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C&B launches influencer marketing arm

Cicero & Bernay Public Relations (C&B) launches an influencer communication programme, See & Be. Headed by Jamal H. Iqbal, Director – Brand Outreach at C&B, the new division aims to incorporate influencer engagement into communication campaigns by identifying an ideal match between influencers and client objectives.

“With the speed at which social media has penetrated the region’s consumers, and their affinity towards local influencers, we felt now was the time for new-age PR agencies such as ours to launch a full fledged influencer communication division,’ says Jamal. “See & Be is aimed at streamlining the disjoint between influencer programme leaders and implementers. While influencers and their social media offer optimised channels for delivery, content still rules, and campaigns must be charted keeping in mind granular accountability at every stage.”

PRCA launches Digital PR and Communications Report

PRCA MENA has revealed the results of its first Digital PR and Communications Report, produced in partnership with YouGov. Aiming to provide a benchmark of how the PR industry is performing with digital communications, the online survey was conducted in April 2017 with a sample size of 2,027 adults.

“The revolution of the digital world has influenced PR and Communications beyond doubt,” says Leanne Foy, General Manager, PRCA MENA. “Now is the right time to start benchmarking just how the industry is perfoming with digital communications, whether in-house or agency side.”

To receive a copy of the report, contact enquiries@prca.mena.global

Online fashion and lifestyle platform launches

Online fashion and lifestyle platform, hubb.fashion launches. Founded by Shweta Bhatia, a graduate of journalism and business fashion from London College of Fashion and most recently Fashion and Beauty Editor at Femina ME. The new digital platform focuses on the modern woman and features news and editorial content that offers a 360 degree fashion, beauty and lifestyle experience from the industry in the Middle East to the rest of the world. Hubb.fashion will also provide an interactive section for readers to add to existing narratives and send in their contributions to be published online without the need to subscribe.

“Hubb means ‘Love’ in Arabic and love is for everything that this country has to offer,” says Shweta Bhatia, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, hubb.fashion. “At Hubb we aim to inspire, fascinate and share the experience of every story personally to each reader. Our site is about taking a break from your routine and coming online to unwind and explore your areas of interest. We bring our readers a little bit of everything – after all, we Hubb everything that’s trending.”

Omnicom Media Group signs new partnership

Omnicom Media Group, part of Omnicom Group has signed an agreement with digital advertising company, Pathmatics to enhance its service offerings across the MENA region. The partnership will grant Omnicom’s clients in the region exclusive access to Pathmatics’s unique display and mobile advertising intelligence to better capture market dynamics and enhance their digital planning and buying performance.

“This MENA extension to our global contract with Pathmatics is the latest development in our multi-tiered approach to enhancing our service offering in the region,” says Dimitri Metaxas, Regional Executive Director-Specialist Companies, Omnicom Media Group MENA. “Pathmatics has the unique advantage of pinpointing the true path of digital adverts, which affords our clients greater clarity in an ever-evolving, complex landscape.”

Cicero and Bernay expands into North Africa

Public relations agency, Cicero and Bernay (C&B) has signed a strategic affiliation with Kalima, a subsidiary of communications group, Impact, as a part of its plan to expand into Algeria and Tunisia. The new agreement will see C&B provide public relations services, PR Strategies, on-ground support and development of targeted communications, with an aim to cater to the growing Algerian and Tunisian markets. The affiliation will also ensure that Kalima secures a strong footprint in the PR industry to strengthen C&B’s presence across the GCC.

“Kalima has a similar ethos to that of C&B – focusing on adding value to clients through a customer-centric and results-focused approach,” says Ahmad Itani, COO, C&B. “This shared philosophy makes us natural partners and we are pleased to be adding Kalima to our network of experts – adding valuable insights to C&B’s network from Algeria and Tunisia.”

Start wins at Transform MENA Awards 2017

Consumer experience design consultancy, Start was awarded the Grand Prix at the Transform MENA Awards 2017 last night at the Waldorf Astoria, Palm Jumeirah. The event also saw Start win five gold and four silver awards including Best place or nation brand, Best visual identity for travel, leisure and tourism sector, Best use of typography and Best internal communications during a brand development project for their work on the rebrand of Yas Island. The event aimed to recognise the best practice in corporate, product and global brand development across categories such as strategy, execution, content and evaluation across the region. 

“We are thrilled to have been awarded the Grand Prix at this years Transform Awards for our work with creating the new brand identity for Yas Island,” says Mike Curtis, Start, Group President. “We liberate the way people engage with the brands they love, increasing lifetime value, which increase the volume and value of sales.”

JPd secures multiple wins at Transform Awards

Dubai-based branding and communications agency, JPd has secured multiple awards at this year’s Transform Awards MENA. Held at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, the ceremony aims to recognise and benchmark the best brand work and reward innovation across the MENA region. The event saw JPd win in various categories including gold for Best Visual Identity for Charity/NGO and Best localisation of an international brand, silver for Best Visual Identity for Professional Service Sector and bronze for Best use of Tone of Voice as well as highly commended for Best Use of Repackaging Design.

“For our first year of entry, the Transform Awards are a glowing endorsement to our success in creating commercially well thought strategies and compelling creative identities that allow brands to connect with people and people to connect with the brands we partner with,” says James Pass, Managing Director, JPd. “It captures everything we stand for as an agency – commitment, passion and proficiency.”