Al Arabiya English launches blog section

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Al Arabiya English has added a blogs section to its website, to focus on additional areas of interest outside of politics. The section will feature a host of international writers covering fashion, beauty, career coaching, nutrition and fitness, there will also be features from sports, politics, business and art bloggers who will add to the topics covered. The new blog section will be edited by Eman El-Shenawi and the section’s inaugural blog piece was written by Sultan al-Qassemi, a commentator on Arab affairs and art in the region, on why the Middle East must embrace placing art online.

“Our lifestyle page has become one of the top three traffic generators on our website and it was through that we had the idea to launch the blog section,” says Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Al Arabiya English. “Although we are known for politics, we thought we’d give those who write on nutrition, sports and life in general an opportunity to write for our website.”

Motivate welcomes new Editor

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Lauren Steadman has joined Motivate Publishing as an Editor for its Connect division. Previously an Editor at ITP Publishing, Lauren has over 15 years of experience in journalism, five of which have been spent in the Gulf region. In her new role, she will edit Flashes magazine, writing and commissioning features concerning education, development, health and sustainability across the Middle East. Lauren will also be working as Contributing Editor for The Week magazine.

New Deputy Editor joins Time Out Dubai

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Amy Mathieson has joined ITP Publishing as Deputy Editor, Guides for Time Out Dubai. Previously a News Editor at Horse and Hound Magazine, part of Time Inc UK, Amy brings over nine years of experience in journalism to her new role. As Deputy Editor, Guides, she will be responsible for all of the supplements produced alongside the weekly lifestyle publication.

Carat MENA promotes Herve Wittenauer

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Carat MENA has promoted Herve Wittenauer to the role of General Manager – International Clients. Previously Client Servicing Director, Herve brings over 15 years of experience to his new role where he will now be reporting to Ramzi Haddad, Managing Director, Carat UAE and Lower Gulf. As General Manager – International Clients, he will be responsible for all of Carat’s international clients active across the Middle East and North Africa, supporting the 20 offices Carat has in the region. Herve will work to ensure that the agency delivers holistic, integrated and consistent client servicing on both a local and regional level.

“Since Herve joined us in Dubai two years ago, he has worked tirelessly to build Carat’s product offering and achieve operational excellence,” says Ramzi. “As our network and client portfolio continues to grow, it is imperative that we have the right experience and capability in key regional roles. We want to become a 100% digital agency by 2020 and continue to deliver value on a regional scale. This transformation is a huge undertaking and Herve is the right person to help us achieve this long term ambition. His promotion is a recognition of the passion, hard work and dedication that he carries with him to work every day.”

Herve adds “I have been with Dentsu network for 16 years now and in the just the last two I have seen Carat MENA grow exponentially. Our clients recognise the potential of this region and look to us to drive value across the board via our command of media convergence. I look forward to making sure our on the ground knowledge in each market is supported by a collaborative approach across the Middle East and North Africa.”

arabianEye partners with PA Images

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Dubai-based creative resource, arabianEye, has secured a new, exclusive partnership with PA Images in order to represent its image library in the MENA region. The deal will give arabianEye’s clients access to over 11 million images on-line, supported by an archive that dates back to the 1860’s. arabianEye will also be giving PA Images access to a selection of its exclusive Middle Eastern library, which has grown over the last ten years to include over 90 thousand images and footage clips from a network of local contributors.

“As the leading image and footage library in the Middle East, arabianEye has a track record in providing premium content and partnering with the best companies in the industry,” says Greg Aslangul, General Manager, arabianEye. “PA Images is an important addition to a group of strategic international partners that includes Alamy, Splashnews, Reuters and Magnum Photos.”

Stephen Munday, Managing Director, PA Images, adds “PA Images is delighted to be partnering with arabianEye, introducing PA Images’ renowned daily UK News, Sport and Entertainment imagery and our extensive historical archive to their customers in the MENA region.”

GN Publishing launches Baby&Child

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GN Publishing has today launched Baby&Child magazine, a new title dedicated to all parenting topics ranging from pregnancy to pre-school in the UAE. From the team behind Aquarius, Baby&Child is available quarterly from leading retailers for AED 20, with exclusive distribution through Marhababy, Baby Souk, DB Babies and Mumzworld. The brand also has an active Mummy Morning events calendar, daily social media and will shortly launch www.babyandchild.ae.

“Since we launched the Aquarius Baby supplement in May 2014, our mums have been asking us for a magazine and website as they desperately want access to locally relevant parenting advice as well as real life stories and support from mums in the UAE,” says Louisa Wilkins, Group Editor, Baby&Child. “They loved how our Baby supplement was open, honest and supportive of new parents in the UAE  and they wanted more of it… so here we are delivering their wishes!”

Katie Heskett, Associate Publisher, GN Publishing Women’s Lifestyle Group, adds “For the past two years, we have been talking to our Baby&Child audience, either through the pages of Aquarius Baby or at our monthly Mummy Mornings. We know what our readers want as we are engaging with them every month thanks to our active and engaged community of mums. With 80,000 babies born in the UAE every year, there is a lot of support needed for new parents and we’re excited that Baby&Child will be able to be part of their journey as a family.”

Bell Pottinger to make senior appointments

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Bell Pottinger will make a series of senior level appointments across the group’s international businesses. Sam Turvey, currently Managing Director in Dubai, will relocate to Hong Kong in early May, where he will take up the position of Managing Director in order to give a fresh perspective to the group’s Hong Kong team. Nicola Hooper, currently a Partner in the Dubai office, will become its new Managing Director where she will continue to nurture strong client relationships in the region. Nicola’s new role will also involve her working closely with Archie Berens, Managing Director of Bell Pottinger’s Abu Dhabi office, in order to implement a strategic growth plan across financial, corporate, government and consumer communications.

Tim Wilson, Chairman of Bell Pottinger Middle East, will also assume the additional role of Chairman of CSM Sport and Entertainment, Middle East and Africa, where he will oversee the opening of a new office in Dubai for the sports and entertainment agency while continuing to support the Bell Pottinger team in growing the geopolitical service offering.

“I am delighted to announce these appointments,” says James Henderson, Group CEO, Bell Pottinger. “They are a testament to our ability to attract and nurture brilliant talent which contributes to the continued success and growth of our international business. These changes are a great opportunity for Bell Pottinger’s international offices to offer clients even more of an integrated, global service. The connections between the Middle East and Asia are only getting stronger, so to be able to apply firsthand knowledge of the Middle East to businesses and individuals in the Far East – and vice versa – will be a real advantage.”