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MEPRA Awards 2013 set to be biggest yet

Tonight’s Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Awards are set to be the biggest yet with a record 150 entries received – a marked increase on previous years. The Awards, which are to be held at The Westin Dubai, recognise and reward excellence in the PR industry.

“We were greatly encouraged to see the increase in the number of companies and individuals submitting entries this year,” says MEPRA’s General Manager, Carine Duvignaud. “More impressive though was the quality of the submissions. As a consequence the judging panel had a hard task to narrow down the finalists.”

Agency Finalists include: DABO &CO; Golin Harris; Leocomm PR; GMASCO: Four Communications; ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller; Ketchum RAAD Middle East: Edelman: Memac Ogilvy PR: Weber Shandwick MENA; Leocomm PR; Limelight PR;  Action Global Communications: Capital MS&L: Mojo PR: TishTash PR: Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

The full list of MEPRA Awards Finalists is detailed below:

Best Practice -Sectors & Services

Consumer Goods

  • DABO &CO: “Kate Spade New York”
  • Golin Harris: “Kraft Original Treasures of Arabia”
  • Leocomm PR: “The Launch of HTC One”
  • GMASCO: “LEXUS Passion Pioneers”
  • GMASCO: “Your Opinion Counts”

Consumer Services

  • Troon Golf and Four Communications: “The Dhabi that Roared!”
  • ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller: “McDonald’s Nutrition Labelling Launch”

Healthcare & Services

  • Ketchum RAAD Middle East: “Safe @ Heart”
  • Edelman: “Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Employee Engagement”
  • Memac Ogilvy PR Algeria: “Hidden Faces of Diabetes”

Business to Business

  • State Government of Victoria and Four Communications: “On a Mission”
  • NATS and Four Communications: “Going Up a Level”
  • Weber Shandwick MENA: “Hot Commodity”
  • Leocomm PR: “du Enterprise PR Strategy -Answers for Tomorrow’s Business”
  • Limelight PR: “Launching CCS in the Middle East”

Government Communications

  • Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development and Four Communications: “Bright Sparks”
  • Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Four Communications: “Unlocking the UAE’s Natural Energy”
  • ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller: “Government Summit 2013”

Corporate Reputation & Image

  • Weber Shandwick MENA: “Standard and Poor’s -Reclaiming Leadership”
  • ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller: “Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013”
  • London Business School and Four Communications: “London Business School”

Internal Communications

  • TAQA: “One TAQA Day”
  • Ketchum RAAD Middle East: “Hello Hakawati!”
  • Action Global Communications: “Above & Beyond”

Corporate Responsibility

  • Glasspoint and Four Communications / Antenna Group: “Focus!”
  • Capital MS&L: “Sustainable Bathroom in the UAE Competition”
  • Weber Shandwick MENA: “Awareness of Fire Safety Risks in the Gulf”
  • Mojo PR: “Summertown Interiors”

 

Best Practice -Techniques

Best Use of Sponsorship

  • Weber Shandwick MENA: “Jaguar Style Stakes at Dubai World Cup 2013”
  • Ketchum RAAD Middle East: “Unlock the Race with Infiniti”
  • Mojo PR: “Hong Kong Tourism Board”

Best Product/Service Launch

  • DABO & CO: “The Launch of Nokia Lumia”
  • JW Marriott Marquis: “Vault”
  • Mojo PR: “Eureeca”

Best Use of Media Relations – Consumer or Trade

  • Weber Shandwick MENA: “Gulf Business Machines – 2013 IT Security”
  • Weber Shandwick MENA: “Stars of Science Season 4”
  • DABO & CO: “Canon at Gulf Print 2013”
  • Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Four Communications: “Selling Ras
  • Al Khaimah”
  • British Council and Four Communications: “Going Global”
  • Victoria International School of Sharjah and Four Communications: “Leading the Way”
  • Mojo PR: “Tiffany & Co”
  • TishTash PR: “Summer Celebrity GlamBox”

Best Use of Social Media/ Digital PR

  • Memac Ogilvy PR Dubai: “Sprite Min Al Akhir”
  • JW Marriott Marquis: “Izakaya at JW Marriott Marquis”
  • Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Four Communications: “Unlocking the UAE’s Natural Energy”

Best Live Event/Stunt

  • Etisalat: “mHealth Grand Tour”
  • Edelman: “Building the Next Generation of Emirati Leaders”
  • Edelman: “Blackberry 10 Global Launch”
  • Hill+Knowlton Strategies: “Hammam Shami”
  • Ketchum RAAD Middle East: “Launch and Sustain Campaign of the 2013 Infiniti JX in the Middle East”
  • Tourism Ireland and Four Communications: “The Gathering Greening”

Best Integrated Campaign

  • Tourism Ireland and Four Communications: “St Patrick’s Week”
  • Edelman: “Qasr Al Hosn Festival”
  • DABO & CO & Marriott International: “The Launch of the JW Marriott Marquis”
  • Mojo PR: ” A Taste of Singapore”

Overall Best Campaign of the Year

  • Category NOT opened for entries. Winner will be announced at the Gala Event

Agency of the year

  • Seven Media
  • Four Communications
  • Edelman
  • Weber Shandwick MENA
  • Ketchum RAAD Middle East
  • Mojo PR

In-house Team of the Year (Sponsored by Edelman)

  • Mubadala
  • Etihad Airways

New Account Manager joins The Qode

Farah Zoghbi has been announced as the new PR Account Manager at The Qode. Bringing over four years of PR and Marketing experience within the luxury service industry in Dubai, Farah held various PR and Communications positions, working with leading brands including Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels. As a resident of Dubai since 2003, Farah has witnessed the dynamic growth of the industry, gaining local market experience during this time.

“I am very excited to be part of the dynamic team at The Qode,” says Farah. “With such a diverse portfolio of clients, this is a great opportunity to work on exciting projects and brands.”

What’s On Award winners to be revealed tomorrow

The What’s On Awards Dubai 2013 will take place tomorrow evening at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre and will celebrate the UAE’s cream of the crop in hospitality, entertainment and leisure. Now in its tweflth year, the event – which is sponsored by Dubai First – has gained industry wide respect for transparency and fairness with all votes independently counted and audited by Jacobsons Direct Marketing Services and then counter-verified by a special panel of impartial industry experts.

For a full list of the shortlisted nominees, visit www.whatsonawards.com

Good luck to all!

New Editor joins The Dubai Mall Magazine

Caroline Scott has joined NPI Media as the new Editor of The Dubai Mall Magazine. Formerly Deputy Editor of OK! Middle East, Caroline will oversee the day-to-day running of the magazine.

“I am delighted to be joining the talented team at The Dubai Mall Magazine at this exciting time of growth for the mall and the city’s fashion scene, as a whole,” says Caroline. “Coming from a luxury publishing background, I find myself in a happy new home and look forward to a bright and busy 2014.”

New Middle East PR Manager for Volkswagen

Michelle Hogan has been announced as the new Middle East PR Manager for Volkswagen. Having lived in the region for over five years, Michelle is well acquainted with the Middle East market, and has extensive experience in both luxury and mass automotive segments.

“Volkswagen is a great company to work for and a respected global brand, I’m delighted to join the group,” says Michelle. “There are some really exciting things on the agenda for 2014 and I am looking forward to getting into my new role.”

Michelle will be based at the Dubai Airport Free Zone offices and is contactable at michelle.hogan@volkswagen.avme.ae / +971 (0)4 204 5888

A stylish farewell for Rebecca Kelsey

After two years at Grazia Middle East, Fashion & Beauty Editor Rebecca Kelsey today steps down from her position as she prepares to return to the UK on November 30th.

“I have decided after two wonderful years on Grazia Middle East, and three in the Middle East, that it is time to return home to London to be with my husband,” says Rebecca. “It is with a heavy heart I leave Dubai, and I want to stress how much I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone.”

 

FP7 does the double at 2013 Effie MENA Awards

FP7 won a historic double at the Effies 2013, sweeping Network of the Year and the FP7 Dubai office winning Agency of the Year.

Tarek Miknas, CEO of FP7 MENA was ecstatic at the huge metal tally and the crowning achievements. In an emotional mail to all FP7 staff he wrote, “I thank everyone in this network for contributing to our transformation. I travel from market to market, and I see how hard we are all working to turn our agency into the one we’ve always wanted. You are all stars and I am seriously proud to be among you everyday. Please do take your new title of The Most Effective Agency very seriously as we intend to hold onto this position beyond 2014!”

Sasan Saeidi, who spearheads the FP7 UAE operation added: “Effies is the future of our industry and all our clients are demanding more accountability and responsibility for our communication ideas, every day. Effies, is creativity with purpose. An award that celebrates the creation of ideas that create impact and results. This is what we should all be doing every day. Nothing is more important.”