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Kat Lebrasse wins Grazia blogger of the year

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Dubai-based blogger Kat Lebrasse has won Grazia blogger of the year at the 2015 Grazia Style Awards. Kat has a background in retail fashion and has worked with publications such as Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Emirates Woman and Grazia Middle East. Her blog – lebrasse.com – focusses on Kats personal style, as well as her style inspirations and various other interests which include health, beauty and travel.

“I feel so grateful and excited to be awarded blogger of the year,” says Kat. “I’m so proud of my blog and what I’ve achieved over the last 2 years and it’s the most amazing feeling to know that my hard work is also appreciated and acknowledged by the industry. I’m on top of the world right now and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!”

OMD UAE partners with Pi Slice

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OMD UAE announces its partnering with Pi Slice, the web-based social platform channeling funding for Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs). This comes as part of the media agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and its continuous contribution to developing the region’s economies and improving the lives of its people. OMD UAE and Pi Slice have launched a ‘lending page’ to promote micro-lending opportunities to its stakeholders and the wider community. Individuals can view a list of micro-financed projects and provide support to the initiative of their choice.

Through this collaboration, OMD UAE and Pi Slice bring a unique proposition to the UAE, linking individuals who wish to invest with Pi Slice’s MFI partners in the region, which, in turn use the funds to provide micro-credit to their customers. Micro-lending allows individuals to build a sustainable future for micro-entrepreneurs, as well as a supportive ecosystem for development at the macro level.

“We’re delighted to have found common ground with Pi Slice,” says Nadine Samara, Managing Director of OMD UAE & Lower Gulf. “We share the vision of a brighter future for entrepreneurship, to help alleviate poverty, stimulate development and improve the lives of many. Supporting ambition is hugely rewarding for both individuals and organisations, so we hope many around us will join us in this endeavour.”

Trends partners with INSEAD to celebrate Top CEO

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To be held in Dubai on March 30, 2015 the forthcoming Top CEO event, organised by Trends magazine and INSEAD, celebrates the very best in GCC business leadership. The award honours leaders from publicly listed companies, evaluating these companies on the basis of their performance in 2014, when the combined market capitalisation for stock exchanges in the GCC grew to AED3.78 trillion ($1.029 trillion).

Top CEO was established in 2011 to acknowledge industry heads at the helm of growth in the Gulf equities market, which is increasing at a rate of 22% year on year. The program celebrates the business acumen of senior GCC business figures and highlights those individuals who have excelled as leaders for their respective listed organisations. The Top CEO award categories are: The 100 Best Performing Companies and CEOs, The 10 Most Transparent Companies, The Five Best Banks, The Five Best Telecom Companies and The Five Best Consumer Goods Companies.

“Top CEO is a major awards ceremony held to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the region’s leading CEOs,” says Julien Hawari, Co-CEO at Mediaquest, organisers of Top CEO and publishers of Trends. “Along with independent auditors, Trends and INSEAD will ensure the transparency of the process. In addition, Hawkamah – the corporate governance institute – helps us verify that corporate governance criteria have been adhered to. The awards’ stringent and open evaluation procedures make them the foremost leadership awards program in the region and a benchmark for business heads and their companies.”

Savoir Flair to welcome new Beauty Editor

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Frankie Rozwadowska will join Savoir Flair from March 29, 2015 as Beauty Editor, following her previous role as Group Beauty Editor at Gulf News Magazines. Having lived in London prior to moving to Dubai, Frankie has previous experience writing in-depth beauty features as Beauty Editor for fashion-focused, luxury magazine 1883 as well as for online wellness magazine Hip & Healthy. At Gulf News Mazagines, Frankie worked across various titles including Aquarius, Friday and Alpha.

Geordiebird to leave Dubai 92 breakfast show

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Following nine years as a co-presenter on the Catboy and Geordiebird Breakfast show, Geordiebird, known off-air as Stef Burgon, announces that she will broadcast her last breakfast show this Thursday. Stef is also known for her regular ‘Girl About Town’ feature in What’s On magazine, and has been in Ahlan’s Hot 100 list every year since moving to the UAE in 2006.

Stef’s new role will be with Dubai Eye 103.8, sister network to Dubai 92, where she will be co-presenting The Travel Show (The Ticket), with Mark Lloyd every weekday from 2pm – 4pm.

“I’m looking forward to not having to get up so early, after doing this for the last nine years,” says Stef. “I can’t wait for this amazing new challenge on The Ticket with Mark Lloyd on Dubai Eye 103.8!”

Changes to the Motivate team

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Changes have been made to the Motivate team in the form of a new joiner and in-house promotion. Craig Wagstaff has been appointed as Group Sales Director, joining the team from Astro Malaysia Holdings where he was Vice President and Group General Manager of Sales for eight years. Having worked across a range of media, Craig will bring his international experience to the running of the day-to-day sales activity of Motivate’s magazine division.

Anthony Milne, previous General Manager of Group Sales and Marketing at Motivate, has now been appointed Chief Commercial Officer. In his new role, Anthony will focus on key areas of strategic development for Motivate while retaining responsibility for the Marketing and Events functions.

New board members announced for MEPRA

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The Middle East PR Association (MEPRA) has appointed its new board and leaders following the Annual General Meeting at Middlesex University, Knowledge Village, Dubai.

Brian Lott, Executive Director of Communications at Mubadala, is the organisation’s new Chair. Brian was previously Vice Chair under Nicola Gregson, who held the position since January 2014. Alex Malouf, who is Corporate Communications Manager in the Arabian Peninsula for Procter & Gamble, will become the organisation’s new Vice Chair. Board Secretary Thomas Ashby, from the strategic consulting agency Consulum, and Treasurer Mazen Nahawi, President of News Group International, will remain in their current roles.

“It’s never been a more exciting time to be a member of the Public Relations industry,” says Brian. “Communications is moving at the most rapid pace in recent memory. That is energising agencies, corporations, governments and public relations practitioners to be at the top of their game as the industry goes through massive change. MEPRA’s members are working hard to navigate this change, by hearing from outside experts as well as learning from each other.”

The new Board is structured around a number of initiatives for 2015, meant to advance the public relations agenda of its members.

Media mourn the loss of Lucy Monro

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Great sadness continues to fill the hearts of many as news spreads of journalist Lucy Monro’s tragic death. The animal lover and sports enthusiast was fatally injured after colliding with motorbikes during a coast-to-coast charity cycling challenge with Team SWR this past weekend. As Swiss Media Group’s Editor-in-Chief, Lucy founded equestrian magazine, Equestrio, 11 years ago alongside business partner and close friend, Michael Lahyani.

“Her passion, kindness and relentless pursuit of excellence have left an indelible mark on our team, our products and our DNA,” read a joint statement issued by Michael Lahyani, Publisher and Founder, and Gerard Belicha, Publisher and CEO, both of Swiss Media Group. “She will be sorely missed on so many levels, first and foremost as a dear friend, and also as an outstanding Editor-in-Chief and inspirational leader. Lucy truly was an extraordinary woman; as a close friend rightly put it, “She was one of life’s special people””.

“We miss her so much and always will,” added Gerard Belicha.