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Omnicom Media Group MENA appoints new MENA CEO

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Global media network, Omnicom Media Group MENA has appointed Nadim Samara to the role of CEO of OMD MENA. With over 17 years within the agency, Nadim most recently held the role of CEO of OMD UAE where he secured local, regional and global accounts while creating new structures and strengthening the agency’s services. In his new role, Nadim will lead a network of 15 offices with over 600 employees and manage more than 200 clients, while driving transformation in the evolving media and marketing landscape to better respond to current and emerging client needs.

“Both the supply and demand side of our business are experiencing challenges that are increasing in frequency, velocity and intensity,” says Nadim. “This puts our clients’ and partners’ business models under significant strain and calls for more dynamic and agile responses. We’ve proactively evolved and our offices across MENA have the talent, the culture, the resources and the leaders to not only provide clients with results-driven solutions but also design the future. By scaling up our expertise in analytics, performance, tech and creativity in both depth and breadth, we will empower all our teams across the network to operate at the highest level.”

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.”

ASDA’A Burson Marsteller partners with The Pearl Initiative

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Dubai-based PR agency, ASDA’A Burson Marsteller (BM) has signed a Memorandum of Engagement (MoE) with The Pearl Initiative. Founded in 2010, The Pearl Initiative is a non-profit organisation that develops programmes and publishes regional research reports and case studies and aims to influence regional business. The agreement will work towards highlighting their commitment to enhance corporate accountability and transparency in the Gulf region.

“Corporate governance, accountability and transparency are the pillars of successful businesses,” says Sunil John, Founder and President, ASDA’A BM. “We are happy to engage in The Pearl Initiative’s activities to raise awareness on the value of ethical business and to promote the highest principles of corporate accountability and transparency in the Gulf region.”

Carla Koffel, Executive Director, The Pearl Initiative continues, “We are grateful to be working side by side with one of the leading PR consultancies in the Middle East to promote the adoption of strong corporate governance practices by businesses operating in the Gulf Region. Their commitment to supporting our vision will contribute to the expansion of our reach and highlight the significance of a corporate culture of accountability and transparency as a key driver of business sustainability.”

TishTash makes new promotion

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Dubai-based marketing and PR agency, TishTash has promoted Marwa Mohamed to the role of Senior Account Executive. With almost two years of experience working within the agency, Marwa worked across clients including The Body Shop, The Organic Pharmacy, Missha and Grown Alchemist. In her new role, she will continue to work across the clients’ portfolio and provide support to generate results.

“Working with TishTash for the past year and a half has been one of the most rewarding experiences, as I had the opportunity to work with reputable brands with the support of a great team,” says Marwa. “I’m excited for the next chapter with the agency and happy to take on more challenges!”

Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, CEO and Founder, TishTash says, “Marwa’s passion for all things beauty always made her the perfect team member for TishTash, which she has gone on to prove time and time again in her time with the agency.   Having worked with Marwa personally on many accounts in the agency, I have always admired her dedication and good work ethic, as well as her passion for the sector and need to research all brands so thoroughly before she starts work on them. She has a fabulous career ahead of her and I’m pleased to see her grow within my team.”

Argaam News welcomes new Editor

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Saudi Arabia-based news portal, Argaam News has appointed Paromita Dey to the role of Editor in the UAE. With over eight years of experience in journalism, Paromita previously worked with Construction Week at ITP Media Group as Reporter and most recently as Editor of Construction Business News at BNC Publishing. In her new role, she will be responsible for all content that gets published on the platform while liaising with freelancers and translators as well as generating exciting story ideas.

“I am really excited to join Argaam as an Editor,” says Paromita. “It’s a completely new challenge for me and I definitely look forward to it. These are exciting times for Saudi Arabia with so much activity happening. And it surely will present me a vibrant opportunity to tap into areas to create something engaging out of it.”

Nexa wins two awards at MENA Search Awards 

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Dubai-based digital marketing agency, Nexa has received two awards in the MENA Search Awards that took place on September 20, 2018 at Madinat Jumeirah Resort, Dubai. The agency secured Best Integrated Campaign for its campaign work with a tour operator and Best Use of Search for its work with the use of display ads, strategically constructed blogs and search campaigns.

“We are delighted to have won ‘Best Integrated Campaign’ for the second year running,” says Amit Vyas, CEO, Nexa. “Our unique approach allows us to solve our clients’ real-life problems by creating actionable strategies that integrate offline and online activities, while enabling them to create stronger customer relationships, that directly translates to sales. Nexa prides itself in standing out from the crowd and being at the forefront of the latest marketing techniques and trends. This award not only recognises that approach, but the skill and dedication of the team to deliver the best results for our clients.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) appoints Global Presidents 

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Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has appointed Richard Millar to the role of Global President. With over 14 years of experience within the agency, Richard most recently held the role of CEO in the agency’s UK branch. H+K will also see the appointment of Lars Erik Grønntun to the role of Global President. Lars most recently held the role of Chairman and CEO. In their new roles, they will work together to accelerate and maximise the global resources and enhance the agency’s strengths while overseeing all operations.

“The new structure enables us to tap into the best talent regardless of geography or practice,” says Richard. “It means that our teams will have access to the latest thinking, strategy and insight to help them shape meaningful and impactful careers and to deliver outstanding creative work. I am excited to be part of this change in partnership with Lars Erik and Jack.”

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to assume this leadership position,” says Lars. “Having led our operation in Europe, Middle East and Africa, I believe that my understanding of local markets together with our international mind-set and reach is transferable to a global stage. I very much look forward to taking a model that has worked very well for us in EMEA and putting it to work at a global scale.”

Weber Shandwick makes structural changes 

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Communications agency, Weber Shandwick has made structural changes to its senior management team. Ghaleb Zeidan has been promoted to the role of UAE Managing Director. With over 16 years of experience in the communications industry, Ghaleb most recently held the role of Managing Director of the agency’s Abu Dhabi office. In his new role, Ghaleb will handle operations for both Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices while overseeing the agency’s growth in the UAE and MENA region.

Rachel Dunn has been promoted to the role of Deputy Managing Director in the Dubai office. With over 10 years of experience within the agency, Rachel most recently held the role of VP, Client Experience and will lead the Dubai team while helping their clients transform the marcomms landscape.

Weber Shandwick will also see the promotion of Noura Al-Sarraj to the role of Deputy Managing Director for the Abu Dhabi office. With over 14 years of experience in the agency, Noura most recently worked with the agency where she held the role of VP and Head of Social Impact and Consumer. In her new role, she will lead the Abu Dhabi team while assisting to increase the agency’s growth in the MENA region.

“After a very successful tenure leading our Abu Dhabi office, it gives me great pleasure to announce Ghaleb’s promotion to UAE MD,” says Ziad Hasbani, MENA CEO, Weber Shandwick. “Over the last eight years, Ghaleb has achieved great results, and under his leadership our Abu Dhabi office has grown to become one of the leading agencies in the market. Ghaleb has shown himself to be a very capable leader, and as our industry continues to evolve, I have no doubt he will drive our UAE operation and keep us ahead of the market in terms of offering, efficiency and client focus. I’m very happy to see Noura and Rachel taking leadership roles as they have both proved themselves, each in their own way, and I’m confident they will add great value.”