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Cicero and Bernay expands into Egypt 

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Public relations agency, Cicero and Bernay (C&B) has signed with Ingredients, an agency specialising in media and public relations and also part of the Egyptian Media Synergy. The new agreement will allow C&B and Ingredients to bring together their strategic, targeted communications solutions that are designed to reach and influence their customers in the country. By the end of 2018, C&B aims to have offices in 20 markets across the MENA region, giving clients unrivalled regional scope.

“As the most populous country in the MENA region, Egypt is a key target market for our clients and home to a burgeoning communication industry,” says Maysa-Jana Atoui, Director of Business Development, Cicero and Bernay. “In partnership with Ingredients, we will cater to the increased demand for PR services, crisis planning and reputation management in the Egyptian market, while also heightening engagement with new-age tactics such as influencer-led activations and campaigns. We are pleased to be responding to our clients’ far-reaching requirements by expanding our MENA footprint and opening a valuable new window onto the Egyptian market.”

Motivate and Vamp form new partnership

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Motivate Publishing has partnered with influencer marketing platform, Vamp as a part of its digital expansion plan across the MENA region. The new partnership will grant Motivate access to the industry’s most effective creative talent through Vamp’s influencer platform. The agreement will also see the Vamp platform ensure that campaigns are designed for maximum impact, using a highly curated selection process that considers brand values, authentic audience reach and creative content.

“One of our strengths as a company is our agility and our ability to capitalise on new media trends, which is at the forefront of our business strategy,” says Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner, Motivate Publishing. “The influencer market provides us with a tremendous opportunity to reach audiences in new arenas and across important territories, and we’re excited to forge this new path with a company that has illustrated a creative alignment with our own values and huge potential for growth.”

Shortlist for Young PR Lions MENA 2018 announced

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PRCA MENA has released the shortlist for this year’s Young PR Lions MENA competition to find the best young PR professional in the region. Eight teams have been shortlisted to win the accolade this year and one of them will be heading to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to take part in the international competition from June 17 – 21, 2018. The shortlisted teams include BPG Cohn & Wolfe, Edelman, Golin MENA, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, Q Communications and Weber Shandwick.

On March 19, the shortlisted teams will be asked to deliver a five minute presentation explaining their PR campaign and the winning team will be announced on March 20.

Momentum/CAI appoints new Managing Director

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Momentum, part of Middle East Communications Network (MCN) has promoted Lina Fateen to the role of Managing Director of its Cairo office, Momentum/CAI. Lina joined MCN in 2002 as a part of FP7/CAI and most recently held the role of Deputy Managing Director at Momentum, where she worked on relaunching the agency as a full independent brand experience agency. In her new role, she will report to MCN Egypt’s CEO, Sahar El Zoghby and lead her team to produce award winning work to drive clients’ business award-winning building a brand reputation and setting standards of excellence for future openings of Momentum across the MCN network.

“My career at MCN has been a fantastic journey of valuable insights and experiences enabling me to build and foster a successful organisation with the right people here at Momentum/CAI,” says Lina. “And now with the continued opportunity to lead this company, I am excited to unravel the next steps in developing strong synergies with our clients for further award winning success.”

MENA Digital Awards 2018 dates announced

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The fifth edition of the MENA Digital Awards (MDA) is set to take place on May 9, 2018 at the Westin Mina Seyahi. The event aims to honour and celebrate people as well as brands that are shaping the future of the communications industry through digital innovation and media from across the MENA region. The MDA has also opened entries for submission with the deadline on March 4, 2018 to be judged by a jury of digital experts from across the world.

“Year on year, the MDA sets a gold standard for digital and media excellence in the MENA region, acting as a catalyst for innovation, creativity and transformation in one of the world’s fastest-growing and changing industries,” says Najla Semaan Mazboudi, Founder, MDA and CEO, SpotOn Media Services and Events. “The MDA was launched to recognise and celebrate those responsible for creating digital marketing campaigns that have a real impact and drive our sector onto new heights, proactively endorsing digital as a worthy marketing channel.”

PRCA MENA announces award winners

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Winners of the PRCA MENA Awards have been announced following the conclusion of this year’s awards ceremony on February 21, 2018. Held at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown, the awards focused on recognising and celebrating the best of the best PR and communication campaigns, teams and individuals across the Middle East and North Africa.

Winners included Brazen for Best PR Campaign Media Relations and Small Agency of the Year, Seven Media for Large Agency of the Year and Best PR Campaign Digital, Hill+Knowlton Strategies for Best PR Campaign Business to Consumer, Markettiers for Best PR Campaign Results on a Budget and BPG Cohn & Wolfe for Best PR Campaign Influencer Relations. The awards also honoured Lauren Brush, Senior Communications Consultant at Active DMC for Rising Star of the Year and Lucy O’ Brien, General Manager at FleishmanHillard for PR Leader of the Year.

“It is a great pleasure to announce the winners of the PRCA MENA Awards 2018,” says Leanne Foy, General Manager, PRCA MENA. The breadth and depth of the campaigns, teams and individuals that we’ve seen this year demonstrates the strength of communications across the region.”

Al-Ittihad partners with The Wall Street Journal

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Abu Dhabi-based Arabic newspaper Al-Ittihad, part of Abu Dhabi Media, has partnered with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to expand its readership across the MENA region. The new partnership will grant Al-Ittihad access to additional news stories, features, opinion pieces, videos and infographics to share in English and Arabic across its digital platforms. The collaboration will also see Al-Ittihad subscribers after January 19, 2018 enjoy a one-year subscription to access the digital edition of WSJ.

“This strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi Media and The Wall Street Journal is in line with our efforts to reach a wider audience and to position us as the leading and most diversified media organisation in the UAE and the wider region,” says Ali Bin Tamim, Director General, Abu Dhabi Media.

Jonathan Wright, Global Managing Director, The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones, adds “Al-Ittihad continues to set the standard for Arabic-language news as the first and oldest newspaper in the region. This partnership enables us to deliver The Wall Street Journal’s world-class business, economic and political news and commentary to Al-Ittihad readers, reaching an even wider audience in the UAE. I look forward to seeing our collaboration with Abu Dhabi Media grow and mature as we move forward together.”

Ampersand launches new website

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Global marketing and talent consultancy, Ampersand has launched its new website, Ampersandglobal.com. The new interactive site details the company’s services of specialist learning and development, executive search, strategic advisory and M&A that is offered across Dubai, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

‘’Our new interactive website captures all that Ampersandglobal.com does and the vibrant nature of the way we do it,” says Nick Clements, CEO, Ampersand. “It details all of the services that we offer and encourages people to respond and engage with the our rapidly growing business”

Ampersand and IPA form new partnership

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Marketing and talent consultancy, Ampersand has partnered with the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) to provide training courses across the MENA region. The partnership will see IPA offer advertising and marketing training across four main courses including the Foundation Certificate for new business owners, the Eff Test for those involved in effective measurement, the Commercial Certificate to help improve financial acumen and the Advanced Certificate for those with three to six years of industry experience.

“The depth, breath and quality of these training qualifications are globally renowned and we are delighted to now be able to offer IPA’s most important programmes to the MENA region,” says Nick Clements, CEO, Ampersand.

Patrick Mills, Director of Membership and Professional Development, IPA, adds “We are delighted to have partnered with Ampersand to help make the IPA’s industry leading qualifications and courses available in the MENA region. We are delighted to help play a pivotal role in raising industry standards to the benefit of agency and client communities and Ampersand’s knowledge and connections in the MENA region will enable more learners to take advantage of our offering.