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MCG& Founder Justin McGuire to lead expansion in APAC

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Founder and CEO of MCG&, Justin Mcguire is set to lead the group’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Founded in 2010, MCG& now consists of four companies across four countries; MCG&Co, which is a specialist recruitment business in the communications, digital and technology sectors globally, Kemistry, which focuses on HR, finance and operations, Hopscotch, a women’s career platform, and the newly launched Ampersand, which is a marketing and talent consultancy providing L&D, search, strategic advisory and M&A services in Dubai, London, Hong Kong and now Singapore.

Due to this growth and further expansion plans in the APAC region including a Shanghai office, McGuire is now leaving Dubai for Singapore.

The Dubai operations, which serve as the headquarters for the group, will continue to be led by Nick Clements, group COO and founder and CEO of Ampersand, Chris Quy, managing director of Ampersand and Rahman Risilia, EMEA managing director for MCG&Co and Kemistry.

“In 18 months, we have built the Asia business to become a significant player in the region. We already have two offices open (Hong Kong and Singapore) with a third set to open in 2019 when we will have team on the ground in Shanghai, and more planned to follow,” he says.

While McGuire’s decision to move makes strategic business sense, it’s not necessarily an easy one. “I arrived in Dubai nine years ago as a single guy who lost his job in the financial crisis and I am leaving Dubai nine years later with a beautiful young family, a successful group of companies and a hunger and passion to continue growing the business. The decision to leave Dubai was not an easy one for many emotional reasons, but having such a solid senior management team in place has made it possible. Strategically, for us, this is a logical decision to make.”

As the company focuses on growth in the APAC region, the MENA region has its own developments with six new hires in the Dubai office in the last six months with recruitment in the tech domain growing strongly. And although growth in the traditional agency-client base has been slow, McGuire expects it to pick up through 2018. “We’re big believers in the region and Dubai will always be our HQ and feel like my home,” he says.

Ampersand launches operations across the region

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MCG& Group has launched new marketing and talent consultancy, Ampersand. Founded by Nick Clements and Justin McGuire, Ampersand will have offices across Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore to deliver marketing and talent consulting services. The consultancy will be divided into &Knowledge, which will provide specialist learning and development as well as training, coaching and assessments, &Search, an executive search and placement operation and &Connect, a strategic advisory and M&A service in the creative services arena. The new launch will also see Nick Clements, COO at MCG& take on the additional role of CEO along with Chris Quy, who most recently worked as Director at MCG& to take on the new role of Managing Director.

“Ampersand is a unique offering that brings the best of the worlds of marketing and talent consultancy together,” says Nick Clements, CEO, Ampersand. “We know that there is an appetite for the L&D, search, advisory and M&A services that we provide and are growing the business out internationally from day one. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Justin on this new venture and delighted that Chris Quy is bringing his wealth of experience to the company as Managing Director.”

Rahman Risilia joins MCG Group

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MCG Group has appointed Rahman Risilia to the role of Managing Director – MENA of its recruitment brands, MCG& Associates and Kemistry. With 16 years of experience in recruitment across the marketing, digital, communications, IT and sales sectors, Rahman has worked with Mackenzie Jones Middle East as Sales, Marketing, Digital Manager and most recently with Simply Digital ME as Director.  In his new role, he will work alongside the Global CEO of MCG Group, Justin McGuire and take full control of the Dubai office.

“MCG& Associates and Kemistry are reputable and global recruitment agencies and I’m thrilled to be joining at such an exciting and crucial time for the business,” says Rahman. “I am looking forward to working with the talented team and building on what is already an amazing brand, by implementing a proven service delivery model, customer engagement plan and to centre our place as the number one agency within the advertising, marketing and digital space.”

PRCA MENA announces headline sponsor

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The Dubai-branch of international talent consultancy, MCG Associates has partnered with Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) MENA as the headline sponsor for the inaugural PRCA MENA Awards. The awards ceremony will take place on February 8, 2017 at the H Hotel, Dubai.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome MCG Associates as the headline sponsor for our first PRCA MENA Awards,” says Francis Ingham, Director General, PRCA MENA. “Having an established, influential and trusted agency backing the awards demonstrates its confidence in PRCA MENA and our work.”

Justin McGuire, Chief Executive Officer, MCG Group adds, “I’m delighted that MCG Group will be the headline sponsor for the inaugural PRCA MENA Awards. We take pride in partnering with the best agencies in the region and look forward to a night of celebration.”

MCG Associates announces new offices

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MCG Associates has announced the launch of its new offices in London and Hong Kong to serve the media, marketing, digital and PR sectors globally. Following the launch of its new offices, MCG has appointed Zena Alana as the Associate Director of the London office, which will focus on the media, design and tech sectors with an aim to work positions in London, Manchester, Berlin and Amsterdam using London as its base. The consultancy has also appointed Adam Michael Toctan as the Managing Director of its Hong Kong office, which will work with agencies across APAC to serve the advertising, designing and branding industries.

“I’m so proud to be taking MCG Group global,” says Justin McGuire, Chief Executive Officer, MCG Group. “A talent organisation set-up in the UAE initially to serve the media industry, we’ve now spread our wings with the intention of becoming number one in every territory we move into. We already have plans to look at the USA and Australia in 2017 – so watch this space.”

MEPRA confirms key partners for 2016 Awards

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The Middle East PR Association (MEPRA) has confirmed key sponsors for the 2016 Middle East PR Awards, due to take place at the JW Marriot Marquis on November 23, 2016. The awards will be supported by platinum sponsor, Mubadala; gold sponsor, MCG Associates and bronze sponsor, Edelman, with category sponsors including; Middlesex University Dubai, Sumo Sushi & Bento, Pan Arab Research Centre, RAK Media office and BUZ PR. The 2016 MEPRA awards will recognise innovation in the PR sector from across the region and reward practitioners who have made a distinctive contribution to the communication industry.

“The communication industry has evolved and modernised over the last few years and the MEPRA awards is the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on the public relations sector and celebrate the creative individuals who craft innovative communication campaigns,” says Brian Lott, Chairman, MEPRA and Executive Director – Communications, Mubalads. “I would like to thank all our board of sponsors for their support towards encouraging originality and imagination in the industry.”

Justin McGuire, CEO, MCG Group, adds “The MEPRA awards go beyond known boundaries and disciplines, encouraging the most innovative PR professionals and agencies who make a mark in the communication industry. It inspires path-breaking campaigns that happen on the edges of tradition. We are excited and proud to be able to support the Awards, which are considered to the the pinnacle of the communication industry in the region.”

MCG Associates announces new Director

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MCG Associates, a leading international executive search and recruitment company specialising in the communications industry across the Middle East, has appointed Kate Watson as Director. Kate joins from Fabric Recruitment, where she spent four years as Senior Consultant MENA, responsible for maintaining and growing Fabric’s client and candidate base, as well as developing solid relationships on both the agency and client side. In her new position, Kate will manage MCG’s integrated communications team, placing international talent into the Middle East’s most impressive roles on behalf of a range of blue chip companies and international PR and marketing agencies.

“MCG is a growing business and our recruiters are the very best in the Middle East,” says Justin McGuire, Managing Director, MCG Associates. “Kate is an excellent addition to our team, as her international experience in the communications industry means our clients will benefit from her accumulated expert knowledge and understanding. I am delighted to welcome Kate to our company and look forward to supporting her bid to ensure that our integrated communications division thrives.”

Kate’s appointment comes as MCG Associates embarks on a major expansion programme. In addition to relocating offices in Dubai, the communications recruiter has launched candidate searches in the Far East, with plans to enter the US and South America in 2015.

MCG Associates announces new Director

/0 Comments/in /by

MCG Associates, a leading international executive search and recruitment company specialising in the communications industry across the Middle East, has appointed Kate Watson as Director. Kate joins from Fabric Recruitment, where she spent four years as Senior Consultant MENA, responsible for maintaining and growing Fabric’s client and candidate base, as well as developing solid relationships on both the agency and client side. In her new position, Kate will manage MCG’s integrated communications team, placing international talent into the Middle East’s most impressive roles on behalf of a range of blue chip companies and international PR and marketing agencies.

“MCG is a growing business and our recruiters are the very best in the Middle East,” says Justin McGuire, Managing Director, MCG Associates. “Kate is an excellent addition to our team, as her international experience in the communications industry means our clients will benefit from her accumulated expert knowledge and understanding. I am delighted to welcome Kate to our company and look forward to supporting her bid to ensure that our integrated communications division thrives.”

Kate’s appointment comes as MCG Associates embarks on a major expansion programme. In addition to relocating offices in Dubai, the communications recruiter has launched candidate searches in the Far East, with plans to enter the US and South America in 2015.