Posts

UM MENA appoints new Head of Innovation

As part of UM MENA’s move to configure its integrated planning and strategy, Rasha Rteil has been appointed as Regional Innovation Director. Previously with Mindshare MENA, Rasha was heading digital media for Lebanon and was responsible for leading innovation strategies across the region.

Based in Dubai, Rasha will now be instrumental in developing innovative, integrated and digitally led consumer engagement solutions on international, regional and local clients. Her key focus will be innovation with a plug and play approach, driving tech partnerships to add value and increase the reach of brands across all audiences, sparking memorable moments with consumers.

“With UM MENA at the forefront of embracing innovation and technology as a stand-alone function and talent, I look forward to undergoing an exciting and alluring journey alongside the strategy and product team,” says Rasha. “Our aim is to make our brands robust enough to evolve with our audience’s ever-changing adoption of technology through identifying fragmented content consumption, avant-garde immersive channels and by harnessing the power of multiscreen experiences. UM MENA brings a showcase of fun and enthusing brands, and with that we will thrive to create encounters with lasting impressions that drive our client’s brands in a measurable way digitally, in the physical world, or even both.”

UM appoints Regional Strategy & Content Director

UM MENA has appointed Antoine De Trogoff as Regional Strategy and Content Director. In his previous role, Antoine was with Mediacom International in the UK, where he ran two major global accounts – Shell and Dassault Systemes – as well as heading up the Content Partnership division. In Antoine’s new position, he will be responsible for the setup of UM Studios, the branded content division of UM MENA, and the strategic lead on L’Oreal brands.

“The last few years have seen numerous changes in our industry with the role of content completely challenging our business, it is such an exciting time to join the region and support UM’s growth and I am thrilled to be part of such a vibrant agency,” says Antoine. “Many agencies will claim outstanding strategic thinking but we have the opportunity to be different and demonstrate we are at the forefront of developments in the sector with unique skills and resources.”

Tom Hardstaff joins UM MENA

Tom Hardstaff has joined the UM team as Regional Strategy Director. Having moved over from Mediacom in the UK, Tom has worked on international brands such as Volkswagen, TUI, Kenwood and DeLonghi. In his new position, Tom’s main responsibility is to support the Coke team with strategic direction, ensuring the brand’s continued innovative growth in the MENA region. Tom’s current focus is the development and implementation of the MENA Coke workshops, which will be pulling together the local markets to align vital output and drive the brand forward.

“The challenges Coca Cola face in the MENA region differs to that of other international markets,” says Tom. “But, with an innovative agency approach to our strategic direction, we have the opportunity to deliver remarkable, engaging consumer campaigns and ultimately reposition Coke as the number one drinks brand in the region.”