MEPRA Award winners announced

The winners of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Awards have been announced following the conclusion of its tenth edition of the awards that took place on November 28, 2018. Held at the JW Mariott Marquis, the awards focused on celebrating and recognising impactful and creative campaigns in the Middle East. The awards saw wins for Brazen PR for Small Agency of the Year and Hill+Knowlton Strategies for Large Agency of the Year.

“This festival of creative communications has been the biggest and most successful event in MEPRA’s history, reflecting the growing maturity of the industry in the region,” says Ray Eglington, MEPRA Chair. “We’ve been delighted to welcome such an impressive array of international experts and to celebrate the excellence of the award-winning campaigns.”

MENA Effie Awards winners announced

Winners of the MENA Effie Awards has been announced following the conclusion of its tenth edition of the awards that took place on November 7, 2018. Held at Armani Downtown, the awards focused on bringing together agencies and clients from the regional industry to celebrate the best marketing campaigns. The awards saw special wins for FP7/DXB and FP7 MENA for Most Effective Advertising Agency Office and Network of the Year while other winners include Nissan for a Grand Prix Award for their #SheDrives campaign by TBWA/RAAD.

“We would like to congratulate all the entrants this year for their impressive efforts, hard work and resilience,” says Alexandre Hawari, Co-CEO, Mediaquest. “We are proud to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year and look forward to many more.”

ASDA’A BCW wins 28 awards at International Business Awards 

Dubai-based PR agency, ASDA’A Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) has received a total of twenty eight awards at the International Business Awards that took place on October 20, 2018 at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel. The agency secured five gold, ten silver and twelve bronze medals in the PR category, including a gold for PR Agency of the Year for the Middle East region and a special award for Most Honoured Public Relations Agency.

“This year has been one of change and growth for us as an agency, both regionally and globally,” says Sunil John, Founder, ASDA’A BCW. “What remains consistent throughout is our endeavour to raise the bar of excellence within our industry. Our focus has always been on delivering the highest quality for our clients, and we’re delighted to have our team’s fantastic work and dedication recognised at such an esteemed international platform.”

Nexa wins two awards at MENA Search Awards 

Dubai-based digital marketing agency, Nexa has received two awards in the MENA Search Awards that took place on September 20, 2018 at Madinat Jumeirah Resort, Dubai. The agency secured Best Integrated Campaign for its campaign work with a tour operator and Best Use of Search for its work with the use of display ads, strategically constructed blogs and search campaigns.

“We are delighted to have won ‘Best Integrated Campaign’ for the second year running,” says Amit Vyas, CEO, Nexa. “Our unique approach allows us to solve our clients’ real-life problems by creating actionable strategies that integrate offline and online activities, while enabling them to create stronger customer relationships, that directly translates to sales. Nexa prides itself in standing out from the crowd and being at the forefront of the latest marketing techniques and trends. This award not only recognises that approach, but the skill and dedication of the team to deliver the best results for our clients.”

RBBi secures three awards at MENA Search Awards 

Digital marketing agency, Red Blue Blur Ideas (RBBi) has received three awards at the MENA Search Awards that took place on September 20, 2018 at Madinat Jumeirah Resort, Dubai. The agency was shortlisted in 10 categories within 14 entries and has become the most shortlisted agency with their projects throughout the year. The agency secured Best Use of Search in the Finance sector, Best Use of Search in the Leisure sector and Best small SEO agency.

“We are honoured to be recognised by the MENA Search Awards for two years in a row,” says Caroline Dickin, CEO, RBBi. “These awards reaffirm that we have the best strategists and practitioners as well as first-rate proprietary tools and technologies to provide a digital experience to our clients, which is not only aesthetically superior but is also sustainable and functional.”

Silx nominated for Marketing Excellence Award 

UAE-based content marketing agency, Silx has been nominated for the Annual Marketing Excellence Awards Program. Organised by ITSMA and set to take place on November 6, 2018 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the program honours the marketing programs, campaigns and new initiatives that have demonstrated superior performance in strategy and planning, innovation, execution and business results. Silx has been selected as a finalist in the Driving Business through Thought Leadership category for their program on Virtuzone.

“It is an honour for Silx to be announced as an ITSMA 2018 Marketing Excellence Awards finalist,” says Alex Ionides, Managing Director, Silx. “To be nominated in the ‘Driving Business through Thought Leadership’ category makes it all the more special, as this is the concept that really underlines what we do. As we tell our clients every day, a comprehensive content marketing strategy is about much more than lead generation, it’s about positioning your brand as an authority – a true thought leader. To be recognised for this approach gives all of us at Silx a great feeling.”

MD of Those Social Guys nominated for Gulf Capital SME Award

Managing Director of Those Social Guys, Samuel Turner has been nominated for New Entrepreneur of the Year at the Gulf Capital SME Awards 2018. Instituted by MEED and supported by Dubai SME and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, the awards recognise innovative and successful business leaders in the UAE. The awards will be held on September 26, 2018 at the Ritz Carlton DIFC. 
“Any time you’re recognised for an achievement by your peers, it means so much,” says Samuel Turner. “I hope awards like this, and being recognised for overcoming challenges and building a company in a very competitive industry and environment can inspire young entrepreneurs to keep pushing through their challenges and towards their goals.” 

Absolute Communications Group CEO nominated for Gulf Capital SME Awards 

CEO of Absolute Communications Group, Victor King has been selected as a finalist for two categories in the Gulf Capital SME Awards 2018. He has been nominated for Business Leader of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year. Instituted by MEED and supported by Dubai SME and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, the awards recognize innovative and successful business leaders in the UAE. 
“It is a great honor to be recognized by people within the industry,” says Victor King, CEO, Absolute Communications. “As a small business owner, we face many challenges and it through innovation and disruption and keeping people – clients, partners and internal teams alike, together is what defines success and growth. The Awards will serve as further incentive to young and aspiring entrepreneurs.”

TBWA/RAAD wins big at Cannes Lions 

UAE-based creative agency, TBWA/RAAD has received the most awards in the region at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The awards took place on June 18 – 22, 2018 at Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France. The agency secured a Gold in Outdoor, a Silver and a Bronze in Media and a Bronze in Radio & Audio for its Highway Gallery at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The agency also won a PR Gold with #SheDrives for Nissan Saudi Arabia and a Bronze in Brand Experience and Activation for its Camelpower work for Nissan Middle East.

FP7/MENA wins big at Global Effie Awards 

Full-service advertising agency, FP7/MENA has received the Global Effie Award for the Most Awarded Agency Network in a Single Regional Competition. The awards took place on May 31, 2018 in New York City. The agency secured the award for FP7/DXB’s ranking as #2 Most Effective Agency Office Globally and FP7/CAI – FP7’s Cairo office– ranked #8 Most Effective Agency Globally.

“I’m completely honored and humbled at the same time – doing work that makes a meaningful difference for the brands that we represent is our job,” says Tarek Miknas, CEO, FP7/MENA. “Creativity that is not self-serving, nor made for award shows, but rather works to benefit both brand and consumer, is what makes us proud. That’s our True North. The fact that our Effie-winning work also wins at creative shows, goes to show that the complementary forces of effectiveness and creative brilliance, in our line of work, are two  sides of the same coin.”