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BPG Bates appoints Executive Creative Director

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BPG Bates, the regional advertising, design and events & activation agency headquartered in Dubai, has appointed Rodger Beekman as its new Executive Creative Director. Rodger joins from Havas Worldwide in Amsterdam where he was Chief Creative Officer. He has also previously worked with Saatchi & Saatchi, Y&R, McCann Erickson, DDB, BBDO, TBWA and 60 Layers of Cake across markets in Tokyo, Cape Town and Moscow.

Rodger brings with him more than 25 years of experience from various markets, working with clients such as Audi, Nikon, Nike, Samsung, Nutricia, Coca Cola, Phillips, Wrangler and Ikea.

“Our search for a new ECD was wide ranging and comprehensive,” says Nick Clements, CEO, BPG Bates. “We met with some great candidates and we are delighted to have chosen Rodger. His pedigree is first class and we are excited that he will be bringing his energy and wide ranging experience to BPG Bates to spearhead our creative ambitions as we go forward.”

Rodger adds, “In an agency you need a strong foundation to be able to build up to the next level. At BPG Bates the foundation is there for sure, and so is the ambition to reach higher. It feels like I am joining the team at the right moment and am very excited about this new opportunity.”

Gehan Sidky joins Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi

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Gehan Sidky has joined Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi as Director of Communications. Most recently with Fairmont UAE, Gehan oversaw all PR activity for the Fairmont properties in the UAE including Fairmont Dubai, Fairmont The Palm and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. As Director of Communications for Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Gehan will be responsible for the marketing and public relations department, driving strategic initiatives to promote the property through all forms of media and communications.

“I’m thrilled to discover the capital of the UAE and work with a high end Thai hospitality culture which is all new to me,” says Gehan. “I look forward to working on Dusit’s exciting projects and future developments from a communications standpoint.”

Sonia Khosla joins Hello! Middle East

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Sonia Khosla has joined the Hello! Middle East team as Sales Manager. Sonia boasts solid sales experience gained from working across media titles in the UK and UAE, and has moved across to APP’s newly acquired title from ITP’s Cosmopolitan Middle East, where she also held the position of Sales Manager. In this role, Sonia was responsible for generating new business and handling existing accounts, as well as developing the publication’s portfolio of offerings. Sonia will now apply her sales expertise to the Hello! Middle East brand, which is due to re-launch on April 2, 2015.

Aishah Yousef promoted at En’Route Media Inc

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Aishah Yousef has been appointed as the CEO of En’Route Media Inc. Having been with the Fujeirah-based media company as General Manager of Ad Fusion Media and Editor-in-Chief of En’Route Middle East magazine for a number of years, Aishah has managed the editorial board and worked hand-in-hand with the publishers and advertising executives, in addition to providing creative content for the travel title and executing the daily tasks of the business.

Bringing over 17 years of experience across publications, travel and the hospitality industry to her new role, Aishah will now oversee En’Route Media Inc’s growing team, its new publications and its expansion across the Middle East.

Swiss Media Group welcomes Senior Editor

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Swiss Media Group has appointed Hayley Skirka as Senior Editor. Having worked across a number of titles in the region, Hayley previously held the role of Editor for Oasis Living Magazine in Al Ain, Contributing Writer at the International Diplomat Magazine Dubai, Editor of The Source UAE and Assistant Editor, Time Out GCC Guides and Supplements. In her most recent position, Hayley was Acting Editor at Time Out GCC Guides and Supplements, overseeing the division at ITP Publishing. As Senior Editor, Hayley will be focusing on Swiss Media Group’s growing portfolio of luxury consumer magazines.

“I’m really honoured to be working at Swiss Media – it’s a great team and the company has a fantastic portfolio of high-end titles,” says Hayley. “Although I only knew our late Editor-in-Chief Lucy for a few weeks, she was a truly inspiring woman and I’m determined, along with everyone at Swiss Media, to carry on her editorial legacy.”

Mary Keenan joins Swiss Media Group

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Mary Keenan has joined the Swiss Media Group as Junior Editor. With editorial experience across a number of publishing houses in the UAE, Mary has held the position of Editorial intern at Motivate Publishing – where she contributed content in addition to researching events, news and people – before moving on to her most recent position as Fashion Intern for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. In this role, Mary worked across both Harper’s Bazaar Arabia and Harper’s Bazaar Bride.

In her new position, Mary joins the editorial team to work across Swiss Media Group’s portfolio of niche market titles including EQUESTRIO, SWR and Prestige magazine.

“It is a real privilege to be joining the fantastic team at Swiss Media Group,” says Mary. “I have been made to feel extremely welcome and I am very excited to take up the Junior Editor role and move forward with the group’s three luxury titles.”

 

UM MENA appoints new Head of Innovation

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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.”

Linktia welcomes Director, Business Development

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Philippe Vignal has been appointed as the new Director, Business Development for the Linktia group. An experienced professional with over 25 years in advertising, media production and technology, Philippe is a founding partner of Serena Digital, originally based in Spain. He most recently was in charge of international business development for Serena Digital, with a focus on managing global client accounts in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, as well the new operation of Serena Middle East. In joining Linktia, Philippe will oversee all business development for the group.

“I feel very fortunate to be working with such a multidisciplinary group of talented and caring humans,” says Philippe. “I look forward to being part of the group’s growth.”

Louise Quick joins Motivate

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Louise Quick has joined Motivate as Features Writer. Bringing a range of editorial experience to her new role, Louise has previously worked as Assistant Editor for two trade titles in Dubai, as well as placements at Women’s Health UK and YOU magazine in London. As Features Writer, Louise will focus on the consumer lifestyle division working across titles including What’s On Dubai, Open Skies and Dubai Voyager.

“Motivate is such a well-known and respected company and to be working on these fantastic magazines is really exciting for me,” says Louise. “I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and developing my career with the company.”

Hello! Middle East welcomes Group Picture Editor

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Emma Verlander has been appointed as Group Picture Editor of Hello! Middle East. Previously with the title as Picture Editor for almost two years from 2006 – 2008, Emma has since been a part of the ITP Publishing Group team, where she has held the position of Group Picture Editor. With Hello! Middle East recently acquired by Arab Publishing Partners, Emma will now oversee picture content for the three newly formed Hello! publications – Hello! Middle East, Hello! Arabia and Hello! Bollywood.