Posts

WorldWise PR alliance welcomes Pascale Venot

/0 Comments/in /by

Dubai-based Shamal Marketing Communications, co-founder of WorldWise PR Alliance has welcomed Pascale Venot to its strategic network of top independent PR agencies. With the global alliance of public relations firms taking shape, Paris-based Pascale Venot is the 13th member to be welcomed to the network since being launched five months ago.

The WorldWise network cultivates and serves a variety of industries, including luxury hospitality, real estate, retail, design, fashion, art and professional services. The original co-founders, Shamal Marketing Communications, New York agency HWPR, Kreps DeMaria PR & Marketing from Miami and London’s JV Public Relations, recognised Pascale Venot as an ideal fit for the alliance and Paris as a perfect location to extend its reach to Europe.

“Today, clients want their message to reach every corner of the globe,” says Steven Jones, Managing Director, Shamal. “Pascale Venot is a valuable addition to the network. Although competition is ultra-fierce in the French capital, it is a location that many luxury brands would like to establish themselves. On the flip side, Pascale’s clients will automatically gain access to some of the biggest and most diverse markets around the world – it’s a win-win situation which epitomises the collective strength of the alliance.”

Pascale Venot, Principal of Pascale Venot concludes, “Joining a global network will provide our business with a tremendous boost to our clients’ media exposure and global reach. In order to remain competitive in the public relations field today, firms need to be able to offer global exposure. WorldWise PR Affiliates is a remarkable organisation and we are delighted to have been invited to join the alliance.”

Bloomberg Business goes live

/0 Comments/in /by

Bloomberg has today launched its new online portal Bloomberg Business. A culmination of content from Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Graphics and new digital content, the site targets a global audience and aims to deliver smart analysis, deep context and thoughtful reporting.

According to the official post by Bloomberg, Bloomberg Business will offer expanded focus on specific coverage areas such as markets, technology and luxury, in addition to data journalism, education and original digital video.

For further details, visit www.bloomberg.com  Read more

Newsweek to launch Middle East edition

/0 Comments/in /by

Newsweek LLC has signed an exclusive licensing partnership with ARY Digital Network – an Urdu language television network – to publish Newsweek Middle East, a localised newsweekly magazine that will be available in both English and Arabic. The launch of Newsweek Middle East will mark the eighth international edition of the publication, which is currently distributed across Japan, South Korea, Latin America, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia and the UK.

“Newsweek represents high quality journalism and there is a global demand for that,” says Etienne Uzac, Co-Founder and CEO, IBT Media, parent company of Newsweek LLC. “We are thrilled to partner with ARY Digital Network to launch Newsweek Middle East and continue to build the Newsweek brand in the Middle East.”

This partnership marks the ARY Digital Network’s entry into print media. Empirical Media, which pursues and facilitates foreign license partnerships to publish Newsweek in targeted markets, served as an advisor in the formation of Newsweek Middle East.

Salman Iqbal, Founder and CEO of ARY Digital Network adds, “I am very pleased to announce this long-term partnership with IBT Media and the launch of Newsweek Middle East. Newsweek Middle East will be published in English and Arabic with region-specific content, offering award-winning reporting and commentary from some of the top writers in the Middle East and the world.”

The first issues of Newsweek Middle East will be available in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain. The English version is due to launch by June 2015, followed by the Arabic version.

CNN partners with McLaren Technology Group

/0 Comments/in /by

CNN International has officially entered into a multi-year global partnership with McLaren Technology Group and is McLaren-Honda’s new partner for the 2015 Formula One season and beyond. For the 2015 season, this will see CNN’s branding appear on the front-wing endplates of the new McLaren-Honda MP4-30 Formula 1 car, which will be unveiled in an online launch on January 29, 2015. The partnership also allows for CNN’s use of McLaren’s soon-to-open thought leadership centre, based within the McLaren Technology Campus in Woking, Surrey, UK, from which CNN International will produce several programmes to be broadcast globally across its network.

“This is a groundbreaking partnership between two trusted brands with a passion for high performance and continued innovation,” says Rani Raad, Chief Commercial Officer, CNN International. “Committed to being first, we share a mutual respect for each other’s operations – whether that’s the tenacity of CNN journalists in going to the heart of a story or McLaren’s forensic focus for every F1 race. With a shared global footprint and highly engaged audience, there’s a lot of expertise and best practice that we can both invest in this partnership. The added exposure that CNN International will gain through our association with McLaren is part of an expansive consumer engagement initiative to capitalise on the power of our brand. The additional business, broadcasting and cross-marketing opportunities made possible by this multi-year deal will forge a close relationship between two companies on the world stage.”

Rob Dennis, Chairman and CEO of McLaren Technology Group adds, “There is an inherent symmetry between McLaren and CNN that makes us perfectly attuned for partnership. Like McLaren, CNN is a tremendously powerful and influential global network, one that has spent decades pioneering the latest technologies and techniques in a relentless, unforgiving, fast-paced environment. I think we understand each other on many levels. The partnership between McLaren and CNN is unique in that it operates on a very broad scope. Our shared love of technology has united us: together we will pursue new opportunities far beyond the conventional scope of a Formula 1 partnership.”

MEAComS joins Edelman affiliate network

/0 Comments/in /by

Edelman and MEAComS have signed an agreement naming MEAComS as Edelman’s exclusive affiliate in Eygpt. MEAComS will form an integral part of the Edelman network of affiliates by providing local expertise and on-the-ground market support to Edelman. MEAComS’ staff and clients will have access to Edelman’s regional and global network of experts, best practices and professional development and training programs.

“Edelman is renowned for setting industry standards,” says Fatma Z. Ahmed, Managing Director, MEAComS. “We are proud to affiliate with a global firm whose reputation for innovation and an integrated approach to strategic communications in meeting client needs proceeds them. We at MEAComS share many of Edelman’s core values and work diligently to ensure the same success for our clients. Our partnership will give Edelman greater insight into Egypt and the Middle East while we gain important know-how and experience as we continue to grow our own influence regionally. We look forward to a fruitful relationship that is win-win for Edelman and MEAComS.”

Robert Holdheim, CEO of Edelman South Asia, Middle East & Africa adds, “Egypt is an exciting, rapidly emerging and important market in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a long-standing partner of Edelman in Egypt, we know that MEAComS shares Edelman’s commitment to excellence and quality in meeting our clients’ needs. This affiliation marks a new chapter in our alliance, adding considerable value to our present client portfolio in Egypt and enhancing the significant future growth potential in this important market for Edelman. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership in Egypt.”

PublicisLive appoints new President

/0 Comments/in /by

Publicis Groupe has appointed Anthony Gazagne as the President of PublicisLive, an events agency within the Groupe’s network MSLGROUP, specialising in the production of international conferences and prestige events. Anthony has spent the majority of his career at Publicis Groupe; since joining Publicis Dialog in 1998, he has held the positions of Project Manager, Director of Operations, Vice President of Operations and most recently, since 2008, Managing Director of PublicisLive. Anthony’s predecessor, John Rossant, who held the position of President since 2008, will leave Publicis Groupe to continue the development of his foundation, The New Cities Foundation and other personal projects.

“Anthony Gazagne is an extraordinarily worthy successor to John,” says Maurice Lévy, Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe. “This promotion is a natural next step for Anthony within our Groupe. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of its employees, PublicisLive is today one of the most well renowned and prestigious events agencies worldwide. Anthony’s international experience and professionalism will be deeply valuable as PublicisLive continues to go from strength to strength. Anthony is tasked with taking the agency to the next level, and I thank John Rossant for his untiring commitment and efforts to date, wishing him the best of luck with his future projects.”

Anthony adds, “Being named President of PublicisLive is a huge honour, and a testament to the Groupe’s recognition of both my and my entire team’s performance at PublicisLive. I would also like to thank Maurice Lévy and Olivier Fleurot [CEO, MSLGROUP] for the confidence they have placed in me. After more than 15 years at the heart of this impressive company, I look back with pride and also relish the prospect of the formidable challenge in front of me. PublicisLive regularly supports local government, international organisations and foundations – notably the World Economic Forum, our long-term client – to achieve their aims. Our role, one that is constantly evolving to deliver best in class leadership solutions for our clients, is at an important crossroads. We will focus on continued organic growth, while also looking at a range of external opportunities to further maximise growth.”

Facebook At Work app goes live

/0 Comments/in /by

Smartphone app Facebook At Work has officially hit iOS and Android app stores. With the software still in the early stages of development, a select number of test companies are currently eligible to download the app. Significantly, while the app appears and works similarly to the public Facebook network, there will be no advertisements and no tracking or holding of user data. A key feature of the Facebook At Work app is ‘Groups’, which aims to replace the ever-growing and never-ending email lists amongst employees.

With the launch of this app, Facebook will be competing with several companies seeking the top spot for social networking in the workplace. Other such companies include IBM, who has already developed a workplace social-networking service called Connections; Microsoft, which acquired social-enterprise company Yammer in 2012 and Slack – an enterprise-collaboration tool that was most recently valued at approximately $1 billion.

The date for Facebook At Work being launched to a wider availability has yet to be confirmed.

Havas Media launches LuxHub

/0 Comments/in /by

Havas Media Group has launched LuxHub, a global consulting division that will deliver media communications and marketing support for global luxury brands. Headquartered in Milan, the division will also launch across the Group’s established centres in London, Paris, Dubai and New York, with further expansion plans in Shanghai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Moscow later this year. Overseeing the strategic expansion for LuxHub is Isabelle Harvie-Watt, who has led plans for investment in a luxury division since her arrival as CEO Havas Media Group Italy in 2011.

“Luxury brands realise that they need to change the way they communicate,” says Isabelle. “Digital transformation is no longer an option. Growing online distribution and strong content strategies are the new norm. LuxHub is a great step forward to further closing the gap in language between agencies and luxury clients and the way luxury audiences are evolving.”

Dominique Delport, Global Managing Director of Havas Media Group adds, “Offering our clients the ability to connect to the luxury sector in a meaningful way has always been part of our strategy and I am delighted that we are now able to deliver this specialist consulting service to our clients on a global basis. The credibility we already have in this area, coupled with strong leadership from Isabelle to drive specialist teams in all the key markets, means we can provide new insights and innovative strategies both for luxury brands and brands who want to interact with the luxury audience.”

Isabelle Harvie-Watt and the LuxHub UK team, led by Tammy Smulder – who joins the team as Global Executive Director – will deliver their first study on luxury brands later this month. The project uses data from 1,000 people representing the top 10 percent of income earners in China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, US, UAE and UK.

Cheil Worldwide appoints Global CGO

/0 Comments/in /by

Cheil Worldwide has appointed Lotta Malm Hallqvist as its first Global Chief Growth Officer. Lotta takes on the newly created role from McCann Worldgroup, where she was Executive Vice President and Global Chief Officer since 2011. Having worked with the McCann network for almost 15 years, Lotta has also founded two start-ups including Propaganda, an advertising agency that was later sold to McCann.

Remaining in London, she will lead Cheil’s international growth and new business drive, and will report to Michael Kim, Cheil Worldwide’s Global Chief Operating Officer.

“Cheil is at a really important chapter in its history and there is no better time than now to have a new global chief growth officer on board,” says Michael Kim. “Lotta, a hugely charismatic, engaging and passionate professional, has helped agencies build growth and drive business development over the past 15 years. She is highly pro-active in her approach to new business and will no doubt entrench this approach at Cheil. I am confident that she will add great value and agility to our new business development efforts, given her understanding of what clients expect from an agency partner.”

Lotta adds, “I am truly impressed with the Korean approach to business – the ‘nothing is impossible’ attitude and the focus on opportunities over problems. It’s a privilege to be part of the next chapter for Cheil, joining the team behind one of the strongest brands on the planet.”