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Katie Heskett joins Gulf News Magazines

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Previously Publisher at ITP Consumer Publishing for the Ahlan! Group of magazines and websites, Katie Heskett has joined Gulf News Magazines as Associate Publisher for the Women’s Lifestyle and Homes & Interiors brands.

Currently focusing on Aquarius and InsideOut magazines and websites, Katie is also working on new launches in 2014.

“After eight great years at ITP, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to take on a really exciting new challenge with a great team at Gulf News Magazines. The plans we have for Aquarius and Inside Out both in print and online – as well as the developments taking place overall at Gulf News Magazines – are inspirational and I’m looking forward to being a part of a market-leading publishing organisation.”

James Hewes, Publishing Director for Gulf News Magazines, said: “I am delighted to welcome Katie to the Gulf News Magazines team. I’m incredibly excited by her appointment and I know that she’ll be using her wealth of publishing expertise to take Aquarius and InsideOut to the next level. Katie’s appointment is just the first of a number of exciting developments planned for the next few months as we start a new phase in the development of Gulf News Magazines.”

Ultratravel Middle East trebles circulation

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Ultratravel Middle East has announced it will vastly increase its circulation effective from the Spring issue, available from March 20, 2014. The magazine will treble its print run, with over 174,000 copies to be released in separate Arabic and English editions.

Two major newspapers will carry the bulk of distribution, with 109,000 Arabic copies being delivered with Al Ittihad and 65,000 English copies going out with The National. Additional copies are to be released in high-end golf resorts, spas and hotels.

“The increase in circulation reflects what an exciting market this is,” says Adam Portingale, Associate Publisher, Ultratravel Middle East. “Even if we halved our new circulation, it would still be by far the biggest luxury travel and lifestyle magazine in the region.”

Getty Images expands UAE sports photography team

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Getty Images has announced the addition of two new sport photographers to its Dubai office, as the company looks to expand its offering of premium sport coverage and assignment work in the Middle East.

Award-winning photographer Warren Little joins from the London office, where he has been based for the past 14 years. Specialising in golf and rugby, Warren has represented Getty Images at some of the world’s biggest sporting events including the British Open, European Tour, the Rugby World Cup and at summer and winter Olympic Games. He has also worked on assignment for some of the biggest global brands including Nike, Adidas, Dunhill and Guinness and was awarded first prize in Sports Feature at the Press Photographer’s Year.

Francois Nel joins Getty Images from Gulf News, the largest English language newspaper in the Middle East, where he has been covering all the major events in Dubai for the past five year as a staff photographer. Previous to that he worked as a sport and news photographer at Die Burger Newspaper in Cape Town, in his home country of South Africa.

“It is a really exciting time for sport in the Middle East,” says Lee Martin, SVP Global Sports Business, Getty Images. “Some of the world’s major events are already held here and with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the focus on sport is only going to intensify. As the world leader in sport photography, we already service this region with best-in-class coverage of its sporting events, which we then distribute globally. Warren Little and Francois Nel are both exceptional professionals and will be huge assets to Getty Images Middle East as we further expand our services in the region.”

As the official photographic partner to the IOC, Getty Images will be sending a team of 80 specialist sport professionals to cover the Sochi Winter Olympics.  In addition to covering Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Sochi, Getty Images will cover all 16 featured sports and will capture moments from every medal event, uploading more than 2,000 images per day to gettyimages.com.

OMD appoints director of ideation and innovation

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OMD has recruited Haytham Zoghby as its Director of Innovation. He will be tasked with leading and revitalising Ignition, the media agency’s innovation arm. Haytham started his career at Leo Burnett in Jeddah, working mainly on the P&G portfolio, Al Marai and Savola and moved to Dubai in 2007 to take the creative lead on DPG, Dubai TV, DEPE, Bel and ADIB, among others. Operating at the intersection of technology, media, consumer and creativity, Zoghby will leverage his expertise to elevate OMD’s Ignition offering across the region.

“OMD has long thrived on innovation and creativity so this appointment is a natural progression for us,” says Nadim Samara, Managing Director, OMD UAE & Lower Gulf. “In our first decade, we led with the launch of OMD Digital in 2006, Ignition in 2007 and Annalect in 2010, to name but a few. Bringing in the first senior creative talent in a media investment and consulting firm will allow us to further sharpen our thinking and execution, allowing our clients to enjoy an even higher multiplier effect on their media investments.”

Haytham Zoghby adds, “This move is a very exciting opportunity for me to make a real difference to OMD’s clients. This new environment, with its various disciplines, offers a wealth of data and research, as well as content creation, digital communications and social media capabilities.”

Ahlan! Hot 100 to celebrate 10th anniversary

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It has been announced that the annual coffee table book Ahlan! Hot 100 will be published on March 6, 2014, with 100,000 copies distributed across the UAE with Ahlan! and Ahlan! Arabia, and as a stand-alone publication in all leading bookstores throughout the month. Ahlan! Hot 100 celebrates the most talked-about people in the UAE and features entrepreneurs, style icons and personalities who are shaping the landscape of the Emirates.

The Ahlan! Hot 100 has its own dedicated microsite at www.ahlanlive.com and will have its own App and digital edition available for download.

This year sees ITP’s proudest product celebrating its 10-year anniversary, which will be marked with a lavish party on Wednesday 5th March, for an exclusive VVIP guest list. The event will be held at Warldorf Astoria, Palm Jumeirah.

DABO & CO announces key appointments

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Independent integrated communications agency, DABO & CO has announced a series of key appointments to its growing multi-national team. The move will significantly add to the existing talent at the firm as it looks to meet the growing demand for sophisticated communications services in the market.

Leading the series of strategic appointments, Alexandra Williams joins the agency as Digital Director and will play a key role in supporting the continued expansion of DABO & CO’s integrated offering. She arrives from Grayling in the United Kingdom, where she was Associate Director and played a central role in making the firm the number one ranked agency in the UK for digital PR by PR Week magazine in 2011 and 2012.

“Digital engagement is becoming increasingly important in the region and our clients are realising the value of investing in a truly integrated communications strategy that incorporates this platform, along with PR and events,” says Managing Partner Camilla d’Abo. “To this end, we are delighted to bring Alex on board and her expertise will be essential in enhancing our multi-faceted communications offering.”

Other key recruits include Iman Issa, who joins the team as Corporate Account Director overseeing the corporate team, responsible for flagship accounts such as BMW Group, DHL and Marriott International, and Dawn Barnable who joins as Consumer Account Director, responsible for overseeing accounts including Yas Waterworld, Ritz-Carlton, Dubai Cares and Jumeirah Restaurants.

Natalie Johnson, who has extensive digital PR experience, joins as Account Manager, and Ellie Keane joins as Account Executive. Saudi national Maha Alhamed and fellow AUS graduate Mahitab Hosni have joined to provide greater regional insights and expertise, while Sherin Bodekji joins the team as a Senior Account Executive, and brings with her three years of UAE agency experience and expertise in the NGO, B2B and aviation sectors.

Camilla d’Abo added: “We have focused on growing our team by maintaining a focus on adding to and further strengthening our existing talent. We are genuinely pleased to have been able to bring some of the region’s leading practitioners to our team, as we continue to endeavour to provide the high quality of communication services our clients have come to expect from us.”