Amy Mathieson has joined ITP Publishing as Deputy Editor, Guides for Time Out Dubai. Previously a News Editor at Horse and Hound Magazine, part of Time Inc UK, Amy brings over nine years of experience in journalism to her new role. As Deputy Editor, Guides, she will be responsible for all of the supplements produced alongside the weekly lifestyle publication.
Create Media Group has been appointed the social media management agency for 55FIFTY7 in Dubai. Founded in 2015, 55FIFTY7 is a diamond studio located in Dubai Design District that aims to inspire guests to create their own designs and translate them into signature jewellery using state-of-the-art technology. A dedicated team within Create Media Group will conceptualise and create all social media assets for the studio.
“We’re proud to be working with such an exciting brand that is changing the way people engage with jewellery,” says Tom Otton, Managing Director, Create Media Group. “The creativity and local entrepreneurial spirit is something we really connect with as a team.”
Carat MENA has promoted Herve Wittenauer to the role of General Manager – International Clients. Previously Client Servicing Director, Herve brings over 15 years of experience to his new role where he will now be reporting to Ramzi Haddad, Managing Director, Carat UAE and Lower Gulf. As General Manager – International Clients, he will be responsible for all of Carat’s international clients active across the Middle East and North Africa, supporting the 20 offices Carat has in the region. Herve will work to ensure that the agency delivers holistic, integrated and consistent client servicing on both a local and regional level.
“Since Herve joined us in Dubai two years ago, he has worked tirelessly to build Carat’s product offering and achieve operational excellence,” says Ramzi. “As our network and client portfolio continues to grow, it is imperative that we have the right experience and capability in key regional roles. We want to become a 100% digital agency by 2020 and continue to deliver value on a regional scale. This transformation is a huge undertaking and Herve is the right person to help us achieve this long term ambition. His promotion is a recognition of the passion, hard work and dedication that he carries with him to work every day.”
Herve adds “I have been with Dentsu network for 16 years now and in the just the last two I have seen Carat MENA grow exponentially. Our clients recognise the potential of this region and look to us to drive value across the board via our command of media convergence. I look forward to making sure our on the ground knowledge in each market is supported by a collaborative approach across the Middle East and North Africa.”
Dubai-based creative resource, arabianEye, has secured a new, exclusive partnership with PA Images in order to represent its image library in the MENA region. The deal will give arabianEye’s clients access to over 11 million images on-line, supported by an archive that dates back to the 1860’s. arabianEye will also be giving PA Images access to a selection of its exclusive Middle Eastern library, which has grown over the last ten years to include over 90 thousand images and footage clips from a network of local contributors.
“As the leading image and footage library in the Middle East, arabianEye has a track record in providing premium content and partnering with the best companies in the industry,” says Greg Aslangul, General Manager, arabianEye. “PA Images is an important addition to a group of strategic international partners that includes Alamy, Splashnews, Reuters and Magnum Photos.”
Stephen Munday, Managing Director, PA Images, adds “PA Images is delighted to be partnering with arabianEye, introducing PA Images’ renowned daily UK News, Sport and Entertainment imagery and our extensive historical archive to their customers in the MENA region.”
GN Publishing has today launched Baby&Child magazine, a new title dedicated to all parenting topics ranging from pregnancy to pre-school in the UAE. From the team behind Aquarius, Baby&Child is available quarterly from leading retailers for AED 20, with exclusive distribution through Marhababy, Baby Souk, DB Babies and Mumzworld. The brand also has an active Mummy Morning events calendar, daily social media and will shortly launch www.babyandchild.ae.
“Since we launched the Aquarius Baby supplement in May 2014, our mums have been asking us for a magazine and website as they desperately want access to locally relevant parenting advice as well as real life stories and support from mums in the UAE,” says Louisa Wilkins, Group Editor, Baby&Child. “They loved how our Baby supplement was open, honest and supportive of new parents in the UAE and they wanted more of it… so here we are delivering their wishes!”
Katie Heskett, Associate Publisher, GN Publishing Women’s Lifestyle Group, adds “For the past two years, we have been talking to our Baby&Child audience, either through the pages of Aquarius Baby or at our monthly Mummy Mornings. We know what our readers want as we are engaging with them every month thanks to our active and engaged community of mums. With 80,000 babies born in the UAE every year, there is a lot of support needed for new parents and we’re excited that Baby&Child will be able to be part of their journey as a family.”
Branding, digital and PR agency Omnia has secured the account for JLA, a UAE and Morocco-based architectural firm. JLA designs and builds spaces in tune with their environment, weaving tradition with modernity in order to produce progressive architecture while providing a full-service solution from initiation to completion, including master planning, urban design and engineering, landscape and interior design. Omnia will be responsible for a rebrand of the company that will be unveiled at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, as well as the subsequent deployment of JLA’s new website and branded collateral. The agency’s PR division will also be working on an internal communications initiative and will be spearheading an external media relations campaign before, during and after Cityscape.
Ruth Bradley Consulting has been appointed to handle the PR account for Apa Aesthetics. Located in Jumeirah, the full service dental and cosmetic centre was founded by US cosmetic dentist Dr Michael Apa and aims to offer a new generation of dentistry and aesthetic design. The agency will be handling all PR for the centre, aiming to boost brand awareness in the region.
Dubai-based integrated communications agency has been appointed to handle all PR for the Dubai Opera. Located in The Opera District, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Opera will aim to be the centre for culture and arts in Dubai. The centre will host authentic and engaging performing arts experiences from Dubai and around the world and House of Comms will be looking to develop the Dubai Opera brand through PR activations and media relations.
“When you work in PR, people always ask you who would be your dream client,” says Abby Wilks, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, House of Comms. “For me – this is it and then some. Dubai Opera is creating a central cultural destination for live performance for the Middle East, attracting the world’s best artists and productions to the region. The quality and variety of the programme, the accessibility of the shows and the fact that they will be spreading happiness to anyone who steps foot inside, makes this a PR’s dream and we are so proud to welcome them to the House of Comms family. Watch this space – when the curtain rises soon on the lineup – it will blow your minds.”
Schneider PR has been appointed by Aston Martin Middle East to handle all public relations activities across the region. The agency will be looking to boost awareness of the luxury automobile brand across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), through PR activations and events as well as social media.
“Aston Martin defines automotive luxury with its prestigious heritage and exquisite craftsmanship, pioneering spirit and timeless designs,” says Sandra Schneider, Managing Director, Schneider PR. “There’s a lot of exciting news to come, with launches, new technology and endless innovations, all from one of the most iconic automotive brands in the world.”
Q Communications has been appointed to handle all PR activities for Swiss beauty brand FOREO across the region. Specialising in beauty and well-being solutions, FOREO is available from Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales in Dubai, with a product range that includes facial cleansing, anti-ageing and oral hygiene tools that utilise T-sonic technology in order to achieve optimum results. Q Communications will be looking to increase awareness of the beauty brand across the region through PR activitivations.
“We are excited to add FOREO to our expanding beauty portfolio by representing them in the region,” says Elsa Roodt, Managing Partner, Q Communications. “The GCC consumer is amongst the world’s biggest beauty spenders and we look forward to supporting FOREO’s growth over the next year.”