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Chalk Media Group relaunches L’Officiel in Middle East

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Jalou Media Group is excited to announce the international digital launch of lofficielarabia.com in October 2018, and the relaunch of the print edition, L’Officiel Arabia, in spring 2019.

One of the leading French luxury fashion titles for over 100 years, the L’Officiel brand is owned by Jalou Media Group, a family-owned business based in Paris and led by CEO, Benjamin Eymere. The relaunched Middle Eastern incarnation of the title will be published by Dubai-based agency, Chalk Media, headed by Managing Director, Sidharth Saigal.

A combined English & Arabic title, with 10 issues per year, L’Officiel Arabia will be distributed throughout the Middle East on an initial print run of 37,000 copies, and comprises an editorial mix of locally-produced and international content from more than 30 international L’Officiel editions.

With the debut of the digital platform in both Arabic and English, lofficielarabia.com is a fully-integrated digital newsroom offering consumers both local and international coverage of high fashion, beauty, accessories, art, travel and lifestyle, and joins the L’Officiel digital network, reaching millions of consumers across the globe.

“In the last 30 months, we have transformed a 100-year old media company into a digital lifestyle hub”, says Benjamin Eymere, CEO of Jalou Media Group. “We are reaching an audience of millions of people across the world by connecting curated lifestyle content from our presence in 30 international markets, making L’Officiel truly a global platform.”

Published in partnership with Chalk Media, the L’Officiel Arabia team will be led by Editor-in-Chief,Boba Stanic, who boasts a 15-year career in arts, culture and fashion in the Netherlands and the UAE. A highly regarded architect, with a successful design business in Amsterdam, Boba  has collaborated with a variety of international designers, studios and museums throughout his multi-faceted career, and frequently speaks on a variety of art and culture seminars and workshops across the globe.

Joining him is Lucy Wildman, who will take on the role of L’Officiel Arabia’s Deputy Editor and Fashion Director. With a 20-year journalistic career in both the UK and the UAE, Lucy brings a wealth of experience in fashion, beauty, lifestyle and celebrity journalism to the title, having previously worked on some of the biggest weekly and monthly publications in the region, including Ahlan!, Architectural Digest, Conde Nast Traveller, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Hello! Middle East, OK! Middle East, The Rake, Revolution and Scene.

“We are extremely excited about our association with Jalou Media Group and with the digital launch of lofficielarabia.com, followed by the print edition early next year”, said Chalk Media’s Managing Director, Sidharth Saigal. “L’Officiel Arabia is set to provide the Middle East’s digital consumer with an unrivalled insight into the latest regional and international luxury fashion and lifestyle news and features, as well as access to the global L’Officiel brand through it’s unique ‘cloud’ feature format available in both Arabic and English.”

Motivate Publishing welcomes Tamara Djorem

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Motivate Publishing has appointed Tamara Djorem to the role of Senior Sales Manager for good magazine. Tamara brings with her five years of sales experience haven most recently worked with ITP Media Group as Sales Manager for it’s consumer magazines OK! Middle East and Ahlan!. In her new role, she will be responsible for driving sales for good magazine and executing bespoke events for its clients across the region.

“I am thrilled to be part of Motivate Publishing and really look forward to working with such a dynamic team and developing new ideas and possibilities,” says Tamara.

Ahlan! magazine reveals new editorial team

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Ahlan! magazine, part of ITP Media Group, has made major appointments and structural changes to reveal a brand new editorial team. Mark Dinning, previously Editor-in-Chief of British film magazine, Empire has been appointed to the role of Editorial Director. He brings with him extensive experience in the publishing and entertainment industry and will focus on new projects as well as the development of the brand’s digital and print portfolio.

Following the appointment of Andre Neveling as Editor, Ellen Kerry will be joining him as Deputy Editor. Having previously worked in the UK with heat magazine as Style Editor and most recently as a freelance Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Editor, Ellen will take on her new role and work alongside Andre across local and international editorial content of the title.

Elizabeth Ingram will take on the role of Managing Art Director, ITP Consumer. With experience in working on global media titles including Time Out magazine as Group Art Director and Grazia magazine as Senior Designer, Elizabeth’s new role will be to oversee the art direction of the Ahlan! brand.

Previously Advertising Director at Ahlan! magazine, Walid Chehab has been promoted to Commercial Director of the Ahlan! Group. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving the revenue across the brand’s print, digital and event portfolio.

Ahlan! welcomes Andre Neveling

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Ahlan! magazine, part of ITP Media Group, has appointed Andre Neveling to the role of Editor. With over ten years of regional and international experience in the media industry, Andre previously worked in South Africa with Media24 and in the UK with Northern and Shell Media Group, before joining ITP Media Group in 2015, where he worked as Online Editor of Ahlan! and then Editor of Time Out Abu Dhabi. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the magazine and its website as well as leading news, interviewing celebrities for features and deciding on cover lines on a weekly basis.

Sarah Hedley Hymers joins Conde Nast Traveller

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Conde Nast Traveller Middle East, part of APP Media Group has appointed Sarah Hedley Hymers to the role of Digital Director. With over 27 years of experience in journalism, Sarah previously worked with Ahlan! Group where she joined as Group Director and most recently held the position of Editorial Director. In her new role, she will oversee all digital operations for Conde Nast Traveller Middle East and develop creative strategies to execute across all digital platforms.

In The Hot Seat – Naomi Chadderton

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Team TMN catch up with Naomi Chadderton, Editorial Manager at Action Global Communications, who talks about transitioning from journalism to PR and what she thinks about the media industry in the Middle East… 

Name: Naomi Chadderton

Age: 30

From: United Kingdom

Current job title: Editorial Manager, Action Global Communications

When did you first arrive in Dubai?

I arrived in Dubai fresh out of university back in 2008, which seems like a lifetime ago now.

Where did you work prior?

I originally started my journalism career as an intern for Grazia Middle East, where I continued to work for three and a half years as Junior Fashion and Beauty Editor. I then moved over to The Dubai Mall Magazine before returning to the UK and working in London for a year. I was also Fashion and Beauty Editor for Ahlan! Magazine right before I joined Action.

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?

I was a young pup when I first started working in magazines, so of course I was dazzled by the glitz and glamour of it. It didn’t take long for me to figure out how much hard work, dedication and long hours it takes to forge a successful career out of it though – not that I’m complaining!

Has your opinion changed much?

The industry has definitely changed with the times and the declining economic climate, and it’s obvious that everyone is feeling the pinch. The foundations stay the same, but it’s becoming a tougher industry to be in.

Tell us about your current role…

I’ve only been in my current role for three weeks so I’m still learning! But the backbone of my job is to create content across our consumer and lifestyle portfolio to get the client’s messages out to the media clearly and concisely. One day this may be writing press releases, but mostly I will be going back to my creative roots and compiling longer features which can then be pitched to time-poor journalists in need of a story. Other days I’ll be helping pitch to new clients, creating social media plans and brainstorming ideas for events – no day is the same.

What challenges do you face?

While it’s not so much a challenge, it’s been interesting making the transition from journalism to PR and seeing how the other side works and thinks. I just need to make sure I’m now always thinking from the other side’s point of view. This gives me an advantage though, as I know exactly how journalists and influencers work and think and what they are looking for from an PR agency.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

Go for a walk, have a Diet Coke break and try again. If not, sleep on it. Writer’s block definitely kicks in for me later in the day, so I try to prioritise any longer jobs earlier on.

How would you rather be contacted at work?

As a Journalist I would have said email every time, but in my new role I’m open to all forms of communication.

How has content marketing shaped the relationship between journalists and PR professionals in the UAE?

With smaller teams and more focus on money, journalists are definitely under a lot more pressure these days to simply bang out copy in much smaller time frames. I’ve experienced this first hand, so in my new role, I think having quality copy that can be pitched directly to journalists is extremely influential in strengthening the relationship.

Describe yourself in five words…

Creative, loyal, sociable, active and Northern!

What’s your most overused saying?

Y’alright?

Five things you can’t live without?

My iPhone, credit card, friends, family and food.

If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?

Anything that would allow me to travel the world for the rest of my life would be fine by me.

Naomi Chadderton joins Dubai agency

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Dubai-based PR agency, MCS Action, part of Action Global Communications has appointed Naomi Chadderton to the role of Editorial Manager. With eight years of editorial experience, Naomi most recently worked on Ahlan! magazine as Fashion and Beauty Editor and has extensive experience in the region, having also worked as Editor for The Dubai Mall Magazine, Fashion Editor for Conceirge magazine and Junior Fashion & Beauty Editor at Grazia Middle East. In her new role, she will work across content creation for the agency’s consumer and lifestyle clients.

“Having worked in journalism for the last eight years, I’m very much looking forward to expanding my horizons by joining Action Global,” says Naomi. “The team has always been such a pleasure to work with from a PR perspective and the company is also currently thriving in terms of client wins and company growth, so I’m excited to see what the year ahead has in store.”

JJ Anisiobi promoted at ITP

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ITP Publishing has promoted JJ Anisiobi to the role of Editor of Ahlan! Magazine. Previously Deputy Editor for the weekly publication, JJ will continue to be responsible for overseeing the magazine and its website as well as leading news, interviewing celebrities for features and deciding on cover lines on a weekly basis. He will also continue to represent the celebrity title on the new weekly TV show, Ahlan! on Dubai Life. Sarah Hedley Hymers will continue to lead the Ahlan! brand as Group Editorial Director.

Surena Chande to leave Hospitality Business Middle East

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Former Deputy Editor of Hospitality Business Middle East Surena Chande has made the move to freelance journalism and blogging. With over three years of experience, Surena has worked on publications including Ahlan!, Cosmopolitan Middle East, Good Taste, La Femme and BBC Good Food Middle East. She will now be working on digital media and print for both consumer and trade publications, as well as blogging on lifestyle, fashion, beauty and travel at www.surenasays.com.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at CPI Media Group on great publications,” says Surena. “However, I’m now looking forward to diversifying across a selection of titles and brands, both in the region and internationally, as well as focussing on my blog that has been somewhat neglected while working full-time.”

 

Tala Samman joins Ahlan!

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Ahlan! magazine, part of ITP Publishing, has appointed Tala Samman as Fashion and Beauty Correspondent. Tala, who founded popular fashion and lifestyle blog Myfashdiary.com and previously worked as Fashion Editor for style.com/Arabia, will work on a freelance capacity. Her new column for the weekly magazine, available every Thursday, will cover fashion, beauty, health & fitness.