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Rebecca Platt joins St. Regis Doha

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St. Regis Doha has appointed Rebecca Platt to the role of Director of Marketing. With experience in the marketing, PR and digital industry, Rebecca has worked across hotels such as the Shangri-La Group, InterContinental Hotel Group and Wyndham Hotels. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing marketing strategies, and media and partnership relations while also overseeing the sales and marketing objectives.

“I am delighted to have joined the team here at this stunning property and am very excited to be part of the St. Regis family,” says Rebecca. “Although I have worked in the GCC for a number of years now I am looking forward to exploring the Doha market and driving new and exciting marketing initiatives to raise awareness of the hotel.”

ASDA’A appoints new Managing Director

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Middle East-based PR agency ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller has appointed Hassan Fattah to the role of Managing Director. With a wealth of experience in media and communications, Hassan previously worked with The National as Editor-in-Chief and most recently with Brunswick Group as a partner. In his new role, he will provide the senior counsel to regional corporate and government clients, while driving the firm’s new business and organic growth in the GCC and wider Middle East.

“I’m delighted to be joining ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller at a very exciting time for the firm and for communications in the region,” says Hassan. “ASDA’A brings deep insight and understanding of the Middle East’s political, business and cultural dynamics. That depth of knowledge, together with the firm’s scale, regional network, and seasoned team make for an unbeatable combination in the growing market for communications.”

Spotlight Productions launches in the UAE

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New production company, Spotlight Productions launches in the UAE. Spotlight Productions aims to offer videography and photography services to meet the requirements of clients and help communicate their message in an engaging manner as well as creating captivating content to bring their stories and announcements into the spotlight. The new company will see its co-founders Abdul Karim Hanif with broadcast journalism experience take on the role of Managing Partner and Producer, Melville Picardo with TV production experience as Head of Post Production and Muhammad Adnan having worked in the television industry as Production Manager. The new team will work towards partnering with communications and PR companies by bringing the news team’s support to produce video news releases for press conferences and events.

“Video content has become a crucial element to take a press release forward an extra mile, particularly with the rise of social media influencers,” says Abdul Karim Hanif, Managing Partner and Producer, Spotlight Productions. “We aim to bring our TV production knowledge to create that appealing content together with the interviews of our clients. Over the years we have developed strong relationships with PR firms in our network and we would now like to enhance those ties further by providing them with the support they require for their written content.”

Grayling Welcomes New Account Director

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Global communications firm, Grayling UAE, has appointed Lauren Ramey to the role of Account Director. With over five years of experience in strategic communications planning, international media relations and issues management, Lauren previously worked as Director of Communications Planning in the Office of the Premier of Ontario in Canada before moving to the GCC and most recently worked as the Communications Advisor to the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia. In her new role, she will work towards delivering strong guidance to the clientele of Grayling across the Middle East.

“With Grayling, I share a real passion for inventive and integrated communications solutions, which have a long-lasting positive impact on organisational goals,” says Lauren. “I look forward to working closely with this dynamic team to realise our passion through delivering strategic counsel and powerful content to the firm’s impressive and growing client list across the region.”

EWmums goes live

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ExpatWoman launches new focused brand extension, EWmums. The new platform will be in Arabic and English and aims to provide vital information, interactive tools and interesting content to mums-to-be and mums-already audiences. The website will also feature insightful articles, news, reviews and tips from mummy bloggers as well as forums for sharing and guides on topics related to pregnancy, birth, babies, toddlers and children along with advice from experts and parents.

“This relaunch – a whole new dedicated site with bespoke functionality, marks a significant new step for ExpatWoman with EWmums being our first dual language digital publishing site,” says Jane Drury, CEO, ME Digital Group and Founder, ExpatWoman.  “We’re meeting the needs of brands focused on a pan-demographic, GCC reach, particularly in FMCG and retail. This brand extension will support and inform both Arabic and English- speaking parents, and mums to be.”

Amy Piek is promoted at Bell Pottinger Middle East

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Bell Pottinger Middle East (BPME) has promoted Amy Piek to the role of Director. Having been with the agency for over three years, Amy was previously Associate Partner and assisted in building the firm’s Financial Communications & Investor Relations practice.

In her new role, she will work alongside fellow Director Tim Falconer (Dubai) and Archie Berens, Managing Director (Middle East) to facilitate in the separation of Bell Pottinger Middle East from the current owner Bell Pottinger Private Limited in the UK, which is to be put into administration.

“This is an extremely exciting opportunity for us.  As an independent and financially secure business with a strong and experienced team in charge of its own destiny, it will now be open to us to consider a whole range of options,” says Archie Berens, Managing Director, BPME, Middle East. “Our company has a long and proud tradition of working in the Middle East and it is now up to us to continue to build on that.  With my fellow directors Tim Falconer and Amy Piek, I cannot wait to get started on the next stage of the journey.  We are especially pleased to have been able to promote Amy, who has thoroughly deserved this and has a key role to play in our future.”