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Hill+Knowlton appoints new General Manager for Saudi Arabia

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Global communications firm Hill+Knowlton Strategies has welcomed Matthew Dessani to the role of General Manager for Saudi Arabia. Matthew brings over two decades of multinational brand agency management experience to his new role, having previously lived and worked in the UK, Romania, Kuwait and Dubai. He will now be responsible for leading the firm’s Saudi team, under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Turki Alfaisal, focusing on strategy development, creativity and client service.

“Two decades of global marketing experience and international brand building provide Matthew with a fundamental understanding of how to frame an issue, define and target audiences and how to develop and deliver compelling campaigns across multiple platforms,” says Sconaid McGeachin, President and CEO, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Africa, Middle East and Turkey.

Matthew adds “There is probably no greater or more exciting challenge globally for a communications professional than that presented by Saudi Arabia right now. The Kingdom is on the cusp of a remarkable economic transformation, while its position at the centre of global geo-politics and its size as the preeminent economy of the Middle East makes this a compelling opportunity.”

MEPRA AWARDS 2015 – Winners Announced

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The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) held its annual gala dinner last night in celebration of the most exciting communicators of 2015. Highlights of the evening included Memac Ogilvy Public Relations – Dubai, sweeping the floor of the Consumer Goods category for their work on “Innovation that Excites”, “Labels are for cans, Not People” and “#AmexExplorer: The Card That Takes You Places”.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies took gold in the Consumer Services category for their work on Flash Entertainment’s “YASALAM”, while in Healthcare & Services Memac Ogilvy Public Relations – Lebanon, impressed judges with its “Breast Cancer Awareness” campaign. House of Comms was awarded gold for its work on “JIM Will Fix It Nepal Relief” which fell under the Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental PR category, and APCO Worldwide was recognised for its work for Noor Bank in the Financial PR sector.

The Dave Robinson Award for Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year (agency-side) went to Four Communications’ Mohanned Lafi with Ooredoo Kuwait’s Yasser Mohammad picking up the same for Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year (in-house). The Chairman’s Award was presented to Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ Sconaid McGeachin and Four Communications Group scooped Agency of the Year.