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Promotions announced at The Qode

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Rania Kfoury and Shimaa Elsayed have been jointly promoted to Account Directors at The Qode. Both ladies have been with the agency since its launch and have played an integral role in developing the business. Collectively, Rania and Shimaa will oversee all of The Qode’s PR accounts, each managing a team of Account Managers and Account Executives, as well as liaising with clients and members of the media.

“Excelling at The Qode has definitely been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” says Shimaa. “Being a part of the agency from its inception and witnessing its steady growth and development into a leading luxury PR consultancy has been very fulfilling. I am very excited about what the future holds and feel extremely lucky to be a part of this very impressive structure.”

Rania adds, “I’ve been with The Qode since the very beginning and it’s very satisfying to see what it’s become today, to contribute to its success and be part of the growth. I am looking forward to more exciting challenges ahead!”

 

Eliza Sloane leaves Conrad Hotels

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Eliza Sloane has left her position as Director of Bars and Restaurants at the Conrad Hotel, Dubai. Having been in the position for two years, Eliza was responsible of all pre-opening setups, launches to market and successful operations of the Food & Beverage venues at the Conrad Hotel, and oversaw each venue’s individual marketing campaigns, conceptualising and branding. Upon leaving her position, Eliza moves on to co-found two consultancy companies based here in Dubai, concentrating on local and international contracts.

“Being part of the Conrad Dubai pre-opening team has been one of the most treasured professional journeys of my life,” says Eliza. “Working with a brilliant and dynamic team has been a privilege, and the reception and encouragement from our associates, suppliers, peers and the media has also been remarkable. The success Conrad Dubai has already enjoyed will undoubtedly continue to grow year on year.”

The first consulting agency,Terra Firma – www.tfcg.consulting – will focus on corporate management strategies in the hospitality, FMCG, retail, real estate, IT banking and construction industries, while For Example will offer specialist consulting for all the required components of opening an F&B venue; including conception, branding, launch to operation, systems, staffing and marketing.

 

Namshi.com appoints new Fashion Editor

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Sarah Zakzouk has been appointed as Fashion Editor at Namshi.com. Heading up the editorial side of the business, Sarah joins the team from her previous position at Style.com/Arabia, as well as her time spent as a freelance writer in the region’s fashion and lifestyle domain.

“I am excited by the evolving fashion landscape in the Middle East and it is my job to ensure that Namshi.com is at the forefront of this dialogue,” says Sarah. “This is the time to promote experimental designs and unexpected styles – to mix things up and get everyone involved in the conversation. This is the place to be and there is a lot more to come.”

 

Stylist Arabia welcomes new editorial team

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Fashion and lifestyle weekly Stylist Arabia has welcomed the new members of its editorial team. In addition to Devinder Bains as Editor of the magazine, Laura Chubb joins as Acting Deputy Editor, with Dina Yassin as Acting Fashion and Beauty Editor.

Set to launch this October, the weekly ‘freemium’ magazine will start with a circulation of 50,000 across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, offering a mix of high-end fashion, beauty, entertainment and thought-provoking features to smart, sophisticated and successful women in the region.

EMS appoints Managing Director MEA

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EMEA’s leading roadshow truck provider, Event Marketing Solutions (EMS), has appointed Lucy Miller as Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. An experienced marketing and events professional within the region, Lucy has spent 12 years with B2B marketing and advertising agency Gyro. In her new role, Lucy will drive business for EMS from the company’s newly opened Dubai office, providing innovative marketing solutions in the region.

“I am really excited about this opportunity,” says Lucy. “I look forward to helping extend the company’s service offering and deliver a truly strategic integrated marketing approach to international roadshow campaigns for clients from around the world.”

Keith Austin, Chief Executive for EMS adds, “After a thorough search and selection programme that saw many talented candidates, we are very excited to be welcoming Lucy to our team. Her wealth of knowledge and experience will be an invaluable asset to the company and we are excited to have her join at such a key time for the region. With the announcement of Expo 2020, the developments in world-leading infrastructure and the location of the city itself on the world map, Dubai is the go-to place for many of our global customers, and whilst we’re not new to the region, we know from our clients that there is huge potential to grow our service here. This appointment is a critical step in supporting our ambitious development strategy both regionally and globally.”

MCG Associates announces new Director

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MCG Associates, a leading international executive search and recruitment company specialising in the communications industry across the Middle East, has appointed Kate Watson as Director. Kate joins from Fabric Recruitment, where she spent four years as Senior Consultant MENA, responsible for maintaining and growing Fabric’s client and candidate base, as well as developing solid relationships on both the agency and client side. In her new position, Kate will manage MCG’s integrated communications team, placing international talent into the Middle East’s most impressive roles on behalf of a range of blue chip companies and international PR and marketing agencies.

“MCG is a growing business and our recruiters are the very best in the Middle East,” says Justin McGuire, Managing Director, MCG Associates. “Kate is an excellent addition to our team, as her international experience in the communications industry means our clients will benefit from her accumulated expert knowledge and understanding. I am delighted to welcome Kate to our company and look forward to supporting her bid to ensure that our integrated communications division thrives.”

Kate’s appointment comes as MCG Associates embarks on a major expansion programme. In addition to relocating offices in Dubai, the communications recruiter has launched candidate searches in the Far East, with plans to enter the US and South America in 2015.

Bijal Soni joins Namshi.com

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Bijal Soni has been appointed as PR Manager at Namshi.com, a leading online fashion destination in the Middle East. Set to head up the PR department, Bijal  joins the team from TOH PR, where for the past two years she led the fashion and beauty team as Senior Account Manager.

“I am thrilled to be working alongside the pioneers of e-commerce in today’s competitive market,” says Bijal. “It is a refreshing change and I am looking forward to experiencing PR from the other side after almost seven years in an agency role.”

Percept Gulf appoints new Chief Operating Officer

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Eymard Saldanha has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer for Percept Gulf in the UAE. With 25 years of experience in media and communications, Eymard has handled portfolios spanning global agencies, start-ups, brand development, business mergers and acquisitions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Percept Gulf, Eymard was Regional Director EEMEA – BAT and Head of Advertising MENA at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide. In his new role, Eymard will be responsible for leading business development and integration of all marketing communication services for the Gulf region.

“Percept has been a pioneer in the entertainment, media and communications domain in the Gulf region and has set numerous benchmarks over the past two decades,” says Eymard. “Percept Gulf is an established name in the West Asia market and my mandate is to use the synergy of the Percept Group to propel us to a faster growth trajectory. I look forward to working closely with the team at Percept to ensure that we attain our lofty goals.”

Bipin Pathak, Founder and CEO of Percept Gulf adds, “We strongly believe that Eymard will be able to provide the leadership and vision that Percept Gulf requires to become an even stronger entity in the media and communications space in the Gulf region. His global leadership and brand experience will help us achieve the magnitude and growth targets we have earmarked for ourselves.”

Eymard’s appointment comes as a result of Percept Gulf’s recent restructure of its marketing communications services in the UAE. Percept Gulf will now encompass a wider spectrum of product offerings and solutions including advertising, brand marketing consultancy strategy, strategy, creative and design, public and media relations, digital marketing, integrated marketing communication consultancy, media planning and buying, digital media buying/planning, experimental marketing, sports marketing, brand activations and promotions and the marketing and promotion of intellectual properties owned by Percept Limited.

Ali Faour joins Fifth Ring

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Ali Faour has joined global energy communications specialists Fifth Ring as PR Account Director for its office in Dubai. Ali brings over 20 years of experience in handling blue-chip B2B accounts in the Middle East across various industries, most recently as PR Director for Memac Ogilvy in Saudi Arabia. In his new role, Ali will head the PR practice, managing the agency portfolio of clients including Pretect, Expro, AlMansoori, Heriot-Watt University and the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply. He will also lead new business generation, content development and cross-discipline coordination.

“To have the chance to join a company like Fifth Ring is a privilege for me and comes at the ideal point in my career,” says Ali. “It is an organisation that has enjoyed success around the world, so I look forward to utilising my own experience to continue to drive the business forward in this region.”

Ian Ord, Co-Founder of Fifth Ring adds, “With the growing importance of the UAE as a regional hub for operations across MENA and Sub Sahara Africa, we are delighted that Ali has joined our growing international team. With our clients increasingly exploring new markets and new opportunities, strengthening our Middle East operations is an important step in our commitment to providing the service they need, wherever they need it.”

DPQ Communications appoints a new PR Executive

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Zainab Imichi Alhassan has joined DPQ Communications as PR Executive. Zainab joins the team from Grace and Garbo, where she held the position of PR Executive handling fashion and beauty clients. In her new position, Zainab will be working with clients across fashion, beauty and hospitality sectors.

“I am very keen to be a part of the DPQ team,” says Zainab. “I am very much looking forward to working on exciting accounts and growing in such a dynamic environment.”