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ASDA’A appoints new Managing Director

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Middle East-based PR agency ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller has appointed Hassan Fattah to the role of Managing Director. With a wealth of experience in media and communications, Hassan previously worked with The National as Editor-in-Chief and most recently with Brunswick Group as a partner. In his new role, he will provide the senior counsel to regional corporate and government clients, while driving the firm’s new business and organic growth in the GCC and wider Middle East.

“I’m delighted to be joining ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller at a very exciting time for the firm and for communications in the region,” says Hassan. “ASDA’A brings deep insight and understanding of the Middle East’s political, business and cultural dynamics. That depth of knowledge, together with the firm’s scale, regional network, and seasoned team make for an unbeatable combination in the growing market for communications.”

Joe Nicolas promoted to Regional Managing Director

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MENA-based creative media agency, UM MENA has promoted Joe Nicolas to the role of Regional Managing Director. Having joined UM MENA in 2009 as Regional Director of Communications Planning and most recently, holding the position of Head of Strategy and Integration, Joe has built teams and contributed to the agency’s client success, and helped develop UM Egypt during times of economic instabilities. In his new role, he will work on the agency’s client relations and oversee its business development across the MENA region.

“I am excited to be taking over this role at one of the largest agencies in the region,” says Joe. “At a time where our region is undergoing a transformation, we have the right team, the right company culture and the right portfolio of clients to enable us to deliver great work and set new standards. I look forward to playing a major role in this and the continuing success and development of the agency in the coming years.”

Grayling Welcomes New Account Director

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Global communications firm, Grayling UAE, has appointed Lauren Ramey to the role of Account Director. With over five years of experience in strategic communications planning, international media relations and issues management, Lauren previously worked as Director of Communications Planning in the Office of the Premier of Ontario in Canada before moving to the GCC and most recently worked as the Communications Advisor to the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia. In her new role, she will work towards delivering strong guidance to the clientele of Grayling across the Middle East.

“With Grayling, I share a real passion for inventive and integrated communications solutions, which have a long-lasting positive impact on organisational goals,” says Lauren. “I look forward to working closely with this dynamic team to realise our passion through delivering strategic counsel and powerful content to the firm’s impressive and growing client list across the region.”

CIPR and MEPRA launch new training programme

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The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has partnered with the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) to launch new training programme, MEPRA Academy. MEPRA Academy aims to provide professional development opportunities across the region and will see CIPR provide exclusive access to MEPRA members on its continuing professional development (CPD) online portal. The new academy’s courses will be led by international experts and CIPR certified senior communications professionals across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.

“We know through our research that continued learning and internationally recognised professional accreditation is critically important to the regional public relations practitioner,” says Ray Ellington, Chairman, MEPRA. “We have developed the new MEPRA Academy and our partnership with CIPR to answer this need helping individuals develop their careers and our industry to raise its standards.”