Posterscope appoints General Manager

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Out-of-home communications agency Posterscope – part of Dentsu Aegis Network – has promoted Abdallah Saab to the position of General Manager. Saab previously held the role of Business Development Director, having spent the previous seven years working for sister agency Carat.

Abdallah will continue his business development responsibilities in this new role, with focus on enhancing Posterscope’s offerings and driving the strategic direction of the business. His immediate responsibilities will include exploring new technologies, relationships and partnerships to meet the needs of the evolving out-of-home marketplace.

“Posterscope’s success is driven by consumer insight, innovation and market intelligence,” says Michael Nederlof, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network MENA. “With more than a decade of experience within our network and unrivalled expertise in the region’s media, Abdallah is the perfect person to lead Posterscope and I am sure he will deliver a positive business advantage to both our network and his growing portfolio of clients.”

Abdallah adds, “Consumers are more connected with outdoors than ever before; this dynamic creates a tremendous opportunity for out-of-home to play a crucial role in solving our clients’ business challenges. I look forward to working with our clients and our partners to continue to evolve the Posterscope offering and drive innovation across out-of-home and the industry as a whole.”

DPQ Communications welcomes Account Director

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Kate Mullen has joined the DPQ Communications team as Account Director. With more than 20 years of agency and in-house experience in UAE corporate communications, Kate has worked across various industry sectors, covering brands such as Dubai Duty Free, Parfums Christian Dior, Coca-Cola, Land Rover, Tim Hortons, ARAMEX and Le Méridien. Bringing a wealth of local and regional experience to her new role, Kate will be responsible for overseeing existing business, whilst growing the business portfolio and supporting the teams.

“DPQ Communications is a boutique but dynamic agency, and the work ethic, team spirit and potential for growth were a huge appeal to me,” says Kate. “I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge with the next generation of practitioners and supporting DPQ as it moves forward.”

 

Aziza Communications expands its team

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Luxury PR agency Aziza Communications has expanded its team with the appointment of Nadine Khudari as Account Manager and Jessa Teking as PR Assistant. Nadine will work across a number of luxury lifestyle and fashion brands including Rami Al Ali, Parfums M.Micallef and Duchess by Jelena, while Jessa will assist all staff members across Aziza’s ever-growing lifestyle portfolio.

The expansion also sees a number of in-house promotions, with Charlotte Cook now appointed to the position of Account Manager and Faye Jones taking on the role of Senior PR Executive.

“I am thrilled to welcome our new members and delighted to see our already solid team grow stronger,” says Jill Downie, Managing Director, Aziza Communications. “Our aim has always been to provide skilled representation and absolute dedication to each of our clients and with our expanded team I am sure that we will achieve even greater success.

Maitha Ahmed promoted at ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller

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Maitha Ahmed has been promoted to the position of Group Account Director at ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. Account Director on the ASDA’A Buson-Marsteller team since 2013, Maitha has worked across a wide range of campaigns and extensive set of clients, having previously been with Rooster PR and Four Communications. Maitha now leads the travel and arts team, with clients that include Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Dubai Cruise, The Walt Disney Company, Art Dubai and Downtown Design.

 

Cheil Worldwide appoints Global CGO

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Cheil Worldwide has appointed Lotta Malm Hallqvist as its first Global Chief Growth Officer. Lotta takes on the newly created role from McCann Worldgroup, where she was Executive Vice President and Global Chief Officer since 2011. Having worked with the McCann network for almost 15 years, Lotta has also founded two start-ups including Propaganda, an advertising agency that was later sold to McCann.

Remaining in London, she will lead Cheil’s international growth and new business drive, and will report to Michael Kim, Cheil Worldwide’s Global Chief Operating Officer.

“Cheil is at a really important chapter in its history and there is no better time than now to have a new global chief growth officer on board,” says Michael Kim. “Lotta, a hugely charismatic, engaging and passionate professional, has helped agencies build growth and drive business development over the past 15 years. She is highly pro-active in her approach to new business and will no doubt entrench this approach at Cheil. I am confident that she will add great value and agility to our new business development efforts, given her understanding of what clients expect from an agency partner.”

Lotta adds, “I am truly impressed with the Korean approach to business – the ‘nothing is impossible’ attitude and the focus on opportunities over problems. It’s a privilege to be part of the next chapter for Cheil, joining the team behind one of the strongest brands on the planet.”

Michaela Williams promoted at Stylist Arabia

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Michaela Williams has been appointed to the newly created role of Lifestyle, Fashion and Beauty Director for Stylist Arabia. Previously holding the role of Acting Lifestyle Editor at the Arab Publishing Partners’ (APP) weekly title, Michaela boasts years of editorial experience in women’s lifestyle, having worked across publications including Good Housekeeping Middle East, Qantas The Australian Way and Cosmopolitan Australia, as well as editing beauty blog Lather Rinse Repeat.

Kaveh Gharachorlou joins Mindshare MENA

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Kaveh Gharachorlou has joined the Mindshare MENA team – part of WPP – as its new Regional Talent Development Director for the region. With over 20 years of experience in human resource management, Kaveh has worked across a variety of industries including banking, oil and gas, government, manufacturing and construction, as well as security and defense. Kaveh previously ran his own HR consultancy business for three years in the United Kingdom, before moving on to work as Head of HR in construction and manufacturing eight years ago, and was most recently HR Director for DynCorp International, a global security and defense organisation.

“We welcome Kaveh on board and look forward to seeing his contribution to position Mindshare MENA as the preferred employer,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA. “He brings a wealth of HR experience and valuable talent development skills to our team.”

house of comms appoints new Account Executive

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Dubai-based PR agency house of comms has appointed Hannah Shanks as its newest Account Executive. Hannah joins the team from UK creative agency, The Black Eye Project, where she worked as Senior PR Account Executive across various industry sectors on a client list of national and international accounts, including Spanish olive and Mediterranean brand, Fragata, as well as global ice skating brand, HD Sports.

“It’s a fantastic time to be joining house of comms and I’m thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and forward thinking team,” says Hannah. “I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and supporting on client accounts across the region.”

Cressida Meale moves across to Stylist Arabia

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Cressida Meale has been appointed as the new Deputy Editor for Stylist Arabia. Having held the position of Deputy Editor for Grazia Middle East since 2013, Cressida has worked across a number of publications including Motilo.com and Vogue Turkey. She now moves across to the weekly women’s magazine at Arab Publishing Partners (APP), which is part of the ITP Group.

TNS welcomes new Middle East CEO

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TNS, a leading global custom market research consultancy, has appointed Stephen Hillebrand as CEO Middle East. With this promotion, Stephen takes over from Steve Hamilton-Clark who had been in the position for the past 17 years, guiding the business through a period of exponential growth. Having joined TNS in 2000 and spending the past seven years in the Middle East, Stephen most recently held the position of Vice President for the Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East region, playing a pivotal role in enabling the acquisition and leading the subsequent integration of RMS, the then independent Sub-Saharan market research agency, into TNS.

In his new role, Stephen will be responsible for leading TNS’ Middle East business units into the next phase of growth with a strategic concentration on technology-enabled research, focused on the complexity of digital-influenced integrated marketing, particularly in the culturally diverse regional markets.

“I am excited to further push the boundaries in the work we conduct with our clients, ensuring that we are continually evolving to meet their changing needs in a region with such great potential for growth,” says Stephen.

Kim MacIlwaine, Regional CEO TNS AMME adds, “We are proud to partner to so many local businesses as well as global players. I know Stephen’s vast experience in business planning and executing will bring new energy and ideas to build on our strength, especially in the UAE, Saudi and the Gulf states.”