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markettiers MENA makes new appointment

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Broadcast PR specialists, markettiers MENA has appointed Lucy Davies to the role of Account Director. With over seven years within the agency in London, Lucy most recently worked with a variety of clients including DMCC, L’Oréal, Volkswagen and Audi. In her new role, Lucy will be responsible for overseeing client management, introducing new innovative routes to engage with audiences while driving the agency’s offerings when it comes to live streaming, video news releases and producing podcasts to mobilise audience behavior.

“After seven years being based in the London office, and supporting the UAE, I’m excited to make the move full time,” says Lucy. “It’s an ever changing landscape for PR professionals in the Middle East and I look forward to driving further growth and supporting the expansion in the region and beyond.”

Cheryl King, Managing Director, markettiers MENA, “Over the past few years Lucy has been supporting the MENA team from our London headquarters, and has been instrumental in helping to drive our growth as a broadcast specialist in region. Her relocation to Dubai is testament to her passion for the region and how she has quickly embraced the needs of the market, evangelising broadcast and its power to reach core and new audiences. We’re excited to welcome Lucy to our team on the ground as we continue to introduce and work with our clients on impactful routes to mobilise behaviour.”

Zenith celebrates 30th anniversary

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Zenith Middle East, part of Publicis Media Group is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the Middle East. Founded in 1988 and created from the media buying departments of Saatchi & Saatchi, BSB Dorland and KHBB, Zenith first opened its agency in Paddington, London. Over the years, Zenith has become a worldwide media agency network and merged with Optimedia to launch into performance, branded content, analytics and sponsorship consulting.

“I feel very proud to be part of this pioneering network as we celebrate our 30th anniversary,” says Vittorio Bonori, Global Brand President, Zenith. “As the ROI agency we have continually innovated and our vision is to be a key business partner for clients, focused on growth strategy, experience planning and 1-2-1 optimisation.”

Ampersand celebrates first anniversary 

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Global marketing and talent consultancy, Ampersand is celebrating its first anniversary in the Middle East. In the first year, Ampersand has been successful in winning, developing, designing and implementing international projects for a variety of clients including Aston Martin Lagonda, Johnson & Johnson, Travelex and Unimoni. Its approach is to change the rules of training while developing and delivering engaging and stimulating experience to maximise the transfer of knowledge and return on investment.

“We believe that the Ampersand ethos of Creative Learning has been central to our success in securing so many fabulous projects from some of the world’s highest profile brands from a standing start in less than 12 months and the future looks bright too with more projects from existing clients and new clients in Dubai, Hong Kong, London, and Singapore,” says Nick Clemets, CEO, Ampersand.

JPd PR opens London office

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Dubai-based public relations and social media agency, JPd PR has launched its London office as the first stage of its global expansion plans. Having launched in Dubai in 2016, JPd PR has opened its new office to reach out to key clients and help them design and execute campaigns and communication tactics. The agency’s key clients include Telr, Carlton Hotels and Suites, Bebuzzd and Fiona Environs – they will also work towards gaining more clients and awareness across the globe.

“Having launched in 2016, JPd PR has reached great horizons in the GCC market,” says James Pass, Director, JPd PR. “London is just a stepping stone into the global market, and we look forward to making many more such announcements, this year. We forecast exciting times ahead and envision growth for the agency.”

 

ASDA’A Burson Marsteller wins PRWeek Global Award

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Dubai-based PR agency, ASDA’A Burson Marsteller (BM) has received the PRWeek Global Award for Best Campaign – Middle East/Africa. The awards took place on May 15, 2018 at Northumberland Avenue in London. The agency secured the award for its 9th annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey.

“The PRWeek Global Awards recognise the best of the best, and we are thrilled to have earned this award for our work on the 9th Arab Youth Survey,” says Sunil John, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. “This international level of recognition from our peers fuels our commitment to deliver excellence for the benefit of our clients and our industry in the Middle East. The Arab Youth Survey is a real passion project that ignites our spirit as an agency. It has long served as the biggest platform to echo the voices of this region’s largest and most influential demographic – Arab youth. Winning the Best Campaign award for the Middle East and Africa only adds to our commitment to delivering more ground-breaking campaigns.”

 

In The Hot Seat – Nick Clements

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Team TMN catch up with Nick Clements, CEO at Ampersand and COO at MCG&Co, who talks about his role and what he thinks of the talent and marketing industry in the Middle East…

Name: Nick Clements

Nationality: English

Current job titles: CEO, Ampersand and COO, MCG&Co

When did you first arrive in Dubai?

In 2013, on National Day…there was a great party going on.

Where did you work prior?

I most recently worked with advertising agency, BPGBates as CEO for three years and previously, before coming to Dubai I worked with Ogilvy, Innocean and JWT in Dublin, Frankfurt and London respectively.

What were your first impressions of the talent and marketing industry in the Middle East?

It was clear immediately that there is loads of great marketing talent in the region. But it was equally clear that there is a very variable commitment to the development of that talent.

Has your opinion changed much?

Not really, but what we are seeing is that the serious players are becoming more committed to developing and training their most valuable assets.

Tell us about your current role…

I wear two hats. I’m the CEO at Ampersand, which my partner Justin McGuire and I launched last year in Dubai, London, Hong Kong and Singapore. I’m also the COO of MCG&Co of which Justin is the CEO.

What challenges do you face?

Our business is really fizzing which is great and so the biggest challenge is using our time as wisely as possible.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Ampersand is a young company and we are firing on all cylinders right now, so every day brings new rewards from winning business to hiring new staff. But the bottom line is always happy clients.

Describe yourself in five words…

Not good at short sentences.

Who inspires you?

My extraordinary family and ‘Hero’ the Ampersand Mascot

What’s your most overused saying?

‘There is a clue in the name!’

Five things you can’t live without?

Family, work, fitness, cricket and travel

What’s the most exciting thing that has happened to you in your career?

Joining MCG&Co and launching Ampersand.

If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?

Probably running an advertising agency – my other great love.

If you could have one work wish granted, what would it be?

I’d like to see Ampersand and the MCG& Group in India, Australia and the USA in the next few years

Ampersand launches new website

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Global marketing and talent consultancy, Ampersand has launched its new website, Ampersandglobal.com. The new interactive site details the company’s services of specialist learning and development, executive search, strategic advisory and M&A that is offered across Dubai, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

‘’Our new interactive website captures all that Ampersandglobal.com does and the vibrant nature of the way we do it,” says Nick Clements, CEO, Ampersand. “It details all of the services that we offer and encourages people to respond and engage with the our rapidly growing business”

Ampersand and IPA form new partnership

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Marketing and talent consultancy, Ampersand has partnered with the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) to provide training courses across the MENA region. The partnership will see IPA offer advertising and marketing training across four main courses including the Foundation Certificate for new business owners, the Eff Test for those involved in effective measurement, the Commercial Certificate to help improve financial acumen and the Advanced Certificate for those with three to six years of industry experience.

“The depth, breath and quality of these training qualifications are globally renowned and we are delighted to now be able to offer IPA’s most important programmes to the MENA region,” says Nick Clements, CEO, Ampersand.

Patrick Mills, Director of Membership and Professional Development, IPA, adds “We are delighted to have partnered with Ampersand to help make the IPA’s industry leading qualifications and courses available in the MENA region. We are delighted to help play a pivotal role in raising industry standards to the benefit of agency and client communities and Ampersand’s knowledge and connections in the MENA region will enable more learners to take advantage of our offering.