Custard welcomes new General Manager 

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Dubai-based event management agency, Custard has appointed Michelle Clarke to the role of General Manager. With a wealth of experience as an events professional, Michelle previously worked with leading brands in the MENA region and England for over 15 years. She most recently worked within the agency where she held the role of Client Services Director. In her new role, Michelle will be responsible for the leadership of the business and team, oversee operations and event delivery.

“I’m delighted to have been granted the opportunity to become Custard’s General Manager,” says Michelle. “I’m looking forward to working hard with our amazing team to achieve even higher levels of creativity and event execution, to ensure we are providing our clients with world class events!”

Sharjah’s first English language radio station makes new appointment 

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Abdul Karim Hanif has been appointed to the role of News Presenter at Pulse 95 Radio. With a wealth of experience in the media industry, Abdul previously worked with City 7 TV where he held the role of News and Sports Presenter and most recently worked with Euronews in Abu Dhabi where he was a freelance correspondent. In his new role, Abdul will produce and present news content that focuses on all the latest developments in Sharjah.

“It is an exciting opportunity to work with the team at ‘Pulse 95 Radio’ under the leadership of Mohammed Yanez, Head of the Station who has helped shape the radio scene in the UAE and GCC, launching some of the most successful radio brands,” says Abdul. “I look forward to bringing interesting stories and announcements from the Emirate of Sharjah.”

House of Comms welcomes new Head of Digital 

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Integrated communications agency, House of Comms has appointed David O’Sullivan to the role of Head of Digital. With over 15 years of experience in digital strategy and transformation for brands such as The Kraft Heinz Company, Mercedes Benz, Emirates Group, NBC Universal, LG Electronics and Marks & Spencer. In his new role, he will drive strategic and creative data-driven technology solutions to broader business problems.

“The team at House of Comms is dedicated and passionate about the work they do, and I am really glad to be part of the family,” says David. “It’s amazing to see a traditionally comms-focused agency move heavily into the data and tech arena as this is exactly where the market is moving. The need for businesses to gel and refine experiences across the board, almost always through technology with web, app, social, e-marketing, digital media, tech-based experiential and digital content, is crucial and absolutely central to most brand/product strategies.”

Jamie Wilks, Managing Partner, continues, “We’re buzzing to have David on board as we enter a new era for House of Comms.  We’ve been building web, app and creative tech solutions for years of course but now we can elevate our offering further as tech becomes an essential consideration for all comms strategies, product design, customer experiences and effective employee engagement.”

Vogue Arabia makes new appointment 

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Vogue Arabia has appointed Ravi Raman to the role of Associate Publisher. With over 20 years of experience in content strategy, revenue generation and brand marketing, he has previously worked with Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East and The Telegraph and most recently worked with Khaleej Times where he held the role of Senior Vice President. In his new role, he will deliver influential content and brand experience for readers.

“I am excited to join such an iconic brand and an immensely talented team,” says Ravi. “Within a short span the premium portfolio of Vogue Arabia, Pop Sugar and other experiential platforms have been established as the strongest voice in the region. In an increasingly connected world, readers are getting extremely choosy about where they spend their time.”

markettiers4dc Group of Companies welcomes Leanne Foy 

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Broadcast PR specialists, markettiers4dc Group of Companies has appointed Leanne Foy to the role of Group Marketing Manager. Bringing a wealth of knowledge from across the region, Leanne most recently worked with PRCA MENA where she held the role of General Manager. In her new role, Leanne will be tasked with creating synergies between the companies and bringing a renewed focus on marketing to the global network.

“I am very much looking forward to starting at markettiers in a brand new group-wide international role,” says Leanne. “Over the past four years, the company has grown from strength to strength in the region and I am thrilled to be working with the team to take markettiers to new heights globally. ”

Cheryl King, markettiers’ MENA Managing Director continues, “We’re very excited to welcome Leanne on board in her group-wide role that will see her support the business across the network. Leanne has had a phenomenal few years in the region since launching PRCA MENA, and has built up a fantastic network and knowledge of the communications industry that is recognised by everyone who meets her. We’re really looking forward to supporting Leanne’s ambitions in her next chapter, as we continue to grow and evangelise the power of broadcast both in the region and wider.”

RAPP ME welcomes new Managing Director 

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RAPP ME has appointed Mimi Nicklin to the role of Managing Director. With a wealth of experience in strategic and creative communications, Mimi previously worked across brands in South Africa including Coca-Cola, Kimberley Clarke, Samsung and Unilever and most recently worked with WPP Team GSK in Singapore where she held the role of Vice President. In her new role, she will focus on new strategic insights and creativity and strive for mass impact while leveraging data to drive delivery.

“In a time when the whole world is saying the same thing and many agencies offer a very similar offering I think it’s the quality of the talent that creates loyalty to our agency brands,” says Mimi. “My number one focus is on our people, our environment, our culture and our brand, ensuring that the team at RAPP are the most fulfilled and valued in our industry.”

EmiratesWoman.com makes new appointment 

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EmiratesWoman.com has appointed Salma Haidrani to the role of Features Editor. Awarded with ‘Young Journalist of the Year,’ ‘Young Stationers’ Prize for Journalism and Communications’ and ‘Best Feature’ at the End Violence Against Women Media Awards, Salma has most recently worked with publications such as Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, The Pool and Vice. In her new role, she will work across multi-platform news and features for EmiratesWoman.com including lifestyle, culture, fashion and beauty.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the team at EmiratesWoman.com, and look forward to writing quality content for stylish, sophisticated women in the Gulf,” says Salma. “Emirates Woman is the longest-running women’s title in the UAE, and it’s a big part of life in the Emirates for so many women here, so I’m excited to become part of  the team and add my voice to the title.”

MCN MEDIABRANDS appoints new CEO 

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MCN MEDIABRANDS has appointed Shadi Kandil to the role of Chief Executive Officer across the MENAT region. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Shadi initially worked with Omnicom Media Group where he moved to the role of CEO OMD MENA. In his new role, Shadi will increase the MCN MEDIABRAND’s offering and contribute greater value to client businesses.

“I’m honoured and thrilled to lead MCN MEDIABRANDS across MENAT and to work with our talented and passionate team to advance our clients’ missions,” says Shadi. “We live in exciting times and this gives us greater incentive to effect change and build for the future.”

Viu makes new appointment 

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PCCW Media’s Viu from Vuclip has appointed Abe Shady Abdul Naga to the role of Middle East General Manager. With over 17 years of experience in broadcasting, he most recently worked with Middle East Broadcast Corporation (MBC) as Director of Digital Business. In his new role, he will lead a region-specific growth strategy and oversee all of its operations in the region.

“Viu has been on a trajectory of success, and its local approach to the region combined with its remarkable local and global teams is a clear recipe for continued success,” says Abe Shady Abdul Naga. “Increasing demand for digital entertainment from youth proves that the market for such services in the MENA region is promising. It’s an exciting time for the industry as a whole, and I am particularly excited about the days ahead.”

Salman Hussain, Chief Revenue Officer, Vuclip, continues, “Abe’s leadership and digital media industry expertise is a strong match for Vuclip. This is a very exciting time for Viu with our rapid expansion to various markets and millions of raving fans. In this region we are just getting started and our first set of Arabic Viu Original shows such as Hob El Tayebin and Wahid:Wahid saw an overwhelmingly positive response from both consumers, as well as the industry ecosystem and partners. With Abe’s leadership, we look forward to bringing a compelling wave of on demand entertainment to the region, and Viu’s rapid expansion across the Middle East.”

GQ Middle East announces launch Editor

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With GQ Middle East due to launch this September, ITP Media Group has announced the appointment of Adam Baidawi to the role of Editor-in-Chief. With a wealth of experience, Adam previously worked with GQ Australia as a writer and photographer, where he profiled celebrities, athletes and politicians, and wrote feature stories from Colombia, Iraq, the United States and North Korea for the magazine. He most recently worked with the New York Times where he held the role of Australia correspondent.

Born in Abu Dhabi but raised in Australia, at the age of 28 Adam joins GQ Middle East as the youngest Editor of the global brand. In his new role, he will oversee the editorial direction of the brand across various platforms including a bi-lingual website, social media platforms and a monthly magazine.

“GQ has been an integral part of my life for nearly a decade,” says Adam. “It’s a huge honour to be chosen to launch the brand into the region where I was born. We’re looking forward to creating a magazine that’s relentlessly smart and stylish – and also something that will start and support important conversations in the region.”