Omnicom Media Group MENA appoints new MENA CEO

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Global media network, Omnicom Media Group MENA has appointed Nadim Samara to the role of CEO of OMD MENA. With over 17 years within the agency, Nadim most recently held the role of CEO of OMD UAE where he secured local, regional and global accounts while creating new structures and strengthening the agency’s services. In his new role, Nadim will lead a network of 15 offices with over 600 employees and manage more than 200 clients, while driving transformation in the evolving media and marketing landscape to better respond to current and emerging client needs.

“Both the supply and demand side of our business are experiencing challenges that are increasing in frequency, velocity and intensity,” says Nadim. “This puts our clients’ and partners’ business models under significant strain and calls for more dynamic and agile responses. We’ve proactively evolved and our offices across MENA have the talent, the culture, the resources and the leaders to not only provide clients with results-driven solutions but also design the future. By scaling up our expertise in analytics, performance, tech and creativity in both depth and breadth, we will empower all our teams across the network to operate at the highest level.”

TishTash makes new promotion

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Dubai-based marketing and PR agency, TishTash has promoted Marwa Mohamed to the role of Senior Account Executive. With almost two years of experience working within the agency, Marwa worked across clients including The Body Shop, The Organic Pharmacy, Missha and Grown Alchemist. In her new role, she will continue to work across the clients’ portfolio and provide support to generate results.

“Working with TishTash for the past year and a half has been one of the most rewarding experiences, as I had the opportunity to work with reputable brands with the support of a great team,” says Marwa. “I’m excited for the next chapter with the agency and happy to take on more challenges!”

Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, CEO and Founder, TishTash says, “Marwa’s passion for all things beauty always made her the perfect team member for TishTash, which she has gone on to prove time and time again in her time with the agency.   Having worked with Marwa personally on many accounts in the agency, I have always admired her dedication and good work ethic, as well as her passion for the sector and need to research all brands so thoroughly before she starts work on them. She has a fabulous career ahead of her and I’m pleased to see her grow within my team.”

Argaam News welcomes new Editor

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Saudi Arabia-based news portal, Argaam News has appointed Paromita Dey to the role of Editor in the UAE. With over eight years of experience in journalism, Paromita previously worked with Construction Week at ITP Media Group as Reporter and most recently as Editor of Construction Business News at BNC Publishing. In her new role, she will be responsible for all content that gets published on the platform while liaising with freelancers and translators as well as generating exciting story ideas.

“I am really excited to join Argaam as an Editor,” says Paromita. “It’s a completely new challenge for me and I definitely look forward to it. These are exciting times for Saudi Arabia with so much activity happening. And it surely will present me a vibrant opportunity to tap into areas to create something engaging out of it.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) appoints Global Presidents 

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Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has appointed Richard Millar to the role of Global President. With over 14 years of experience within the agency, Richard most recently held the role of CEO in the agency’s UK branch. H+K will also see the appointment of Lars Erik Grønntun to the role of Global President. Lars most recently held the role of Chairman and CEO. In their new roles, they will work together to accelerate and maximise the global resources and enhance the agency’s strengths while overseeing all operations.

“The new structure enables us to tap into the best talent regardless of geography or practice,” says Richard. “It means that our teams will have access to the latest thinking, strategy and insight to help them shape meaningful and impactful careers and to deliver outstanding creative work. I am excited to be part of this change in partnership with Lars Erik and Jack.”

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to assume this leadership position,” says Lars. “Having led our operation in Europe, Middle East and Africa, I believe that my understanding of local markets together with our international mind-set and reach is transferable to a global stage. I very much look forward to taking a model that has worked very well for us in EMEA and putting it to work at a global scale.”

Weber Shandwick makes structural changes 

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Communications agency, Weber Shandwick has made structural changes to its senior management team. Ghaleb Zeidan has been promoted to the role of UAE Managing Director. With over 16 years of experience in the communications industry, Ghaleb most recently held the role of Managing Director of the agency’s Abu Dhabi office. In his new role, Ghaleb will handle operations for both Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices while overseeing the agency’s growth in the UAE and MENA region.

Rachel Dunn has been promoted to the role of Deputy Managing Director in the Dubai office. With over 10 years of experience within the agency, Rachel most recently held the role of VP, Client Experience and will lead the Dubai team while helping their clients transform the marcomms landscape.

Weber Shandwick will also see the promotion of Noura Al-Sarraj to the role of Deputy Managing Director for the Abu Dhabi office. With over 14 years of experience in the agency, Noura most recently worked with the agency where she held the role of VP and Head of Social Impact and Consumer. In her new role, she will lead the Abu Dhabi team while assisting to increase the agency’s growth in the MENA region.

“After a very successful tenure leading our Abu Dhabi office, it gives me great pleasure to announce Ghaleb’s promotion to UAE MD,” says Ziad Hasbani, MENA CEO, Weber Shandwick. “Over the last eight years, Ghaleb has achieved great results, and under his leadership our Abu Dhabi office has grown to become one of the leading agencies in the market. Ghaleb has shown himself to be a very capable leader, and as our industry continues to evolve, I have no doubt he will drive our UAE operation and keep us ahead of the market in terms of offering, efficiency and client focus. I’m very happy to see Noura and Rachel taking leadership roles as they have both proved themselves, each in their own way, and I’m confident they will add great value.”

Hadeel Mansour promoted at markettiers 

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Broadcast PR specialists, markettiers has promoted Hadeel Mansour to the role of Senior Account Executive. With a wealth of experience in PR, Hadeel most recently held the role of Account Executive, where she supported the team with creative consultancy and worked with agencies and clients across key projects.

In her new role, she will manage the production and delivery of content and undertake targeted media relations while ensuring the campaigns deliver for both clients, brands and media owners.

“I’m very pleased with the experience I’ve gained working at markettiers MENA over the past year,” says Hadeel. “The team has been extremely supportive and helpful and it’s truly been a wonderful journey.  I’m excited to keep growing in the business and I look forward to the new challenges that this will bring.”

Cheryl King, Managing Director, markettiers continues, “Hadeel has had an incredible first year with us and has been instrumental in the ongoing growth of the business – bringing in new clients, growing relationships and leading on multiple projects. Hadeel’s enthusiasm and passion for what we do has been great to see, and she’s always impressed by going above and beyond.”

Starcom makes new appointment 

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Starcom, part of Publicis Media, has appointed Racha Makarem to the role of Regional CEO. With over 15 years of experience in the agency, Racha previously worked as Head of the Analytics and Insights Practice and most recently held the role of Managing Director of the Data Science Practice. In her new role, she will elevate the passion and collaborative spirit of Stardom to drive change while also continuing to build the agency’s deliverables against the increasing demand for data.

“Over the past 15 years, my expertise has been in helping our clients solve complex business problems from the lens of the consumer, mining data and delivering actionable insights,” says Racha. “Previously, as the head of the Publicis Media Data & Science Practice, my role was to build this expertise across our network and client teams, fueling marketing transformation in an age where data is prevalent.  In my role as CEO, I will accelerate this momentum, ensuring that we continue to shape the industry.  My priorities, leading Starcom, the Human Experience Company are; to work closely with our clients to create real solutions that accelerate their growth, to leverage actionable data and technology to deliver marketing transformation, and to invest in our people who will drive the capabilities around data, technology and performance to propel the growth of our clients business in today’s digital economy. We have never faced a more dynamic time to be in our business and I’m excited to be at the helm of Starcom, leading into tomorrow.”

Memac Ogilvy welcomes new Managing Director 

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Memac Ogilvy has appointed Philippe Berthelot to the role of Managing Director. With a wealth of experience in delivering award-winning creative campaigns globally, Philippe most recently worked with brands such as Pepsi, Lays, Google and France 24. In his new role, Philippe will lead the agency’s operations and focus on delivering modern marketing solutions to help increase awareness of its brands.

“I’ve always been an experience junkie, always needed a challenge, and always needed to grow in my career – that’s what’s led me across the world from the creative to the account side,” says Philippe Berthelot, Managing Director, Memac Ogilvy UAE. “The truth is, consumers have changed as well. They seem to care less about brands today. That’s why our goal is to create purposeful work that makes brands matter in peoples’ lives. It’s as simple as that.”

Create Media Group makes new appointments 

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Digital communications agency, Create Media Group has appointed Sandra Khawand to the role of Account Director. With over four years of experience in the region, Sandra most recently worked with brands such as Dubai Tourism, GoPro and Nestlé. In her new role, she will take the lead on the agency’s new accounts, develop strong and innovative social media strategies while ensuring the progress and growth of each account.

Create Media Group will also see the appointment of Diogo Bernado to the role of Account Manager. With a wealth of experience in paid social media management across the Middle East, Diogo is a digital strategist from Lisbon and has worked with brands such as Emirates, Chanel, Swarovski and Hyundai. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving key social media accounts and delivering creative campaigns, focusing mainly on paid media and social media management.

“Both Sandra and Diogo bring a wealth of global account management experience and we’re really looking forward to seeing the impact they’re going to have both on our culture and our new client accounts,” says Tom Otton, Managing Director, Create Media Group.

TishTash makes new appointment 

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Dubai-based marketing and PR agency, TishTash has appointed Alison Bowers to the role of Marketing and Events Executive. With a wealth of experience working in the UK before moving to the UAE, Alison most recently worked with brands such as H&M and Boohoo. In her new role, she will support the team on all events for the agency, manage consumer databases and CRM, oversee partnerships and support with marketing and promotional activities.

“TishTash is such an incredible brand, with such a good ethos,” says Alison. “That was really important to me when I moved to Dubai, to find those fundamental common values in a company, so I didn’t settle for anything less. As soon as I met Tash and her team, I knew this is where I wanted to be. The best thing is, we all love what we do. I am excited to be a part of such an innovative team.”

Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, TishTash, Founder and Managing Director, continues, “There are some people you meet and straight away you feel like you’ve known them forever and that’s how I feel with Alison. Her can-do attitude, fun-filled personality, passion for events and trying new things made her perfect to support us.”