Shaheen Nouman joins ITP’s Hospitality Group

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Shaheen Nouman has joined ITP Publishing’s Hospitality Group as Staff Writer. Most recently, Shaheen assisted the team on Ahlan! Arabia, and prior to this held a role in marketing and communications with Dubai-based, high-fashion retailer ValleyDez. Shaheen is also a Founding Member of fashion, lifestyle and fitness blog Cherry Cross. In her new role, Shaheen will produce content – both in print and online – across the Hospitality Group’s titles which include Hotelier Middle East, Caterer Middle East and Arabian Travel News. In addition to this, Shaheen will participate in the organisation and execution of various events and conferences held by the Hospitality Group throughout the year.

Maddi Glendinning joins Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

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Maddi Glendinning has joined the team at Harper’s Bazaar Arabia as Features Writer. Having been with ITP Publishing since the beginning of this year, Maddi was most recently Lifestyle Editor/Sub Editor at Grazia Middle East, Grazia Bahrain and Grazia Luxury. In her new position, she will cover content across fashion and beauty for the Middle Eastern edition of the luxury lifestyle magazine.

BMW Group welcomes Sales and Marketing Director

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As of January 2015, Ralf Bissinger will succeed Alexander Eftimov as Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group in the Middle East. Ralf brings considerable expertise to the Middle East, with more than 25 years of experience with BMW Group. Since 2010, he has been Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group Thailand and was previously Sales and Marketing Director for BMW Group India. Prior to that, he held a number of senior marketing positions including Marketing General Manager for BMW Asia, Singapore and Importer Region, Marketing General Manager for BMW Group M in Munich, Germany, and Region Sales Manager for the America Region for BMW M, also in Munich. Ralf also held the position of Product and Market Planning Manager for BMW Australia.

“Ralf is an experienced executive with a broad international background,” says Johannes Seibert, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East. “He has extensive knowledge of the BMW Group brands and marketing expertise, and will play a crucial part in achieving our goal to strengthen our number one position in the Middle East premium automotive segment even further in 2015 and beyond. I look forward to welcoming Ralf as a member of our management team.”

Celia-Jane Ukwenya joins Harper’s Bazaar Arabia

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Celia-Jane Ukwenya has taken on the role of Acting Fashion and Beauty Director at Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. With extensive experience across the fashion industry, Celia-Jane previously held the positions of Fashion and Beauty Editor at L’Officiel Middle East as well as Contributing Fashion and Beauty Editor for Velvet magazine. Most recently, Celia-Jane has contributed on a freelance basis for Elle, Marie Claire, Condé Nast Traveller, Velvet, Time Out Dubai and Emirates Woman.

Boasting an expansive stylist résumé across the UAE, she has worked as a fashion stylist on shoots for Grazia, L’Officiel and Harper’s Bazaar, to name but a few. In addition to this, Celia-Jane has styled on fashion shows such as Harper’s Bazaar World of Fashion, advertising campaigns for Emirates Airlines, Harvey Nichols, The Address Hotels and Level ShoeDistrict, and TV commercials for Saadiyat and Maggi. Celia-Jane temporarily takes over the role of Fashion and Beauty Director from Sally Matthews, who had been in the position since 2007.

Neha Mishra promoted at Linktia

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Neha Mishra has been promoted at Linktia to the position of Head of Photography and Production for Magnet Photo Production. Having been with the content production group since 2010, Neha first joined Linktia as a Senior Producer for Bareface Productions.

Producing over 300 campaigns in the MENA region and internationally, some of Neha’s most notable campaigns include producing Hello Tomorrow for Emirates Airlines, consecutive Rolex campaigns with Roger Federer and a Microsoft campaign with Todd Selby and Norman Jean Roy. In her new position, Neha will oversee all photography and production content for Magnet Photo Production.

“The Linktia group has an amazing culture of developing people from within the brands, which means that our team has grown together over the years,” says Neha. “This is something I’m very much in sync with and will focus to endorse. I welcome the opportunity to work with all of our talent and to develop Magnet further by focusing on producing great work regionally and internationally.

Linktia is a Dubai-based content production group made up of brands including Bareface Productions, arabianEye Productions, Alchemy Films, Aperto Middle East, Magnet Photo Productions, Corbis and The Studion.

Memac Ogilvy welcomes new Chief Creative Officer

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Memac Ogilvy has appointed multi-award winning creative talent Paul Shearer as the group’s new Chief Creative Officer (CCO). Shearer brings 25 years of experience in advertising to his new role and will be based in Memac Ogilvy’s Dubai office.

“Paul’s record speaks for itself and we are confident that he will drive our group forward to even higher creative levels,” says Edmond Moutran, Chairman and CEO, Memac Ogilvy. “Paul prides himself on understanding client’s business and the global alignment that is required for creative success. He always surprises his clients and teams with his ideas and has won some of the most prestigious global awards in our industry. However, when it comes to success Paul will always tell you that our philosophy is to move our client’s brands off the shelf which is more satisfying than any award, and that really resonates with us as a network.”

Paul’s work for brands such as Guess Jeans, Nike and Audi has won him global admiration and accolades, including 18 Cannes Lions, 10 D&AD pencils, 19 Clio statues and his work has received the ‘Best of Show’ award at the One Club. Part of his experience also includes being a Creative Head at Wieden+Kennedy, Senior Creative at BBH and Founding Partner of Nitro.

Paul adds, “Being able to spearhead creative operations as CCO at Memac Ogilvy is a responsibility that I am thrilled to be carrying forward. The network has an incredibly rich history within the advertising industry, and the talent that I’ll be collaborating with in my view is second to none.”

Ben Kershaw joins Katch International

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Ben Kershaw has been appointed as Client Servicing Director for Katch International. Ben brings to his new position over eight years of experience in the UAE, including Head of Sales for the Middle East at PR Newswire, Sales and Marketing Manager at White Label, and most recently the Marketing and Sales Manager for Cavalli Club, Restaurant & Lounge. In his new position, as well as being the main point of communication between the team and clients, Ben will also help build strategic partnerships between clients and external companies, enhancing their activities under the agency’s portfolio that includes public relations, social media, events, design and conceptual development.

“Having the dual perspective of being both a client and now a member of Katch International, I can think of no more enigmatic and creative team to be joining,” says Ben. “I look forward to breaking the traditional mold of marketing activities in the UAE and growing our portfolio into new industries and fields in the future.”

Rana Jamaleddine joins Strategies International

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Rana Jamaleddine has joined Strategies International as PR Manager. With a wide range of experience in luxury PR, Rana was most recently Assistant PR Manager, Media and Online at Swarovski Professional, handling the Middle Eastern market. In her new role, Rana will manage Acqua Di Parma, Bioderma, Maurice Lacroix and Beauté Prestige International – which includes fragrances by ELIE SAAB, narciso rodriguez, Issey Miyake and Alaia.

“I am extremely thrilled to be working with such a diverse and dynamic team,” says Rana. “I look forward to representing these world renowned and prestigious brands.”

Fergus McGloin joins Edelman UAE

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Fergus McGloin has joined Edelman as a Senior Account Executive on the Health team. Originally from Ireland, Fergus has previously worked in roles for Coca-Cola Ireland and British Telecom. Most recently, he spent two years in the UK as Account Manager for a full service healthcare marketing agency, where he managed the accounts for Colgate-Palmolive UK and NHS England.

“I’m delighted to join Edelman UAE’s Healthcare practice,” says Fergus. “I am new to the region and excited to get to know the markets and build my career here. The health industry is thriving in the Middle East and PR is an integral component of its growth; which is exciting to be part of.”

Lyla Loves Fashion appoints Brand Manager

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Farah Banani has joined the Lyla Loves Fashion blog team as Brand Manager. Farah has previously worked as Account Manager at LOWE MENA, handling clients such as ADTV and MAF, and most recently acted as a creative services freelancer. In her new position with Lyla Loves Fashion, Farah will take care of all partnerships, collaborations and projects dealing with the blog.

“I am super excited to be joining one of the Middle East’s most recognised blogs,” says Farah. “Lyla Loves Fashion has definitely made its mark within the fashion industry and I look forward to taking the award winning blog to an international level.”

Zahra Lyla Pedram, Founder and Editor of Lyla Loves Fashion adds, “I am so happy to have Farah on board to really help Lyla Loves Fashion grow even further. She definitely thinks outside the box and will be a great asset to the development of the blog.”