DMS signs partnership with Screen-it By Strategies

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Digital Media Services (DMS), which serves as the digital arm of Choueiri Group, recently announced its exclusive partnership with Screen-it By Strategies the Dubai-based rich media and digital brand experience specialists. The tie-up focuses on offering DMS’ clients outstanding creative and executive expertise in crafting rich media campaigns.

Screen-it By Strategies features a French distinguished approach to modern designing, producing and launching advertising campaigns with exclusive interactive movie clips and films, which are aimed at captivating audiences and increase their engagement with brands.

“Our partnership with Screen-it By Strategies will enable our clients to develop highly creative and compelling ways to connect with the quality audiences they desire,” says Michel Malkoun, Chief Operating Officer, DMS. “Rich media and interactivity maximise the potential of your brand’s valuable advertising investment and Screen-it By Strategies possess an unrivalled ability to design highly-impactful and engaging brand experiences.”

 

Media figures dominate Arabian Business Brit List

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Media leaders have dominated the second edition of the Arabian Business Brits List – a study that lists the top 50 most influential British expatriates in the UAE.

While MBC Group’s CEO Sam Barnett has landed the top media spot, ranked 4th most influential Brit, Starcom MediaVest Group’s CEO John Antoniades isn’t far behind in 5th place. John Brash, owner of Brash Brands has also made the cut, ranked 17, Motivate Publishing’s Managing Partner Ian Fairservice comes in at number 27, while BBC Middle East Correspondent Mark Lobel snagged the 30th spot. Other notable media influencers who have made the top 50 include television and radio personality Tom Urquhart, DABO & CO Managing Partners Camilla and Lucy D’Abo, Face to Face agency owner Chris Bell and Francis Matthew, Editor at Large, Gulf News.

To see the full Arabian Business Brits List, click here

ITP announces Harper’s Interior Design Awards

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ITP Consumer group, publishers of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors has announced the planning for the inaugural Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Design Awards 2014. The event will be held in October 2014, and forms part of Downtown Design Dubai’s official programme.

The event will feature 12 award categories, ranging from statement lighting and textiles, to fashion-inspired furniture and hot new technology. The entries for each category will be shortlisted by an impartial judging panel that will include an internationally renowned designer, an accomplished creative director and the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. Further voting will be conducted online, where readers will be able to vote for their favourites in each category.

“The awards will recognise the most successful commercial players in the marketplace, while also celebrating the most promising emerging talent from the region and beyond,” says Rue Kothari, Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar Interiors. “We’ll seek to highlight the best and most innovative products, furniture brands, retail brands and designers.”

Talking about the Best Emerging Designer category, Rue adds, “As the leading consumer interiors title in the region, we understand the importance of supporting and incubating new talent, as well as to be a vocal advocate of the local design industry. So we’ll be putting out a call for new talent from all over the world to submit original designs based on a Middle Eastern theme; giving the winner a unique opportunity to be mentored by an event partner and to see their winning designs put into production.”

3 days left to vote for VIVA Beauty Awards 2014

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Voting for the 7th annual VIVA Beauty Awards will close May 10, 2014. This year there are 21 VIVA Beauty awards, which will be presented across 12 overall categories in the prestige and mass market respectively. These include – Best Foundation, Best Perfume, Best Mascara, Best Nail Polish, Best Hair Salon, Best Nail Spa, Best Anti-Ageing Product, Best Hair Product, Best Face Moisturiser, Best Lipstick, Best Body Product and the Editor’s Choice Cult Classic. The shortlist for each category was handpicked by the VIVA team, along with a beauty panel that included make-up artist Sophie Leach, presenter Gabriela Miloda and blogger Zahra Lyla Pedram.

The VIVA Beauty Awards will be held on May 22 at the JW Marriot Marquis Dubai, and the winners will be picked by readers who can see the shortlist and cast their vote at www.vivabeautyawards.com.

BPA releases circulation and media data

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BPA Worldwide has announced the concurrent release of circulation and media data in the region for the six-month period, which ended December 31, 2013. The figures cover media operations based in 8 Middle Eastern countries – UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, Oman and Qatar.

Included in the report are the average qualified circulations from the most recent 2013-ending Circulation Statements and Brand Reports. These figures are the circulation claims for the newspapers and magazines that have opted to be BPA-audited. Publisher members are required to declare their figures every six months and be audited annually by BPA media auditors. Also included are Event Audit results for events that took place in 2013, and Brand Reach data are also listed showing different audited channels for the same brand, including the Web Traffic “Average Unique Browser”, Social Media and Apps Downloads for the period July – December 2013.

Marka discloses PR & Ad expenditure for IPO

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Marka, the retail operator that recently listed its shares on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), has disclosed in its prospectus that AED 5.1million was spent on the PR campaign and advertising expenses for its initial public offering (IPO).

The PR campaign was led by New Perspective Media, and the circa AED 5million investment in marketing and PR helped to significantly boost the profile of the offer, as the company received orders exceeding AED 10billion for the AED 275million shares that were issued, resulting in significant oversubscription.

Marka’s IPO is the first on the DFM Dubai market since the global financial crisis in 2008, and the DFM currently holds as the leading performing market globally in 2014, up over 50% since January.

Kassab Group launches major growth expansion

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Kassab Group, a media services and solutions provider for the MENA region, has launched a major expansion programme by enhancing its senior management structure, acquiring new projects and restructuring its sales division. Kassab has appointed an advisory board, consisting of Semaan Choueiri, Strategy and Planning Director, Kassab; Mohammad Awad, Director, Kassab; and Hicham Adra, President, Ardan Fitzroy Enterprises.

In addition to this, Kassab has also appointed Patrick Brais as Chief Operating Officer, Gerard Rustorm who takes over as Chief Commercial Officer, and Bashar Nsheiwat as Senior Planning, Strategy and Business Development Director. The expansion also includes acquisition of new projects, specifically Sky News Arabia and expansion of the Dubai Metro project advertising concession.

“We have embarked on an ambitious expansion programme in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Algerian and Iraq, and it was therefore imperative to strengthen our senior management team and restructure our sales division,” says Ghassan N. Adra, Chairman and CEO, Kassab Group. “Kassab endeavours to deliver quality service, and we can achieve this goal only with the best and most experienced talent pool.”

Arab Media Forum 2014 theme announced

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The Arab Media Forum (AMF) has announced that the official theme for this years event will be ‘The future of media starts today’. The event aims to highlight the advancement of PR in the Arab world, and explore the new unfolding trends and technologies in the field of media in the region.

For its 13th edition of the forum, the Arab Media Forum 2014 will be held at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference and Exhibition Centre from the 20 – 21st May, 2014.

DJ Bliss is newest Contributor on Yahoo! Maktoob

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Marwan Parham Al-Awadi, aka DJ Bliss, has been officially announced as a Guest Contributor on Yahoo! Maktoob. In his new role, the Emirati DJ and TV personality will be talking about what’s hot and what’s not in the local and international entertainment scene.

“I’m grateful that Yahoo! Maktoob chose me as their contributor,” says Marwan. “I do several things at the moment from being a Presenter for Dubai One TV’s That’s Entertainment, to DJing, producing, and supporting local talents. These have given me a lot of exposure in the entertainment industry and allowed me to develop good relationships with local and international personalities. My page on Yahoo! Maktoob will be a platform for me to share all the most exciting news and information I gather, so please keep watching this space for more updates and thank you so much for all the support!”

Mojo PR partners with SERMO

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Mojo PR has been signed by SERMO Communications as its exclusive partner in the Middle East. SERMO Communications was founded in 2009, and the global lifestyle and communications network currently has 12 partners in 17 cities across 14 countries. In addition to Mojo PR in the Middle East, SERMO has most recently appointed a partner in France, L’Agence Lorraine de Boisanger. Both new agencies will join the other SERMO partners in Mumbai, India on 30 April for the network’s fourth annual conference, organised by the founders of SERMO, Talk PR.

“SERMO is now almost five years old and I feel really proud of what we have all achieved in creating a unique PR network that offers a viable alternative to the big global players,” says Tanya Hughes, President, SERMO Communications. “One thing that really stands out is the collaborative nature of the network – the fact that the network’s built on mutual understanding and respect, not ownership. Our new partners in Dubai and Paris share the sensibility and ambition to build global relationships. I relish the prospect of taking the network to the next level.”

Tara Rogers, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Mojo PR adds “We are delighted to be part of a network of like-minded agencies with the global reach that SERMO has developed. Increasingly, our clients require support in markets around the world and to know that we have immediate access to partners with a similar approach is both exciting and reassuring. We hope to contribute as much as we gain.”

Louise Mezzine, Co-founder and Partner of Mojo PR also adds “Joining SERMO marks a major milestone in the development of Mojo PR. We are really looking forward to using the collective intelligence of the network to add value to our team, clients and partners.”