The new Ricci Capricci Beauty Salon at the Conrad Hotel Dubai has appointed Joyce Amil as PR Manager. She will be handling all PR-related affairs and media relations.
“I will be concentrating on building brand awareness and introducing our professional beauty services to our target audience,” says Joyce. “Our vision at Ricci Capricci is to build a trustworthy and credible image and become the go-to beauty destination for women in the region.”
Robyn Percy has taken on the role of Assistant Marketing Manager for Landmark International (LMI), and will head the new in-house public relations function. Previously PR Director at Fifth Ring, Robyn will run Landmark’s PR campaigns for brands including Reiss, New Look, Koton, Lipsy and Funky Fish in the UAE and across the GCC.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Fifth Ring but when the opportunity came up at LMI it seemed perfect,” says Robyn. “I’m really excited to be here and working in-house means I can get more involved with each campaign and make our collection launches even bigger than last year.”
Rachel Ingram has been promoted to Features Editor across the Concierge magazine portfolio. Previously Features Writer on The Dubai Mall Magazine and Concierge, Rachel will now be working across Concierge Dubai, Concierge Abu Dhabi, Concierge Chinese and Concierge Russian.
“I’m thrilled to join the Concierge team as Features Editor and I look forward to the new challenges and responsibilities that my role brings,” says Rachel. “There’s lots in store for the Concierge group in 2014 and I’m excited to be a part of it. Watch this space!”
Claire Carruthers has joined ITP as the new Fashion and Beauty Editor of Grazia Middle East and Grazia Bahrain. Claire has spent five years working across numerous UAE titles including iQ, Insider, Time Out Abu Dhabi, Emirates Woman and most recently Rolling Stone Middle East, where she developed and managed the style pages, creating the benchmark for Rolling Stone worldwide. Claire will oversee all fashion and beauty content at Grazia.
“I’m thrilled to be back at ITP as Fashion & Beauty Editor for both Grazia and Grazia Bahrain – it’s such a great title and I can’t wait to get working on some exciting projects in the New Year.”
Leo Burnett has announced the promotion of Flip Media’s CEO, Yousef Tuqan, to the position of Chief Innovation Officer of Leo Burnett Group of Companies MENA, effective January 1, 2014. Kareem Monem will take over Leo Burnett-owned Flip Media, the region’s largest digital agency, as its new Managing Director.
In his new role, Tuqan will create an environment of experimentation within the Group, encouraging its creative teams to combine the Leo Burnett HumanKind philosophy with innovations and breakthrough technologies. Working with Leo Burnett’s Managing Directors around the region, and with the Leo Burnett MENA digital leadership team, he will map future plans for growth and development to better meet the needs of clients.
“Innovation is the key to combining creativity and technology and with his extensive background Yousef is well positioned to take his involvement with the Group to the next level,” says Raja Trad, CEO, Leo Burnett Group of Companies MENA. “Under his guidance, our teams will be encouraged to go beyond the norm in seeking new creative solutions to our clients’ needs, further establishing Leo Burnett as not only a leading source of innovative work, but as an avant-garde agency setting new standards across the advertising board. We welcome Yousef into his new role, and wish him the best of luck.”
Tuqan joins Leo Burnett following an eight year tenure at Flip Media, during which time he has served as CEO since 2007, and has worked with Leo Burnett across the Group’s network since Flip Media’s acquisition by Leo Burnett in 2012. With close to two decades of regional experience, Tuqan is at the forefront of the digital industry and is a respected digital marketing expert who frequently participates in industry and innovation seminars and events. He is a Board Member of the International Advertising Association’s UAE Chapter, as well as a Goodwill Ambassador for the children’s charity, Gulf for Good.
“I am delighted by this opportunity,” said Tuqan. “Since Flip’s acquisition in 2012 by Leo Burnett, I’ve worked extensively across the Leo Burnett network with some amazing people and iconic brands. I look forward to building the agency of the future with them.”
Kareem Monem, who has been announced as the new Managing Director of Flip Media, has more than 10 years of international experience in leading digital agencies and software companies. Before joining Flip in 2012 as its Practice Director, he worked in the UK with a number of leading digital agencies and software companies, on top consumer brand accounts such as GSK and Vodafone. During his time with Flip, he has developed new market areas of operation for the agency with clients in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and the US.
“Kareem is the ideal person to write the next chapter in Flip’s story,” says Yousef. “He’s earned the respect of everyone around him, and has a clear vision on how he and the Flip Media management team will build on our success into the future. I look forward to us working together in the years ahead within our agency network.”
DPQ Communications has appointed Chloe Geake as Senior PR and Marketing Accounts Executive. Chloe brings with her a wealth of experience from the UK and Dubai, having worked across a number of consumer, technology, F&B, health, fashion and retail brands. She will oversee a number of hospitality and consumer clients including Costa Coffee UAE, Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Al Tamimi Stables and Nanogen Hair Care.
“I’m very excited about joining DPQ and being part of the dynamic and growing team,” says Chloe. “I have great accounts at the agency and am looking forward to a busy 2014.”
Luca Lindner has been named President of McCann Worldgroup, wherein he will be engaged in delivering integrated marketing solutions across the organisation’s International agencies to serve the network’s clients.
Lindner first joined McCann in August 2004 as CEO of McCann Mexico and Deputy Regional Director of Latin America/Caribbean, shortly before rising to the post of Regional Director the following year. He was named President of the Americas, Middle East and Africa for McCann Worldgroup in late 2012, thereafter establishing himself as one of the most respected global leaders while overseeing multinational clients in the Middle East, Africa Latin America, North America and Europe.
“Luca is a true globalist and has established himself as one of the industry’s most experienced multi-platform and global marketing leaders,” says Harris Diamond, Chairman and CEO of McCann Worldgroup “He has been a key architect behind the success of McCann.”
Tim Wilkinson has been appointed as Chairman of Bell Pottinger’s Middle East operations. A communications and reputation expert with extensive experience in government, corporate and brand communications, Tim has held senior communications roles both in-house as well as within leading PR companies. Prior to joining Bell Pottinger, Tim spent over 15 years at The Coca-Cola Company building and protecting its corporate and brand reputation in developed and developing countries including those in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
“The Middle East and the Gulf is a critical part of our growing group business and during his first year with Bell Pottinger, Tim has proved that he has the experience, relationships and local knowledge to continue to make a major contribution to growing our Middle Eastern business,” says James Henderson, CEO of Bell Pottinger. “Tim has brought in major client wins, provided strategic counsel at the highest levels and has bought regional and international experience to the team. Tim’s appointment will significantly further the success of our operations in the Middle East.”
For more information visit http://www.bell-pottinger.com or call +971 (0)4 433 1527
Steven Bond will leave AMEinfo.com and Mediaquest this week to take up a new role of News Editor at Destinations of the World News. Having worked at AMEinfo.com for two years and Mediaquest since June, when it acquired the news and information portal, Steven steps down on Thursday and will commence his new role in the New Year. Steven will be responsible for the daily news content online and taking charge of the monthly magazine’s news content.
“I’m leaving business reporting with some (very slight) reluctance, but it’s a magical world and I’m increasingly drawn to people and places over dollars and cents,” says Steven. “I’m thrilled to be joining Destinations of the World News – there’s lots in store for 2014 both for online and print.”
Nancy Nusrally has joined Hilton Worldwide’s MEA Corporate Communications team as Senior Manager, Regional Brand Public Relations Middle East & Africa.
“My new role is to support the growing portfolio of Hilton Worldwide brands in the region, such as Hilton, Conrad, Waldorf Astoria and Double Tree by Hilton,” says Nancy. ” My focus will be on building awareness of our brand initiatives and properties and also aligning our global PR activities, mostly from consumer angle news.”
Nancy will be working alongside Heather Shaw, Senior Director, Corporate Communications Middle East & Africa.