United Arab Emirates – Page 207 – The Media Network

Cheil MENA appoints new Digital Director

October 22, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Cheil MENA, part of South Korea’s largest advertising network, Cheil Worldwide, has appointed Anis Zantout as its new Regional Digital Director. Anis brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously held multi-faceted roles across the MENA region, which includes the positions of Digital Media Director for Initiative and Regional Director at DigitasLBi. As part of the Cheil MENA team, Anis will manage the growing digital department and will play a pivotal role in driving new business, by developing the agency’s digital credentials to develop performance media with the rise of programmatic advertising.

“Over recent years, we have made tremendous strides in enhancing our digital capabilities,” says Keesoo Kim, CEO, Cheil MENA. “Anis’s appointment will be an integral component to ensuring the agency continues to offer full integration to our clients. He brings extensive experience from within the region and under his leadership, the digital team are truly well equipped to bring our South Korean way of working – known as Tu:hon – to life.”

Danone announces media agency pitch

October 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

For the first time, three of Danone’s business units – Al Safi Danone, Danone Nutricia and Danone Waters – are to consolidate their respective media planning and buying within the Middle East region by appointing one media agency. Havas Media, Mindshare MENA and Initiative MENA are the agencies which have been invited to take part in the media pitch, which will be held October 29 – 30, 2014, in Dubai.

The media agency review will have a clear strategic ambition – to select an agency partner that will help the three Danone businesses to move from a purely broadcast model to a greater engagement model over the coming years. Danone aims to ensure that its media investments reflect the changes in the media landscape by collaborating with a strategic partner who will provide leadership in digital media, integrated strategic planning and value creation.

Weber Shandwick wins Adweek Project Isaac Award

October 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Weber Shandwick’s propriety crisis simulation software and crisis preparedness training – firebell – has won the 2014 Adweek Project Isaac Award for PR Invention in the Best Practices medium. Honouring invention in media, advertising & marketing and technology, the awards highlight the importance of genuine invention to the successes of brands and businesses.

MENA brands are set to substantially increase internet advertising spend in the next five years in the region, likely spurring an upsurge in the engagement of MENA internet users and consequently, more demand for potential online-driven issues management. Firebell allows participants to actively engage in a real-time attack of their brand or organisation in a secure, controlled environment, including fictional replicas of social channels and media outlets. Post-simulation, an assessment is delivered that identifies the gaps in performance, working to bolster response processes and messaging in advance of the outbreak of an issue or crisis.

“With an estimated 88 percent of more than 100 million MENA internet users interacting on social media each day, everything is knowable and shareable,” says Ziad Hasbani, CEO, Weber Shandwick MENA. “One single event, or badly judged post or tweet can rapidly escalate into a crisis, whether real or perceived. Businesses and brands operating in MENA’s digital communications landscape must adopt a culture of observance and readiness, anticipating potential issues and preparing comprehensive yet flexible plans to manage them. There is also language to consider, as brands in the region must be prepared to address and respond to issues with a multilingual approach. Firebell is fast becoming an integral tool in helping us to assist brands in communicating, managing and protecting their reputations in the digital sphere. Just as demand is increasing exponentially in the region for digitally-driven communications services, we are also working with clients to ensure they understand and mitigate against the risks involved.”

Serviceplan ME to hold Competence Circle event

October 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Regional News /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Serviceplan Middle East, an integrated corporate communications agency, is set to hold its inaugural Competence Circle event in the region. Established by the Serviceplan Group in Germany, the aim of the Competence Circle is to create a platform for marketing, sales and PR professionals – B2B and B2C – to benefit from discussions around the industry’s most relevant and emerging topics.

The Serviceplan Middle East Competence Circle will take place on October 29, 2014, from 1pm – 5.30pm, and will be held at the Arjaan Rotana in Media City, Dubai.

Speakers for the inaugural event include – Eleni Kitra, Agency Partner MEAP, Facebook; Alfonso de Gaetano, Agency and Branding Leader MENA for Google and Florian Gmeinwieser, Managing Director of Plan.Net Mobile.

The Serviceplan Middle East Competence Circle will focus on the revolution of social media in the Middle Eastern region since the Arab spring, and will address the following questions – What does this revolution mean for brands and their marketing decision makers? What can brands expect from social media channels? What is the outlook? Where do the channels see the biggest potential for brand building? How does this region differ from the rest of the world?

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming our notable speakers to the first ever Serviceplan Middle East Competence Circle,” says Rami Hmadeh, Managing Partner, Serviceplan Middle East. “It’s the Serviceplan Group’s most successful platform for gathering industry experts to tackle imminent trends and equips marketers and brand managers with new insights to build best brands. Hundreds of such professionals have benefited from these circles in Europe, and we would like to do the same and give back to the media professionals in Dubai who steer both big and emerging brands in the region.”

Alison Towle promoted at ITP

October 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Alison Towle has been promoted to Advertising Director of the Grazia Middle East Group. Having joined ITP Publishing in 2012 for the launch of OK! Middle East as Senior Sales Manager, Alison was most recently Group Advertising Manager for Grazia Middle East. In her new role, Alison heads up the sales team across Grazia Middle East, Grazia Qatar, Grazia Luxury, Grazia Bahrain, Grazia Style Awards and Grazia Fest.

Fatema Moursy joins Strategies International

October 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Fatema Moursy has joined the Strategies International team as PR Executive. Her first role in public relations, Fatema previously worked as Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Canadian fashion brand, Travis Taddeo, focusing on social media marketing and client communications. In her new position, Fatema will assist the PR managers on client portfolios, PR plan development, press kit distribution and onsite event support.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this dynamic team of talented women,” says Fatema. “I’m excited to learn and gain experience from my new position, and I look forward to starting off my career with Strategies International.”

Australian tabloid names UAE in editorial blunder

October 19, 2014/0 Comments/in International News /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

The Daily Telegraph, published in Sydney by News Corp Australia, has made an embarrassing editorial blunder, by running a headline stating that Australian bombing raids killed dozens of terrorists in the UAE, according to the newspaper’s online platform.

While the story referred to bombings in Iraq – in which Australia’s super hornets conducted a total of 43 flights over the country since becoming operational almost two weeks ago – the prominent headline told a different story.

The headline has since been amended to citing the Middle East instead of the UAE, though the original URL remains.

BUZ Public Relations signs De Rigo Vision account

October 19, 2014/0 Comments/in Account win /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

BUZ Public Relations has won the contract of four luxury eyewear brands housed under De Rigo Vision – Chopard, Escada, Givenchy and Police – with the Dubai-based PR agency to represent the fore mentioned brands across the UAE market. Founded in 1978, De Rigo Vision is a leader in the design, production and distribution of high–end eyewear and sun wear in an estimated 80 countries worldwide.

“We are very excited to be working on such internationally renowned brands,” says Baiju Kurieash, CEO and Managing Director, BUZ Public Relations. “Chopard, Escada, Givenchy and Police are welcome additions to our expanding lifestyle portfolio and we aim to achieve great heights.”

Warrick Godfrey joins Namshi

October 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Warrick Godfrey has joined Namshi.com as Chief Marketing Officer. Warrick brings to his new role a wealth of international experience across e-commerce, retail and travel sectors, having worked in both web and online marketing in his previous positions which include leading partnerships for Facebook’s products and advertising solutions across the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and Co-Founding Cobone.com. He will now direct the overall strategic direction and marketing efforts of the Middle East’s leading online fashion platform.

“This is an incredibly exciting move,” says Warrick. “Namshi already has a strong reputation for online fashion that sets the standard for others to follow in the Middle East. I look forward to telling the Namshi story and building on its existing success.”

Dina Butti leaves Dubai One TV

October 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Movers & Shakers /by Melissa Jean McWhirter

Dina Butti is leaving Dubai One TV after five years as a Presenter and Writer for the Dubai One Channel. Dina has most recently worked as a Presenter and Writer for Dubai One TV’s celebrity program, That’s Entertainment, which entailed reporting on local and international gossip stories, interviewing celebrities visiting the region and covering red carpet events – from DIFF to the 2014 Oscars. Dina has also previously presented on Studio One, Out & About, City Wrap and numerous live events.

“I will forever be grateful to Dubai One for allowing me to realise my dream of becoming a television presenter – I not only got to meet my idols, but I experienced an astounding number of adventures,” says Dina. “As I prepare to embark on my next creative challenge (more details to come soon), I will cherish the memories I have gained over the past five years and use them to inspire my future.”

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