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Courtenay Hamilton joins Fifth Ring

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Courtenay Hamilton has joined Fifth Ring as its new PR Account Executive. Previously based in Abu Dhabi, Courtenay was most recently with the Integrated Marketing and Communications sector at RedFilo Events. In her new role, Courtenay will provide essential support across a range of energy sector clients to develop and deliver PR plans that will have real, measurable effects on clients’ businesses.

“I am delighted to have joined the team at Fifth Ring,” says Courtenay. “I’m really looking forward to being involved with the dynamic and exciting industry that is the energy sector.”

Zaid Al Farah joins Ketchum Raad

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Zaid Al Farah has joined Ketchum Raad as Account Manager. With extensive experience across in-house and agency PR, Zaid joins the Ketchum Raad team from Jordan, where he was most recently Senior PR Officer at Umniah. In his new role, Zaid will specialise in the automotive PR sector, working alongside Ketchum’s talented automotive PR team.

“Working for such a renowned company will without doubt add valuable experience to my career,” says Zaid. “I am really excited and looking forward to working for this leading PR agency.”

Sayidaty magazine to launch Arabic platform

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Sayidaty is set to launch an online Arabic shopping platform known as Sayidaty Mall. Going live at the beginning of November, 2014, Sayidaty Mall will offer a new shopping experience, providing users with extensive and detailed information about stores, malls and brands across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as sourcing credible information about where to shop for specific brands, what discounts and promotions are available, and will showcase the latest collections from popular brands. Sayidaty Mall will also be the first Arabic social commerce website, where subscribers can earn points based on interaction with the website – sharing products they have bought, reviews they have given and what products they have purchased online.

“Launching Sayidaty Mall in Saudi Arabia is one of the many steps we are working on to cover the Arab region and the demands of the Arabic shopper both on and offline,” says Mr. Alharthi, Editor-in-Chief, Sayidaty and Al Jamila Magazines. “The second step will be covering the United Arab Emirates, in addition to launching Sayidaty Mall applications on mobile devices which will provide distinguishing features for the Arabic shopper.”

 

TINT to launch in the Middle East

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TINT – a social media aggregator used by 40,000 companies worldwide – is launching in the Middle East, marking its first expansion effort outside of North America. TINT will be the first social media hub in the Middle East to allow brands to collect and curate all social feeds and social hashtags from multiple networks, and is set to work with the region’s top brands and marketing agencies to create campaigns for brands including du, Ferrari World and Dubai Mall. The technology also affords customers the creative autonomy to brand their display, which can be enhanced with Chromecast access, customised posts and calls to action.

For brand owners in the Middle East, TINT also has the back-end functionality to moderate content and with analytical tools advertisers can measure ROI that allows companies to tailor their entire social media strategy with new insight and data.

“Our growth from Silicon Valley has been exponential; in the space of one year we are now working with over 40,000 brands and 60 percent of that business is generated from international markets,” says Tim Sae Koo, CEO and Founder, TINT. “Dubai is the ideal gateway to help us establish a more customer-facing relationship with clients in the East. It’s ambition to develop as a smart city makes Dubai the perfect environment to foster entrepreneurial and technology inspired companies – like TINT – to grow alongside its own unprecedented progress.”

Launching at GITEX Technology Week 2014, TINT will showcase its platform, which allows anyone to connect a page, handle or hashtag from any social network and then display it on websites, mobile apps, retail TV displays, event walls or huge jumbotrons.

James Welch joins Promoseven 360

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James Welch has been appointed as Managing Director of Promoseven 360. Prior to joining the team, James was Managing Director of WPP’s digital consultancy – the Media Innovation Group – across the Asia Pacific region and brings to his new role a wealth of digital media, shopper marketing and activation experience. Based at Promoseven 360’s headquarters in Dubai, James will be working closely with General Manager, Udit Agarwal, to build upon existing business.

“Promoseven 360 is an exciting agency to join, since it’s well established in the market with a track record of providing integrated solutions for a portfolio of long-standing clients, including some outstanding digital work,” says James. “Creatively this region is booming, and so many clients are asking to see new data-driven creative solutions which we are well placed to deliver.”

Rajeev Budhiraja, CEO of Promoseven 360 adds, “James is a well-travelled advertising executive who brings a new dimension to our business. His extensive digital media and shopper marketing experience will enable us to offer our clients broader and more integrated solutions to service the complete spectrum of their marketing needs.”

Jayant Dey joins BNC Publishing

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Jayant Dey has joined the team at BNC Publishing as Group Sales Manager. Having spent five years in advertising sales with ITP Publishing Group across Logistics Middle East, Scata Awards and the Logistics Conference, Jayant will now be instrumental in launching an upcoming logistics magazine in the UAE – set to go out in the regional market in the near future – as well as working with other products at BNC Publishing.

“I am extremely passionate about the logistics industry, as it’s the backbone of any business house,” says Jayant. “So the opportunity and the challenge to launch a logistics magazine with BNC Publishing is very exciting.”

New CNN art and culture series to launch

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CNN International is launching CNN Ones to Watch – a major new feature show debuting globally on CNN – which will delve into a range of colourful and diverse artistic and cultural fields to showcase future talent. Each month, CNN Ones to Watch will focus on a particular discipline – from modern dance to classical music, filmmaking to architecture and sculpture – as a recognised master of their craft identifies ‘ones to watch’ and explains why their careers are on an upward trajectory. Through this narrative, the master in each show will guide viewers into their art form, how its evolving and what new talent needs to accomplish.

Launching on October 10, 2014, CNN Ones To Watch will air across all CNN platforms – with the programme running on CNN International global feeds and on CNN en Espanol. In addition, vignettes from the programme will air on CNN US.

The series – sponsored by Cartier – will also have a number of digital elements to complement the on–air programming. Alongside video content from CNN Ones to Watch, a dedicated microsite will include interactive and social features, such as behind–the–scenes Instagrams and Vines from contributors.

“CNN Ones to Watch is one of the most extensive and exciting feature shows to appear on CNN International,” says Mike McCarthy, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CNN International. “Its broad remit will take viewers on a global journey to explore a diverse mix of arts and culture through the eyes of a master in their field and give the inside track on who could be tomorrow’s Carlos Acosta, Spike Lee or Rem Hoolhaas. The first episode will really set the standards with first class contributors and elements that will give viewers a real insight into the world of portraiture.”

Alka Winter promoted at FRHI Hotels & Resorts

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Alka Winter has been promoted to Regional Director MEAI of FRHI Hotels & Resorts – a consolidation of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. Prior to this appointment, Alka was Area Director, Public Relations for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, providing PR support for the Fairmont hotels in the UAE, including the Fairmont Dubai, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr and Fairmont The Palm, whilst executing large scale PR campaigns. In her new position, Alka will be providing real-time strategic support and guidance for the PR efforts across the 19 Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel hotels in the Middle East, Africa and India, as well as elevating the FRHI brand within the public domain. This also includes the development of PR plans announcing new hotel openings and positioning FRHI’s growth strategy.

“I’m very excited about being part of a dynamic regional team who are specialists in their respective fields, ranging from design and construction, development, spa, food and beverage, as well as sales and marketing to name a few,” says Alka. “What I am most passionate about is lending my expertise to the region and working with the PR teams on property, helping to bring their ideas to fruition and introducing it to a global audience where appropriate. I have over 10 years of experience in public relations with most of those in hospitality, so I hope I can pass on some of my experiences and best practices to help achieve great results.”

Weber Shandwick named Global Agency of the Year

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Weber Shandwick has been named 2014 Global Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report. Honourees of the title are selected by the publication’s Editors, based on information gathered during the Agency Report Card and regional awards processes. In addition to being named 2014 Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report regionally in both North America and Asia Pacific, Weber Shandwick’s global outperformance of the market and its innovative digital capabilities including Mediaco – Weber Shandwick’s content publishing and distribution offering – has been highlighted, as well as the strong growth of its Middle East and North African operations.

“This award is a testament to Weber Shandwick’s collaborative culture and innovative work across our global network,” says Andy Polansky, CEO, Weber Shandwick. “We appreciate the strong support of our teams and client partners around the world.”

Ziad Hasbani, CEO of Weber Shandwick MENA adds, “We have been investing heavily in our MENA operation and it’s gratifying that the fruits of our efforts are now being recognised by global industry experts. We are proud of the longevity of our heritage in the region, but it’s the future that matters. Just as Weber Shandwick globally is evolving, we too are undergoing a transformation, which will ensure that we continue to stay ahead of the regional communication trends and place centre-stage the recognition that creativity and digital offerings are now key.”