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Ravi Rao is promoted to CEO of Mindshare MENA

Samir Ayoub has resigned as CEO, Mindshare MENA and has been appointed Delegate of the Board at Mindshare MENA. Current Chief Client Officer, Ravi Rao has been promoted to replace Samir as CEO. Samir will transition from his current role as CEO, on February 1, 2016 and continue to act as a valued advisor and consultant on all agency matters until July 2016.

Samir has led Mindshare MENA since 1999, and previously headed up Ogilvy Media.  In the last 26 years with WPP, Samir has built up world-class media offerings in the region with his in-depth knowledge of the multiple markets and its consumers’ lifestyles, habits and choices, has supported local and international brands in developing their market share across regional geographies.

Ravi Rao joined Mindshare MENA in May 2015 as Chief Client Officer and in October took responsibility for leading the UAE team.  In his previous role, Ravi led Mindshare South Asia as CEO for 3 years and has over nine years’ experience with WPP companies.

“My time with Mindshare has been rewarding and exhilarating,” says Samir. “Much has changed in the consumer and media landscape since I took on the CEO role 17 years ago.  I am delighted that the company will continue to flourish, guided by the experienced and capable hands of my friend and colleague Ravi Rao.  In the coming months and years ahead, I look forward to celebrating its continued achievements.”

Ravi Rao adds,“It is most satisfying that I was one of ‘the Day 1 employees’ when Mindshare was set up in the region way back in 1999.  A real privilege now to lead Mindshare MENA and I really look forward to further building on the success of our strong team and a world-class product so our client partners benefit the most by driving the Adaptive Marketing vision.”

Mindshare to hold Content Decoded Conference

Mindshare, part of global media agency network WPP, is set to hold a media conference under the theme of Content Decoded on January 19, 2016. The conference will be held in The Annex, Burj Khalifa Dubai, and will offer a lineup of experts from a range of different industries, who will teach participants how to utilise data for more creative content, as well as how to deliver content at a scale, amongst other topics.

“At our core, Mindshare’s first priority is to maximise the return on investment for our business partners,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA. “The way content is initiated, developed and used has changed over time. This event will help professionals from any industry use the tools and insights that our panel has created from years of experience. Using their techniques, our attendees will be wowed by measurable impact of adaptive, data-powered content developed for their business.”

Mindshare prepares for media summit in KSA

Global media agency network Mindshare, part of WPP, is gearing up for “Staying Agile” – a dynamic media summit that will be held on May 4, 2015 in Riyadh, KSA.

The summit will welcome global representatives from fields of film, sports, technology, communications and more, to discuss incorporating agility into existing operating frameworks and other critical issues in a fun and engaging manner. Panels will be led by industry leaders known for their agile approach in their respective businesses including; Daniel Sieber, award-winning reporter and author of The Digital Diet, Jordan Casey, 15-year-old entrepreneur and self-taught programmer, and Karim Rashid, industrial designer and interior architect.

“Mindshare is always commited to bringing the most dynamic and creative events in the industry, and “Staying Agile” is no exception,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA.

Mindshare Dubai ranked #1 MENA Media Agency

Mindshare Dubai, part of WPP, has been ranked number one media agency in MENA by the Effie Effectiveness Index 2015, an annual ranking of the marketing and communications industries’ most effective agencies, advertisers, and brands.

This is the third year in a row that Mindshare Dubai has been selected as the number one media agency in MENA. It scored 66 points on the index, also making it the most effective office in the Mindshare global network. In order to be ranked, Mindshare Dubai’s campaign effectiveness was thoroughly evaluated by a panel of respected industry professionals using data provided by Effie’s global partners to distribute points amongst outstanding agencies.

“Our passion for innovation in our marketing campaigns is at the core of what drives us, but ensuring that our creative campaigns produce outstanding results is critical,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA. “It’s not enough to introduce new ideas – they have to exceed the project’s objectives and produce quantifiably successful outcomes that give our clients the competitive edge.”

Kaveh Gharachorlou joins Mindshare MENA

Kaveh Gharachorlou has joined the Mindshare MENA team – part of WPP – as its new Regional Talent Development Director for the region. With over 20 years of experience in human resource management, Kaveh has worked across a variety of industries including banking, oil and gas, government, manufacturing and construction, as well as security and defense. Kaveh previously ran his own HR consultancy business for three years in the United Kingdom, before moving on to work as Head of HR in construction and manufacturing eight years ago, and was most recently HR Director for DynCorp International, a global security and defense organisation.

“We welcome Kaveh on board and look forward to seeing his contribution to position Mindshare MENA as the preferred employer,” says Samir Ayoub, CEO, Mindshare MENA. “He brings a wealth of HR experience and valuable talent development skills to our team.”