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New Regional Managing Director for UM MENA

Middle East Communication Network (MCN), has announced Chris Skinner as the new Regional Managing Director of UM MENA. A British national with more than 18 years’ industry experience, Skinner has worked in senior level positions at global agencies in some of the world’s most important media markets, including London and Hong Kong. He joins UM MENA after a six-year tenure at IPG’s Mediabrands in Hong Kong, where he led UM and Initiative as Managing Director and led integrated campaigns for The Coca-Cola Group, Boots International, Cathay Pacific, Exxon Mobil, MasterCard, CNN International and Microsoft, among others.

“Chris has an impressive track record of success and his key strengths of developing strategic campaigns, building diversity and additional services – including digital assets – as well as pushing the boundaries of service, content and integration will prove great assets to MCN,” says Ghassan Harfouche, Group CEO of MCN. “The high-level appointment is further proof that the keystone to MCN evolving its product offering is acquiring the best human capital available.”

Paul Katrib, who has been leading UM MENA for the past three years will be moving on to pursue other professional projects. “MCN would like to thank Paul for all his efforts and achievements during his longstanding tenure at the company and offer him their very best wishes for his future,” added Harfouche.

International recognition for McCann Worldgroup

McCann Worldgroup was recognised in Advertising Age & Creativity magazine’s Annual Awards Report as the third most “Creatively Awarded Network,” with McCann Melbourne ranked as the most “Creatively Awarded Agency.”

This recognition comes in a year in which McCann’s creative awards performance netted it honours as “Agency of the Year” in New York and as “Network of the Year” in both Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific, along with other major creative awards recognition globally. The Advertising Age & Creativity magazine report also recognised McCann Melbourne’s “Dumb Ways to Die” campaign for Metro Trains Australia as the “Most Awarded Campaign” of the year and its creative leaders John Mescall and Pat Baron as the two highest-ranked creative directors in the entire global advertising industry.

“This is a terrific achievement for the entire McCann network, highlighted by the tremendous success of our Melbourne office,” said Harris Diamond, Chairman and CEO of McCann Worldgroup. “The recognition across categories from digital to integrated, film to design, is a testament to the great work all of our staff has been doing around the world. This is work that not only continues to win the admiration of our peers, but also drives our clients’ businesses forward.”

Along with this record of creative recognition, McCann this year added several new global and regional clients, including the consolidation of the Chevrolet business globally, the addition of Zurich Insurance and SABIC to the network’s global roster, and new U.S. clients including the U.S. Postal Service, Lockheed Martin and Jose Cuervo.

New Senior PR Exec for Venture Communications

Charles Santhakumar has today joined the team at Venture Communications in the role of Senior PR Executive. Hailing from India, Charles has over seven years of PR experience in agencies including Edelman, Hanmer MSL and Vaishnavi Corporate Communications, and his new role at Venture Communications will be his first step in to the Middle East PR industry.

“I am very much looking forward to commencing my career in the Middle East and putting the experience I gained in India to good use,” says Charles. “I love to work under pressure and am looking forward to getting stuck in to this new role.”

Charles will look after the lifestyle, healthcare, hospitality and transportation accounts and can be contacted at charlessanthakumar@venture-com.com / +971 (0)56 744 7423

Style.com/Arabia Men launches

Style.com/Arabia Men has launched as an online publication dedicated to gentlemen of the Middle East. Encompassing a broader, more diverse set of topics than the women-focused Style.com/Arabia, the new gent’s portal will cover style, culture, design, gadgets and gear.

“We believe that men in the region have long been deserving of a publication that understands their evolving interests,” says Shashi Menon, CEO & Publisher, Style.com/Arabia. “Style.com/Arabia Men will be the definitive guide on how to live as a sophisticated, modern man in the Middle East, underpinned by the distinctive Style.com/Arabia voice, perspective, and approach.”

As with Style.com/Arabia, the new men’s site is available in both English and Arabic language. Visit www.arabia.style.com/men/ to learn more.

entourage honoured at Dubai SME 100 Awards

entourage marketing and events were honoured at the prestigious Dubai SME 100 awards that took place yesterday. Key management were present to receive the industry recognition at the award ceremony that took place at Dubai World Trade Centre, in the presence of HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

“At entourage we don’t just work for awards but for results for our clients, this approach is now being recognised by the guardians of industry,” says Mohammed Tayem, Managing Director of entourage. “Personally I am extremely proud of my team and thank our clients to giving us a chance to serve them.”

SME 100 is a premier ranking of Dubai’s 100 top performing SMEs, launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME).

Lonely Planet Traveller & BBC Good Food relocate

Lonely Planet Traveller Middle East and BBC Good Food Middle East have moved to new offices. The entire editorial, sales, marketing and events teams have shifted to CPI Media Group’s headquarters in TECOM. The new address is office 804, Grosvenor Business Tower, TECOM and the switchboard number is 04-440-9100. Individual email addresses and direct lines remain the same.