine both traditional and contemporary marketing – and bring them to life, is a real inspiration for me.”

Lucy Harvey promoted to Regional Director

Hill+Knowlton Strategies has promoted Lucy Harvey to Regional Director. Lucy joined the Hill+Knowlton Middle East team in 2010, as General Manager of the Abu Dhabi office and most recently as General Manager for the Dubai office where she also lead the region’s Marketing Communications Practice.

In her new role as Regional Director, Lucy will support operations, strategy and key client relationships across the wider Middle East region and will work across all eight Hill+Knowlton offices in the Middle East and within the Hill+Knowlton EMEA network.

“Hill+Knowlton has a unique regional network with fully owned offices in key Middle East locations, so I am particularly excited to be working with these talented and diverse teams in my new role,” says Lucy. “We’re all looking forward to creating more world-class and award-winning 360° campaigns in 2016.”

Effie MENA Awards winners announced

The seventh edition of the annual Effie MENA Awards hosted a total of 25 categories for entrants this year. There were 12 categories under ‘Product and Service,’ eight under ‘Specialty’ and a single category ‘Shopper Marketing.’ There was also a chance to win a ‘Grand Prix’ award and to have the titles ‘The Most Effective Marketing Team of the Year,’ ‘Most Effective MENA Agency Network of the Year’ and ‘Most Effective MENA Advertising Agency Office of the Year’, ‘Most Effective MENA Media Agency Office of the Year’ bestowed. To win an Effie Award, entrants need to impress the judges in four main criteria; ‘Strategic Challenge and Objectives,’ ‘Idea,’ ‘Bringing the Idea to Life’ and ‘Results.’

This year’s Grand Prix winner was Impact BBDO Cairo and OMD – Media Direction for the Sting Launch Campaign. Advertising agency FP7 received a double win and was awarded most effective agency office of the year and most effective agency network of the year. OMD Dubai won the title of most effective media office of the year.

“The high standard of entries combined with the rigorous and stringent evaluation procedures mean that it was a very tough competition indeed this year,” says Alexandre Hawari, Co-COE of Mediaquest Corp. “As organisers of the annual Effie MENA Awards, we are both honoured and delighted to have such a range of distinguished figures participating as judges in this year’s programme.”

Those who excelled as being the most influential entities in the region’s marketing sector for the past 12 months and who celebrated with a gold Effie MENA Award this year were:

–       Smartlife – FP7/DXB

–       Dominos – JWT KSA

–       Sony Mobile Communications – FP7/DXB

–       Chrysler ME – Publicis ME

–       Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) – Geometry Global

–       Emirates NBD – FP7/DXB

–       touch – JWT Beirut

–       Coca-Cola ME – FP7 DXB and Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai

–       Rani Float – Mindshare MENA

–       Quaker – DDB

–       Infiniti ME – TBWA/RAAD & Mindshare MENA

–       Sting – Impact BBDO Cairo & OMD- Media Direction

–       UN Women – Impact BBDO Dubai

–       Coca-Cola ME – FP7/DXB & Memac Ogilvy & Mather

–       Smartlife – Capital Group & FP7/DXB

–       Chipsy – Impact BBDO Cairo & OMD – Media Direction- Abla Fahita – JWT Entertainment & JWT

–       Fanta – FP7/DXB

–       Fanta – FP7/DXB & Power League Gaming

–       7UP – Impact BBDO Dubai & OMD

 

Amy Frengley joins Omnia

Branding and digital communications company Omnia has welcomed Amy Frengley to the role of Strategy Director. Amy previously worked as Managing Partner at Brandsmiths, part of the All About Brand network , and brings with her a wealth of experience in branding after years of extensive freelance work in Dubai. In her new role as Strategy Director, Amy will oversee all strategic direction and implementation of the agency’s key branding projects.

“After a number of years working in the region, I am delighted to be joining Omnia to flag a new chapter in the agency’s growth,” says Amy. “With a bolstered strategy offer, we can provide our clients with the insight and thinking that’s needed to develop brands with resonance and help them drive long term growth.”

Slant Agency launches

Lopamudra Kundu, formerly Vice President at IKON Advertising, and Shantesh Row, formerly Executive Creative Director at IKON, have launched advertising and communications agency, Slant. The agency will provide 360 degree thinking in ATL, BTL and TTL, including all creative and strategy – from press & OOH campaigns to TVCs and Radio, as well as content creation to complete marketing, identity and design plans.

Founding Partners Lopamudra Kundu, Shantesh Row and Prabhangshu Kundu, have worked across 250 brands throughout the Middle East, India and Australia and together possess over 50 years of experience in advertising.

“We’re a new-breed communications agency,” says Lopamudra. “We are independent, agile, collaborative and forward thinking.”

Shantesh adds, “Slant brings an edge, a different way to offer solutions to our clients. As ‘Slanters’, we are sure this off-centre approach will add value and impact to our clients.”

Hill+Knowlton AD welcomes new GM

Stuart Macaulay has joined Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ Abu Dhabi office as General Manager. Formerly GM at Weber Shandwick’s Qatar office, and previously the Head of EMAE PR for the London-based PR firm Cognito, Stuart brings with him over 20 years of experience in communications.

At Cognito he oversaw integrated communication programmes throughout the Middle East, UK, US, Canada and Africa, managing client teams, strategic planning, media relations, crisis communications, profile raising and B2B communications alongside branding, messaging projects and government communications. In his new role as General Manger, Stuart will be responsible for the management of the team, and servicing of the consultancy’s key Abu Dhabi-based clients.

“In their 30th year of operation in the Middle East, I am excited to be joining H+K during such a period of growth, creativity and success, says Stuart. “The UAE capital provides exciting opportunities for growth and I look forward to working with the vibrant team, and the wider regional network, on diverse and engaging communications campaigns and consultancy.”

Devinder Bains leaves Stylist Arabia

Devinder Bains has stepped down as Editor of Stylist Arabia. After being with the magazine since 2014, Devinder will join the recently launched lovindubai.com as Editor. LovinDubai.com is a lifestyle website covering all things local including food, news, opinion and events. The online publication delivers content to readers through a cheeky tone, fun lists and local knowledge.

Devinder brings over 15 years of journalism experience to her new role, as well as launching Stylist Arabia over a year ago, she was formerly Features Director of Fabulous, the UK Sun on Sunday newspaper’s magazine, and prior to this was Features Editor of Look magazine and Head of Features at IPC Media’s Real Life Group in the UK.

“After the successful launch of Stylist Arabia, I’m ready for a new challenge,” says Devinder. “LovinDubai.com is new but already doing brilliantly well due to its fresh, no nonsense attitude and high quality editorial. I’m excited about joining such a cool, vibrant team and plan to repeat the success I had at Stylist Arabia by growing LovinDubai.com into one of the UAE’s top online publications.”

Hinde Liepmannsohn joins Exclusive Networks

Hinde Liepmannsohn has joined Exclusive Networks ME as Head of Marketing. Hinde has over eight years of experience in business to business marketing globally, having worked in Europe, the United States and the UAE,  for companies such as MEED, Streamline Marketing Group and the Global Transport Forum. In her new role, Hinde will be responsible for developing and implementing successful marketing strategies for the IT security solutions company.

“I look forward to working for this award-winning organisation and to continue building relationships and successful programs for both vendors and channel partners across the region,” says Hinde.

Hello, petal!

With Dubai reaching perfect outdoor temperatures, Team TMN finds the perfect way to relax and boost beach-body confidence – all in just 90 minutes…

What: Shrinking Violet Body Wrap

Where: Talise Spa, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah

When: Every Day from 09.00 – 22.00

The promise: “Shrinking Violet is a revolutionary and effective wrap treatment that removes fat cells from problem areas. The main ingredient, a phospholipid solution, blended with essential oils, works by breaking up fat cells, up to 72 hours after treatment. Results are visible immediately…”

Did it deliver? A separate building from the main hotel, Talise Health Centre is a beautifully appointed, very serene-feeling area with stunning views over the waterways. After a warm welcome from the staff at the front desk, Team TMN were promptly lead to the fitness side of the centre to have a set of measurements taken prior to our treatment. Following a day of grazing in the office, being measured comprehensively by Talise’s impressively high-tech body scanner was not exactly a welcome task. However, when left in the capable hands of trainer Natascha, who calmly explained to us the machine’s many readings and what they meant, the process was painless and incredibly informative. With problem promptly being identified to be targeted during the treatment, we were given a tour of Talise’s fabulous facilities before being lead to one of their beautifully-appointed private rooms.

Once changed into the fetching disposable underwear provided, therapist Shani explained to us the process involved in a Shrinking Violet wrap, before she had us stand over heated towels to apply the treatment’s specially developed oil. A mixture consisting mostly of phospholipids and soy bean extract, the oil was thoroughly massaged into the skin. We were then snuggly wrapped from head to toe in what looked (and felt) like industrial-strength cling film.

Feeling mummified and rather warm, we were carefully – as completely unable to move our joints – moved onto a bed and wrapped in a heated blanket (to increase the treatment’s effectiveness).  As the part that we dreaded most, this was a surprisingly comfortable experience. The heat mostly affected areas already under wraps, which meant that it wasn’t particularly unpleasant and felt more like being tucked up under a duvet on a cold day, a strange feeling considering Dubai’s climate. Once settled, we were treated to a wonderfully stress-busting taster facial using Swiss skincare line Bellefontaine, which is exclusive to Jumeirah Hotel spas in Dubai. The relaxing and rejuvenating facial, combined with Shani’s friendly chatter and careful explanation of all processes involved, quickly put all worries to rest and soothed any feelings of overheating or claustrophobia.

After a further 30 minutes or so of drifting in and out of sleep, we were woken to find our cocoon being cut away to reveal sweaty but detoxified bodies. Thankfully the juniper, cyprus and lavender oils used in the treatment meant that we were left smelling wonderful – especially important as it is advised that you don’t shower for 24 hours post-treatment. Following further measurements and another consultation with Natascha, Team TMN were left feeling smug in our detoxified, slimmer states.

The Verdict: Though this isn’t the most sustainable way to slim down – nor, at AED849 a pop, is it the cheapest – the Shrinking Violet body wrap is an excellent way to boost confidence and lose an inch or two from problem areas. The minimal fuss involved in the treatment makes it a fantastic way to kick-start a detox, or get ready for a beach holiday. With Talise’s expert therapists proving friendly and attentive service, the whole process feels reassuringly relaxed and far more therapeutic than alternatives.