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Communicate launches first book

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Communicate, a Middle Eastern magazine for the communication industry, has had its first book published. The first in a special collection series from the title and its publisher Mediaquest, the book is titled De-Commiditising the Ad Industry: How Ad Agencies Can Re-Invent Themselves and Enjoy Exponential Growth, and is penned by Ahmad Abu Zannad, Regional Strategy Director, Leo Burnett MENA. It will examine current challenges facing the communications sector, and seek to find solutions to ensure a bright future and will be distributed with Communicate’s October issue.

“Although there have been several assessments of the current status of the advertising industry, there hasn’t been a comprehensive overview that forensically analyses where agencies are today,” says Nathalie Bontems, Publisher, Mediaquest. “Ahmad Abu Zannad’s new book changes all that with its in-depth critique, its detailed assessment of the areas of concern and its structures reasoning for the way forward.”

 

Executive Life relaunched

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Following a brief hiatus this summer, Executive Life magazine has been revamped and relaunched. With a different theme for every issue, the magazine is aimed at professionals interested in luxury living, covering topics from classic cars, timepieces and tailoring, to fine dining and luxury properties. Published once every two months by UMS International, Executive Life will be sent to all subscribers of Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East. The title will also be available from book stores and supermarkets, with the relaunched edition – The Style Issue – out now. An Executive Life website is expected to launch by November 2015.

“Each edition of Executive Life tackles vital issues like wealth management, looking and feeling good, traveling smarter and exploring new destinations,” says Ravi Raman, Vice President, UMS International. “It’s the perfect lifestyle accompaniment for our readers, who are discerning and demand an intelligent read.”

 

 

TishTash launches TishTash Talent

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Dubai-based marketing and PR agency TishTash has launched TishTash Talent, a new talent management division. The agency, founded in January 2012 by Natasha Hatherall, already represents several local personalities including Dubai-based rapper Two Tone and Channel 4’s Eve Jaso. TishTash Talent aims to establish itself as a professional source for local and international actors, personalities, musicians and performers, offering a tailored service for each client and corporation with whom they work.

“TishTash has made it’s name providing a personal service for brands and companies with attention to every detail and this is something I’m committed we continue with our new talent division,” says Natasha Hatherall, Managing Director, TishTash. “We’re excited to fill this much needed gap in the market and to drive new standards in talent management in the region.”

Gulf Business gets a make over

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Regional business magazine Gulf Business has been given a new look and approach to content. Through a portfolio of interactive editorial tools, the title enables its readers to enhance their professional development and maximise profits for business. The changes made mean that the Gulf Business team will now be able to cherry pick content from across the region and beyond, with a focus on exclusive scoops and breaking news.

“This new model focuses on high-end in-house journalism and high-quality external commissioning, falling somewhere between The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed in terms of our innovative approach,” says Dean Carroll, Group Editor, Business Division, Motivate Publishing. “It means we are able to deliver expert content across a number of sectors and countries. Everything from banking, energy and property to transport, education, technology and much more.”

 

Omnia launches strategic PR division

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Branding and digital communications agency Omnia has created a new PR division, Omnia PR. Headed up by Hollie Thomson, former Group Director for Seven Media’s lifestyle division, the new agency will produce commercially creative campaigns aiming to bridge strategy, creativity and technology.  Omnia PR will offer English and Arabic PR as well as social media services with a tailored approach, customising client communications via multi-channel, content rich campaigns. The division’s team will work on clients across a variety of sectors on various platforms and will be detailed on the agency’s website, to be launched next month.

“Omnia is now a fully holistic and integrated communications agency with a 40-strong team of branding, digital, content and PR experts,” says Hollie Thomson. “I feel honoured to be a part of this rapidly growing agency as we add commercial value for our clients through insightful creativity. The agency is already well known in the region, and we look forward to the new PR division adding to the client portfolio.”

The Lipstick Make Up Institute launches

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The Lipstick Make Up Institute has been launched in Dubai as part of the YH Group, with the aim to provide Make Up Artists with a foundation for working in media. Courses offered focus on teaching effective make up application techniques as well as speed, precision and practicality in order to build enough experience and confidence to work within any media production company.

The Lipstick Make Up Institute is affiliated and supported by professional make up brand Kryolan, which has been supplying film, theatre and television industries for over 66 years. Students are supplied with enough product knowledge to work across a variety of mediums, such as Stage, TV, Fashion and Catwalk shows.

“After three years of running a photography studio where we incorporate make up into every shoot, I thought why not expand and open a media make up institute that offers our students the added benefit of being on a live set, giving them experience working with professional photographers,” says Yasmin Hussain, Managing Director, YH Group. “Students leave our school not only with qualifications to work in the media industry, but with the experience and confidence to work within any media production company or solely as freelancers.”

Create Media Group welcomes new Director

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Dubai-based digital communications agency Create Media Group has welcomed Sarah Johnson to the role of Director. Heading up new division Create Content, Sarah brings over 17 years of public relations and communications experience to her new role. As Director, she will be responsible for growing the division and offering clients engaging, diverse and eye-catching content across a 360 platform that includes traditional media as well as digital and social media platforms. Create Media Group’s clients include Standard Chartered Bank, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Flash Entertainment.

“Clients are all working very differently now, with integrated campaigns and creative content, not conventional PR campaigns, being the key to effective communication,” says Sarah. “With the launch of Create Content, the Create Media Group will offer just that.”

Tom Otton, Managing Director, Create Media Group, adds “Having recognised the need for a senior professional who can both add further value to our existing accounts and develop new business, we’re excited by the new skill set and wealth of experience that Sarah brings to Create Media.”

 

Time Out Dubai gets a makeover

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Weekly, Dubai-based print publication, Time Out Dubai has been redesigned. The updated version of the magazine, part of ITP Publishing Group, will be available from September 16, 2015 from newsstands across the city. Launched in 2001 and headed up by Editor Mark Dinning, Time Out Dubai is a listings magazine that covers cultural and consumer life, with 43,000 copies distributed locally.

The magazine was redesigned in response to research into Time Out Dubai readers and will now include a minimum of 112 pages every week, with more features, reviews and photography, as well as additional insight into things to see and do in Dubai. The magazine will also now be distributed via Emirates departure gates for all Dubai-bound flights from London’s Heathrow airport. Time Out Dubai’s relaunch will be supported by a campaign across radio stations in the Emirate, as well as increased retail presence and an increase in distribution of the publication to residences, cafes, salons and events. In addition to the print magazine’s relaunch, a new-look website – www.timeoutdubai.com – will follow later in the year.

Edelman completes acquisition of DABO & CO

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Edelman has completed its acquisition of DABO &CO, expanding the company’s presence in the Middle East region. The completion sees the launch of a new co-branded entity – Edelman DABO – which combines the consumer public relations and digital capabilities of both companies. The co-brand will also see the launch of Edelman DABO Experiential which builds upon DABO’s creative events management division. The company now has a roster of over 50 clients in the Middle East.

“The communications marketing landscape is evolving at a pace where yesterday’s innovation horizon is reached at a speed that was unimaginable even a couple of years ago,” says David Bran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Edelman Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. “Our focus on building our leadership position requires us to be one step ahead of our clients’ evolving needs. DABO & CO has been consistently able to deliver high levels of creativity in consumer communications and experiential activations, making it an ideal addition to our existing business in the Middle East.”

Lucy d’Abo, Managing Director, Edelman DABO Experiential, adds “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition process and to have revealed our new brand identity as an Edelman company. In terms of both strategic vision and cultural fit, it was clear that Edelman represented the best partner for us and everything we’ve experienced to date has reinforced that view.”

 

The Event Company rebrands

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Dubai-based events management agency The Event Company has rebranded as TEC. The rebrand means a new logo and brand identity for TEC, a company started by British entrepreneur Natalie Crampton, in Dubai, in 2008. The agency currently has offices in Dubai, Doha and Kuwait, with plans to open in Saudi Arabia and Singapore later this year, and a client base including HSBC, Cisco, Bloomberg and The Estee Lauder Group.

“The type of work we do has naturally evolved over the years as we’ve grown,” says Natalie. “We initially started out as purely a corporate events agency but over time our clients have requested that we manage digital campaigns, PR and, more recently, social media. Whilst the name ‘The Event Company’ initially worked well for us, in the last couple of years it has been somewhat limiting. We decided to undergo a rebranding exercise to create an identity that speaks of our passion, persistence and global capability.”