DDB Dubai has appointed Iris Minnema to the role of Managing Director. Having joined DDB Amsterdam as Senior Account Manager in 2007, Iris moved to Dubai and most recently held the position of Business Director, where she worked across clients such as Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s and Dubai Parks and Resorts. In her new role, she will report to Hubert Boulos, CEO of DDB Middle East and lead the operations of the Dubai office.
Beauty, health and wellness PR agency, TishTash has been appointed as the PR partner for The Snack Society. Founded by Kamilla Omarzay, The Snack Society offers homemade treats free from gluten, diary and sugar across the UAE. TishTash will be responsible for all of the band’s PR activities in the UAE.
“We are excited to be working with The Snack Society,” says Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, Managing Director, TishTash. “The brand is the perfect addition to our wellness client portfolio and as a company we share similar beliefs.”
The MENA Effie Awards (Effies), hosted and organised by MediaQuest, is now accepting entries for its ninth edition, set to take place on November 15, 2017. Aiming to recognise effective and innovative marketing in the region, the programme will honour brands across 29 industry-specific award categories, including a newly launched addition for the 2017 ceremony, ‘Renaissance’. Winners of the MENA Effie Awards 2017 will become part of the ranking process for next year’s Effie Effectiveness Index, a comprehensive global ranking of marketing effectiveness. The first deadline for entries is September 7, 2017, followed by the second deadline on September 14, 2017 and the final deadline on September 28,2017.
“We are delighted to be opening the call for entries for the ninth edition of the MENA Effies, which has become one of the most prestigious award programmes in the region’s marketing calendar,” says Alexandre Hawari, Co-CEO, MediaQuest. “The programme has been designed to encompass the entire marketing world and gives companies a real opportunity to display their innovative and effective approaches to everything ranging from sector-specific marketing to branded content and media ideas. The entries have been of an increasingly high calibre year-on-year and we are confident that 2017 will be no exception.”
UAE-based newspaper, The National, recently acquired by International Media Investments (IMI) has appointed Mina Al Oraibi to the role of Editor-in-Chief starting July 1, 2017. Mina previously worked with Saudi Arabian newspaper, Asharq AlAwsat in the UK as Assistant Editor-in-Chief and in the US as Washington DC Bureau Chief, and most recently with the Institute for State Effectiveness in the UK as Senior Fellow, where she led the institute’s Middle East discourse program. In her new role, she will lead The National team and contribute to the newspaper’s brand development, both print and online across the region.
Stylist Arabia and OK! Middle East are set to close down. Falling under the umbrella of ITP Media Group, women’s lifestyle magazine Stylist Arabia will discontinue production with its July/August 2017 edition being its final issue. In addition, celebrity lifestyle magazine, OK! Middle East will also follow suit with its last volume to be published at the end of this month. The two lifestyle magazines will also discontinue all digital operations on their mobile applications following the closures.
PR and content marketing agency, Brazen has been appointed by Freedom Pizza as its PR agency. Freedom Pizza is a UAE-based pizza brand that uses organic products to make a delicious range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. Brazen will be responsible for Freedom Pizza’s consumer and corporate PR remits that will include a strategic blend of media relations, influencer engagement, events, creative campaigns and business profiling of the brand’s CEO, Ian Ohan.
“Freedom Pizza is without a doubt one of the coolest and most authentic brands in the region and we are thrilled to be working with Ian and the team,” says Louise Jacobson, Managing Partner at Brazen UAE. “They are a business proudly committed to quality, food integrity and supporting local businesses and we’re excited to be part of this ethos and elevate it further.”
Dubai-based integrated communications and digital agency, The Qode has been appointed as the PR partner for Marcolin Group. Marcolin is an eyewear company that designs, produces and distributes eyewear products for well-known brands in the industry. The Qode will manage all PR and communications activities for Tom Ford, Ermenegildo Zegna, Roberto Cavalli and Guess as a part of Marcolin Group’s brand portfolio across the Middle East.
“Marcolin and its brands are a very exciting addition to our growing fashion portfolio,” says Ayman Fakoussa, Managing Partner, The Qode. “We hope to continue to diversify and increase our offerings in this sector and to welcome stylists, editors and influencers to our press sample showroom offering full looks for their shoots.”
Fashion Illustrator, Megan Hess has reappointed Think Liquorice for the launch of her new book, Paris, Through a Fashion Eye. Megan Hess has worked with luxury brands such as Chanel and Dior, and is well known for her illustrations in Candace Bushnell’s Sex and the City novel. Think Liquorice will handle all the PR and communications activities for the new book launch and will work alongside their partner, Fairmont The Palm to put on an equally impressive event that will celebrate another year of working with Megan.
“This event is always a highlight in our calendar and we are equally excited to get working on the concept and details for this year’s launch,” says Zahirah Variawa, Managing Director, Think Liquorice. “There are always opportunities to work with other leading brands in the local market and we are keen to build relationships alongside our fabulous existing partner, Fairmont The Palm.”
UAE-based communications agency, Q Communications has been appointed as the PR partner for TRYP by Wyndham in the UAE. TRYP by Wyndham aims to provide a contemporary cool design for the modern, young-at-heart and urban traveller. Q Communications will be responsible for all PR operations for the hospitality brand in the UAE.
“We’re so excited to be working with TRYP, its such a fun, young and energetic brand – the property will play a huge part in re-defining accessible hotels in the region,” says Katie Harvey, Managing Partner, Q Communications.
MCS Action, part of Action Global Communications has been appointed as the PR agency for STARZ PLAY, VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show 2017, Cyprus Tourism Organisation and InfoWatch Group. STARZ PLAY is an entertainment brand that offers video on-demand services to its subscribers across the region. VOD Dubai International Jewellery Show 2017 is a luxury show that will run from November 15 – 18 and incorporate Vicenzaoro Dubai and Dubai International Jewellery Week. Cyprus Tourism Organisation focuses on highlighting the heritage and culture of Cyprus as a Mediterranean island. InfoWatch Group is a global expert in information security software products and solutions. MCS Action will handle all PR and communications activities for the brands as well as deliver their planning and development across the GCC.
“This quartet of client and project wins across sectors as diverse as luxury goods, tourism, entertainment and cyber security highlights the agency’s experience and capacity to work in numerous industry verticals,” says Euan Megson, Managing Director, MCS Action. “Crucially, these wins also reflect my talented team’s capacity to co-ordinate strategic campaigns in various regional territories from our MENA hub in Dubai.”