Content Plus launches index for top agencies in the UAE

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Dubai-based consultancy, Content Plus has launched new public relations index in the UAE. The PR index aims to provide a practical assessment and examine the efficiency of agencies in the UAE based on the first-hand experience of journalists through a poll as well as act as a guide for companies to select the best PR agency representation. With 200 journalist polled, the results shortlisted ten best agencies, ranking them based on the quality of content and effective engagement with the media by evaluating their level of support, fast follow up and interaction. The full list is available on content-plus.net

“The importance of these perspectives lies in the fact that the media is essentially, the primary channel used to convey the messages of PR agencies’ clients to their target audiences,” says Mohammed Baida, Managing Director, Content Plus. “By launching the Public Relations Index, Content Plus aims to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the UAE PR industry and pinpoint practical ways to improve their level of collaboration with different media outlets.”

Omnicom Media Group signs new partnership

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Omnicom Media Group, part of Omnicom Group has signed an agreement with digital advertising company, Pathmatics to enhance its service offerings across the MENA region. The partnership will grant Omnicom’s clients in the region exclusive access to Pathmatics’s unique display and mobile advertising intelligence to better capture market dynamics and enhance their digital planning and buying performance.

“This MENA extension to our global contract with Pathmatics is the latest development in our multi-tiered approach to enhancing our service offering in the region,” says Dimitri Metaxas, Regional Executive Director-Specialist Companies, Omnicom Media Group MENA. “Pathmatics has the unique advantage of pinpointing the true path of digital adverts, which affords our clients greater clarity in an ever-evolving, complex landscape.”

Cicero and Bernay expands into North Africa

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Public relations agency, Cicero and Bernay (C&B) has signed a strategic affiliation with Kalima, a subsidiary of communications group, Impact, as a part of its plan to expand into Algeria and Tunisia. The new agreement will see C&B provide public relations services, PR Strategies, on-ground support and development of targeted communications, with an aim to cater to the growing Algerian and Tunisian markets. The affiliation will also ensure that Kalima secures a strong footprint in the PR industry to strengthen C&B’s presence across the GCC.

“Kalima has a similar ethos to that of C&B – focusing on adding value to clients through a customer-centric and results-focused approach,” says Ahmad Itani, COO, C&B. “This shared philosophy makes us natural partners and we are pleased to be adding Kalima to our network of experts – adding valuable insights to C&B’s network from Algeria and Tunisia.”

Omnicom Media Group MENA partners with digital analytics firm

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Omnicom Media Group has extended its partnership with digital analytics company, Moat, to the Middle East. Aiming to provide greater transparency in measurement and performance, Omnicom Media Group, the media services arm of Omnicom Group Inc. has been collaborating with Moat since 2014.

“This value of extending the partnership with Moat was obvious to us from the beginning,” says Dimitri Metaxas, Regional Executive Director-Specialist Companies, Omnicom Media Group MENA. “Its benefits extend to all parties within the industry, as it allows us to better understand all the measured parameters and deliver a tangibly stronger performance. This alliance helps us move into a new era of measurement, ensuring that publishers and media partners are well-aware of our commitment towards the brands and businesses that our agencies represent. This is the latest step we’ve taken to enhance our clients’ marketing and business performance better.”

Major leadership changes at Edelman DABO

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Communications and marketing firm, Edelman DABO has undergone major leadership changes in the region following mass layoffs earlier this year. Camilla and Lucy d’Abo, founders of Dabo & Co, which in 2015 was acquired by Edelman and rebranded as Edelman DABO, will step down from their current roles and leave the agency. After seven years of working with the brand, Managing Director, Jason Leavy will also depart Edelman DABO to pursue new opportunities in the PR and publishing industry.

The new management transition will see Jason Galucci, previously CEO at Lexis UK take on the role of Managing Director, Brand at Edelman UAE. In his new role, he will oversee the combined Edelman DABO team and its operations across the country.

Alex Apthorpe will also be joining the agency’s new management team to take on the role of Director of Brand Experience and Creative for Edelman DABO. Previously Senior Vice President and Joint Managing Director for Jack Morton Worldwide – Middle East, in his new role, Alex will oversee the experiential team reporting to Galucci.

Arab News partners with online polling firm

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Saudi Arabian-based newspaper, Arab News has signed an exclusive partnership with online polling firm, YouGov. The new partnership will see YouGov conduct regular polls in relation to the MENA region to help shed light on regional views towards international events. The agreement will also produce credible research on international opinions on Arab affairs and allow its findings be published on Arab News’ print and digital platforms starting in May, 2017.

“In an era of fast-moving news cycles, information overload and ‘fake news’, there could be no better time for a media brand to invest in quality, credible research such as that produced by YouGov,” says Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Arab News. “This inevitably means that Arab News readers will enjoy a series of highly insightful research-based reports which will, in turn, bring us closer to understanding the hearts and minds of the region.”

Cannes Lions 2017 Jury revealed

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Motivate Val Morgan, the official representatives of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has named this year’s jurors from the UAE set to judge entries from across the region. The members of jury will include Josephine Younes, Creative Director of McCann FP7/DXB, Elda Choucair, CEO of PHD MENA, Sascha Kuntza, Creative Director of Memac Ogilvy and Firas Medrows, Executive Creative Director of DDB Dubai. The upcoming festival will see a panel of jurors categorised under radio, promo and activation, direct and media in the UAE to shortlist and announce the winners at the event ceremony from June 17 – 24, 2017.

City 7 TV changes ownership

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Following the recent announcement that well-established Saudi-Arabian news channel, Al-Arab has ceased operations, another channel in the region has been on the brink of closure leading to a change of ownership. Dubai-based English language television channel, City 7 TV formerly part of BinHendi Enterprises, will now operate under the umbrella of WeTel-TV, a TV platform for global educational news and current affairs. The new acquisition will be headed by President and Editor-in-Chief of WeTel-TV, Adil Matin and will also see City 7 TV continue operations, but as a new educational TV in the UAE.

Major restructuring at The National

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Following the announcement of International Media Investments (IMI) acquiring ownership of The National in November 2016, the title will commence operations from its new headquarters, in TwoFour54, on July 1, 2017. While the transition aims to increase emphasis on the publication’s digital presence, it has resulted in major job losses across the board, according to unconfirmed sources. Exiting staff members will be working until the end of June 2017.

Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz departs Vogue

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It has been confirmed that Saudi Princess, Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz will no longer be Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Arabia. The title, part of Nervora Publishing has already appointed a new editor. Conde Nast launched the online edition of Vogue Arabia in July 2016, followed by the print edition in March 2017.