Acorn Strategy welcomes Emma Easter 

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Marketing and communications consultancy, Acorn Strategy has appointed Emma Easter to the role of Content Manager. With a wealth of experience in digital and SEO copywriting, Emma previously worked with Best Bites Abu Dhabi and most recently worked with eWavelength digital marketing. In her new role, she will join the TwoFour54 team and oversee all digital content strategy, planning and creation.

“I’m delighted to join the dynamic Acorn team at TwoFour54,” says Emma. “This is a fabulous opportunity to help our clients focus on creating high-quality engaging and optimised content, which is aligned with their key marketing goals, plus doing what I love best – writing!”

 

ASDA’A Burson Marsteller wins PRWeek Global Award

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Dubai-based PR agency, ASDA’A Burson Marsteller (BM) has received the PRWeek Global Award for Best Campaign – Middle East/Africa. The awards took place on May 15, 2018 at Northumberland Avenue in London. The agency secured the award for its 9th annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey.

“The PRWeek Global Awards recognise the best of the best, and we are thrilled to have earned this award for our work on the 9th Arab Youth Survey,” says Sunil John, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. “This international level of recognition from our peers fuels our commitment to deliver excellence for the benefit of our clients and our industry in the Middle East. The Arab Youth Survey is a real passion project that ignites our spirit as an agency. It has long served as the biggest platform to echo the voices of this region’s largest and most influential demographic – Arab youth. Winning the Best Campaign award for the Middle East and Africa only adds to our commitment to delivering more ground-breaking campaigns.”

 

In The Hot Seat – Kathleen Burbridge

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Team TMN chat with Kathleen Burbridge, Senior Account Manager at Edelman DABO, who talks about her current role and offers her thoughts on the PR industry in the Middle East.

Name: Kathleen Burbridge

Age: 29

Nationality: Canadian

Current job title: Senior Account Manager

When did you first arrive in Dubai? I first arrived in Dubai just over five years ago when I was a full-time model and was flown from London to be a part of the first season of Fashion Forward in addition to a few other jobs. Needless to say, I was only meant to be here for one month but changed careers and am still here now!

Where did you work prior? My first full time job in Dubai was at the avante garde fashion boutique The cARTel doing their PR and Marketing. I’ve been with Edelman DABO for over 3 years but had a brief stint at Seven Media recently. 

What were your first impressions of the PR industry in the Middle East? I didn’t have much of an impression, as it was my first career in communications/media.

What about your thoughts now? The media landscape has drastically changed in the past few years, from there being a huge variety of print publications.

Tell us about your current role… In my current role my focus is to head up the BMW Group team which includes BMW and MINI from a corporate perspective and then several of the importers across the region. In addition, I’m managing a handful of our lifestyle/beauty clients.

What challenges do you face? It’s convincing clients that it’s important to think big and to invest in creative campaigns that will truly benefit their business objectives. Today with consumers’ shorter attention spans and their ever-changing media consumption – we need to create something memorable.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing the juniors on my team learn, grow and excel – but of course, also see that your work is making a difference in your clients’ business.

How has clients’ expectations in today’s digital community influenced PR and marketing in the UAE? Clients of course want social media coverage and to work with highly followed influencers – but don’t want to pay the cost where relevant. Now that influencers need licenses, we are only going to see costs for creating content increase.

How has social media in the region evolved to become an integrated part of the PR industry? Social media is where the majority of consumers get their news, making it vital to have a social media component for all campaigns. With a huge consumption of Instagram and Snapchat, we really need to make sure all events and venues are ‘instagrammable’, so media/influencers can’t help but post!

What do you think of PR ethics in the industry today? It’s difficult now that publications are fighting for advertisers, as often Editors can only cover clients that advertise. The fact that even a great story can’t be covered without payment behind it, seems a little wrong to me. But it is what it is!

Describe yourself in five words… Passionate, funny, driven, straightforward, caring

Who inspires you? Well, aside from my parents (typical), it’s my directors over the years – I’ve learnt so much from each of them and they have also inspired me to be my best.

What’s your most overused saying? It is what it is!

Five things you can’t live without? Phone, love, friendship, exercise and laughter.

If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing? I would love to just travel… but don’t we all?

What’s your favourite form of media? Flipboard! It’s essentially in aggregator which compiles news and lifestyle stories based on my preferences.

What advice would you offer to someone looking to start a career in PR in the UAE? Be ready to work hard and learn as much as you can!

 

markettiers makes new appointment

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Broadcast PR specialists, Markettiers has appointed Farah Al Basha to the role of Account Manager. With a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and over three years of experience in the PR industry, Farah most recently worked with Seven Media where she held the role of PR Manager and worked across clients including Novo Cinemas, Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Le Meridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre. In her new role, she will be responsible for supporting the growth of the Arabic arm of the agency, while also leading and producing filming shoots, focusing on broadcast media relations.

“I am so excited to be joining the first dedicated broadcast PR specialist in the region, and one that has a 25-year heritage internationally,” says Farah. “As the media landscape changes, I’m excited to be involved in crafting rich media content – whether it’s B-Roll for TV, Video News Releases or Live Streaming. With the future firmly anchored in digital, I am delighted to be putting my knowledge and passion of PR into practice and learn new things, whilst working with an amazing team who live and breathe what they do.”

 

JPd secures MENA Transform Awards

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Dubai-based public relations and social media agency, JPd has received four awards at the MENA Transform Awards that took place on May 8, 2018 at St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor City. The agency secured a gold award for Best Visual Identity from the Professional Services Sector and three silver awards for Best Visual Identity from the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector, Best Visual Identity from the Food and Beverage Sector and Best Use of Packaging.

“Our victory at the MENA Transform Awards highlights a great start to the year,” says James Pass, Managing Director, JPd. “We consider ourselves as being a branding and design agency, with a difference. Being recognised for our work, at such phenomenal stage, pushes us further to continue excelling in everything we deliver. This recognition is a road that leads us towards making bigger achievements.”

 

Turret Media welcomes Hayley Skirka 

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Turret Media has appointed Hayley Skirka to the role of Special Projects Editor. With a wealth of experience, Hayley previously worked with Swiss Media Group as Senior Editor of Equestrio magazine and SWR magazine and most recently worked with Hot Media as the Editor of World Traveller. In her new role, she will create editorials for all projects, while overseeing the work of in-house writers and support the editorial team at Abu Dhabi World.

 

“I’m really excited to be starting with Turret Media and ONE CMG as Special Projects Editor, a role that will let me do a little bit of everything that I love,” says Hayley. “From creating quality, community-focused editorial for Abu Dhabi World, to providing a variety of clients with tailored solutions and products that they can be proud of.”