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UAE Arab Woman Awards nominations now open

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The Arab Woman Awards UAE is now accepting nominations for its 2016 awards, which will take place in late November, in Dubai. People can nominate themselves, friends or family members by completing the form on the Arab Woman Awards website, www.arabwomanawards.com/nominate. Nominees should be female, of Arab descent, have achieved something significant in their field over the past 12 months and be positive role models – each award will then have its own specific criteria, which can be obtained by emailing arabwomanawards@itp.com. Nominees will be included in a presentation to the Awards’ board of judges, lead by HE Ameera bin Karam, Chairperson on Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) and the closing date for nominations via the website is Friday, 30th September.

“There are three different ways people can be nominated – these are from our own research, from one of the members of the judging board or they can be nominated via our website by themselves or others,” says Sue Holt, Founder, Arab Woman Awards and Executive Director, ITP Consumer. “We introduced this latter method in 2013 and have seen a large number of our ultimate winners come via this route. At first women were quite reluctant to put themselves or others forward however in the past two years we’ve seen a steep increase. Personally, I think it is wonderful that we are reaching a stage where, as a woman, it is acceptable to say that you believe you deserve an award for all your hard work. It also heartens me that family members and friends are being so supportive.”

APO launches MENA Wire

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APO, the press release wire for Africa and media relations relating to Africa, has launched MENA Wire, a press release distribution and monitoring service dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The new service aims to be the market leader in press release distribution and monitoring in the region within the next 24 months and has a network that extents to print media, broadcasters, blogs and social media in 18 countries. Content from MENA wire is redistributed by several Middle Eastern and international partners, including; SyniGate, the Middle East North Africa Financial Network, Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters Terminal, Lexis Nexis and Dow Jones Factiva.

“The unprecedented success of Africa Wire, APO’s press release distribution service in Africa, has catalysed an increase in client demand for a Middle East service with the same quality and return on investment,” says Nicolas Pompigne-Mognar, Founder and CEO, APO. “At APO we listen to our clients and mould our service according to their needs. If our clients are happy, we are happier. I’m confident that MENA Wire will become the market leader within the next 24 months.”

Elie Saab guest edits Architectural Digest

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The September/October Fashion Issue of Architectural Digest Middle East, part of the APP Group, will be guest-edited by Lebanese couturier Elie Saab, in celebration of a growing connection between interior design, architecture and fashion. The fashion designer has opened the doors to his Paris and Beirut homes and atelier headquarters for photo shoots and was also closely involved in the making of the issue, which will be available from September 4, 2016.

“I have always had a passion for architecture and believe that if I had not orientated my career towards the proportions of the silhouette, it would have been towards the proportions of our environment,” says Elie. “For me, architecture and fashion draw upon a similar creative source or, at the very least, have many common objectives. I would like to thank Architectural Digest Middle East for inviting me to contribute to this edition and to share my passion with a publication that I have always resonated with in terms of style and substance. I am delighted to support it and its efforts to promote the many talented architects in the region who add beauty to our everyday lives.”

Senior Executives promoted at PHD

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PHD, a division of Omnicom Media Group MENA, has promoted both its UAE Managing Director and General Manager in Dubai. Elda Choucair, previously Managing Director at PHD UAE, will now take on the role of CEO, PHD MENA which will involve her replicating her performance across new, as well as existing, offices in the region and, on top of this adding to her UAE responsibilities.

Luca Allam, previously General Manager for PHD Dubai, will now take on the role of Managing Director, PHD UAE. In this role, he will utilise his eleven years of experience in media in order to oversee the agency’s offices in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“In Elda’s and Luca’s hands, PHD has gone from strength to strength,” says Elie Khouri, CEO, Omnicom Media Group, MENA. “The talent they’ve attracted and nurtured, the vision that has guided them and the energy they’ve deployed has made PHD the success story it is today. I have no doubt that they will find in their new role even more opportunities to stimulate further growth.”

 

OMD makes changes to management structure

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Omnicom Media Group MENA, holding group of OMD, PHD and Resolution in the Middle East, has made a number of promotions and changes to it’s management structure in the region. Nadim Samara has been promoted from Managing Director to the newly-created position of CEO, OMD, UAE. With over 15 years of experience with OMD, Nadim has international experience with the firm and will now manage it’s UAE operation, as well as ensure that the regional headquarters continue to develop its product offering and maintain its cutting edge in the areas of talent, innovation, analytics, data and performance.

Wissam Najjar will also now relocate to Dubai in order to take on the newly-created role of Regional Managing Director for the Lower Gulf, Levant and Emerging Markets. Previously Managing Director of OMD Levant, Wissam has worked across the OMD network and will now assume the additional responsibilities of OMD’s operations in Kuwait and Qatar, as well as its expansion into new markets in the MENA region. Former Director of Investments at OMD Lebanon, Rachid El Khazen has been promoted to the role of General Manager to take over from Najjar.

“The OMD network is bursting with talent so it is hugely gratifying to see Nadim’s, Wissam’s and Rachid’s accomplishments being rewarded with promotions and new assignments,” says Elie Khouri, CEO of Omnicom Media Group MENA. “While our market and industry are in the midst of a transformation, we see this as an opportunity to grow further. We have always focused on innovating and being future-ready. This is yet another expression of this aspect from our personality.”

Ooredoo partners with MBC Group

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Ooredoo has signed a seven year partnership with the MBC Group, granting the communications company the exclusive rights in Qatar to selected High Definition channels. Signed by Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar and Sam Barnett, CEO, MBC Group, the agreement will allow Ooredoo TV customers in Qatar to enjoy coverage of a range of MBC premium content. The company will now become the sole distributor for MBC HD in the country and the first stage of the new partnership will launch on September 1, 2016.
“This agreement will provide Ooredoo TV with exclusive HD coverage in Qatar of some of the most popular TV programmes across the MENA region,” says Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar. “This is a milestone for our entertainment portfolio, as we continue to strive to provide the content our customers want, with the highest quality picture and widest choice of channels. But this is just the beginning and more exciting offerings will be revealed soon.”
Sam Barnett, CEO, MBC Group, adds “MBC is proud of its leading position in producing the MENA region’s best available content and in offering flagship shows enjoyed by millions of viewers and browsers across the Middle East. Today’s partnership brings together MBC’s content with Ooredoo’s platform in Qatar to provide an even better service for the target audience.”

Finalists for the DDFC/Vogue Fashion Prize chosen

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Vogue Arabia and the Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) have selected 10 ready-to-wear and accessories finalists for the 2016 DDFC/Vogue Fashion Prize. The prize, awarded to the Arab world’s most promising fashion talent, was launched in 2015 in partnership with e-commerce platform Farfetch and aims to invigorate regional talent by providing a yearly programme for emerging Middle Eastern designers to showcase their abilities. Over 100 different designers from 12 countries across the Arab world applied this year and, following a vote from the selection committee, five ready-to-wear and five accessories designers have been chosen as finalists. Viewers can follow the ten Fashion Prize finalists at www.fashionprize.com, or on social media using the hashtag #FashionPrize.

Winners of the DDFC/Vogue Fashion Prize will be announced this Autumn, with the winning ready-to-wear and accessories designers receiving a financial production grant as well as the opportunity to sell their collections to a global audience exclusively on www.farfetch.com and through a retail pick-up from Farfetch boutique partners; Browns, London; Curve, USA and Al Ostoura, Kuwait. Winners will also receive an advertising campaign promoting their retail launch, media/press coverage and mentorship.

“The Fashion Prize aligns with our vision to invest in ecosystem development and elevate the regional fashion scene,” says Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Arabia. “There’s no shortage of emerging talent in the Arab world and with the power and scale of the Vogue brand as well as partners like Farfetch, the Fashion Prize will provide our region’s designers with a larger opportunity to compete on a global stage.”

Nez Gebreel, CEO, Dubai Design and Fashion Council, adds “Being backed by a prestigious brand such as Vogue gives our nominees a tremendous opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity on the global fashion scene, I am confident that the designers from this year’s edition of the Fashion Prize will contribute to strengthening the region’s authority internationally.”