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Initiative MENA appoints new Regional Business Director 

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Global media agency, Initiative MENA has appointed Ghayath Sioufi to the role of Regional Business Director. With over 18 years of experience working across various MENA markets, Ghayath worked with companies such as Starcom, du, Nawras and Mindshare. In his new role, Ghayath will serve key accounts and be responsible for driving the agency’s regional programmes across the MENA region.

“I am excited to have joined Initiative MENA in these interesting times of transformational changes in our industry,” says Ghayath. “I am sure that together with the team we will be able to lead this change in the market and confirm our role as key business and growth partner to our clients.”

MSL Group opens office in Turkey

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Dubai-based communications and engagement company, MSL Group Middle East, part of Publicis Groupe, has expanded into Turkey. Being its 107th office worldwide, the new office will be a part of a strong integrated offering in Turkey that will feature the capabilities and expertise from Publicis Istanbul, Publicis Healthcare, Leo Burnett, Starcom and Zenith. The new office will see the appointment of Mehin Öner as CEO, making Istanbul the 34th branch in the MSL network led by a woman.

“The move links the PR capabilities in Turkey to MSL’s global practice and sectors as well as best-in-class strategic counsel, creative services and best practices that MSL provides around the world,” says Mehin Öner, CEO, MSL Group, Turkey. “By working as part of the MSL global network, and closely with our local Publicis sister agencies, we offer our clients a distinct strategic, data-driven and holistic solution that meets their broadest communication and business needs.”

Guillaume Herbette, Global CEO, MSL Group, continues, “The addition of Istanbul is strategically important to our global network as it is situated at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Asia, all where the MSL network is exceptionally strong.  We have been eager to move into the Turkey market for some time now. Clients across our global network will benefit from our presence in Turkey where we now have a solid on-the-ground team with a deep understanding of the local marketplace and strong relationships, community ties and social connections.”

 

PHD MENA expands into  Egypt

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Dubai-based media and communications agency, PHD MENA has launched its Cairo office as part of its expansion plan across the Middle East. Egypt being its fifth location in the Middle East, the new office aims to offer strategic, digital and creative expertise and build on business partnerships with regional and international clients. The launch will see the appointment of Nour Eldin Saleh to handle operations in the Cairo office as General Manager bringing with him experience working with companies such as Starcom and Mindshare.

“PHD’s expansion into Egypt, our largest market in the Middle East to date, is a clear indication of how the region is transforming,” says Elda Choucair, CEO, PHD MENA. “While it has a rich heritage and thriving traditions, the country is rapidly progressing in terms of digital sophistication, both from a consumer and corporate standpoint. The time is right for PHD to capitalise on this shift and introduce ground-breaking approaches in media and communications. I am certain that, with Nour Eldin Saleh at the helm, we will provide new levels of media and business excellence to our clients.”

 

Tarek Daouk joins Dentsu Aegis Network

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Dentsu Aegis Network has appointed Tarek Daouk to the role of CEO – MENA. Daouk previously worked with Spark Foundry as Regional Managing Director – MENA, where he provided content marketing strategies for brands such as P&G, Visa and Mars, and most recently worked with Starcom Middle East where he held the role of CEO. In his new role, he will work on accelerating Dentsu Aegis’ growth in the MENA region as the organisation delivers integrated solutions across creative, media, data and content. He will also play a critical role in mobilising the existing strategy of growth through mergers and acquisitions.

“I am delighted to be joining Dentsu Aegis Network at such an exciting time,” says Tarek. “I was drawn to Dentsu Aegis’ high performance culture and its commitment to help clients achieve their business goals. I am looking forward to building on the existing success in the region, as well as leading the business in achieving its ambitious agenda.”

Publicis Media launches new boards

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Publicis Media has introduced next generation boards across international and regional markets. The new boards, consisting of leaders from the media and digital industry, aim to foster collaborations and influence the direction of all brands within Publicis Media. The board for the MENA region includes:

  • Ravi Shekar, Associate Director at Publicis Media Analytics and Insights
  • Khaled Gaber, Senior Client Management at Zenith
  • Ghina Marouf, Associate Media Director at Mediavest | Spark
  • Amir Antoun, Media Director at Starcom
  • Sajid Ismail, Senior Manager – Social Strategy at Publicis Media
  • Aneesha Hingorani, Associate Director at Zenith
  • Omar Madi, Director – Performance Media at Perfomics

“The launch of the next generation boards is about challenging and disrupting how we currently do things, to the benefit of all stakeholders,” says Steve King, CEO, Publicis Media. “We had our first global board meeting earlier this month, which ran in parallel with the global Publicis Media board and we were incredibly impressed with the proposals that were presented, some of which we have already started to adopt.”  

Publicis makes changes to structure and leadership

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Publicis Groupe has reorganised its media capabilities globally into Publicis Media, as part of efforts to increase growth and provide value to clients. The organisation has made a number of structural and leadership changes in order to do this; primarily consolidating its six global agency brands: Starcom, Mediavest, Spark, Zenith Optimedia and Blue 449, into four global agency brands: Starcom, Zenith, Mediavest|Spark and Optimedia|Blue 449. Each agency will be lead by a Global Brand President who will be responsible for leading clients, driving growth and enabling best work, with Lisa Donohue as Global Brand President for Starcom, Vittorio Bonori as Global Brand President for Zenith, Brian Terkelsend as Global Brand President for Mediavest|Spark and Andras Vigh as Global Brand President for Optimedia|Blue 449.

Publicis Media’s new structure will cover top 20 markets, led by Tim Jones, Regional CEO for the Americas. Iain Jacob will be Regional CEO for EMEA and Gerry Boyle will now be Regional CEO for APAC. There will also be four US CEO’s who will report to Tim Jones; Chris Boothe for Mediavest|Spark, Dave Ehlers for Optimedia|Blue 449, Lou Rossie at Zenith and Lisa Donohue continuing as CEO at Starcom.

“We are driven to get to the future first,” says Steve King, CEO, Publicis Media. “Publicis Media is a fresh opportunity to simplify our organisation, invent more modern approaches to gain efficiency, introduce structures for greater collaboration and effectiveness as well as drive new levels of scale and client value.”

Maurice Lévy, Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe, adds “The new Publicis Media imagined by Steve King is fully equipped to fit the future and best serve our clients. A leaner and simpler structure will bring more value to our clients and further accelerate our growth.”