Agency NewsPHD wins SAP’s media business
AppointmentsNew appointments at JWT Dubai and Cairo
Agency NewsWPP's Team Egypt to support the Egypt Economic Development Conference
AppointmentsNew appointments at OMD Arabia
Events & Awards United Nations Volunteer Program and MBC Hope Doing Good competition join hands
Agency NewsSocialize starts 2015 with new wins
 
 

Around the Web

 

Press Releases

 

New In Video

 
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
 

Must Read

 
Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com OpinionPlan, plan, succeed

2015-01-25 17:06

 WEF03 Agency NewsWPP's Team Egypt to support the Egypt Economic Development Conference

2015-01-25 11:56

 Mohammed Sabry, MD, JWT Dubai AppointmentsNew appointments at JWT Dubai and Cairo

2015-01-24 04:29

 win win Agency NewsHavas Media Middle East wins Aldar Properties business

2015-01-22 16:12

 win2 Agency NewsPHD wins SAP’s media business

2015-01-22 15:41

 ladder AppointmentsNew appointments at PHD

2015-01-22 15:30
 

More from Communicate

 
 

Plan, plan, succeed

Planning your career shouldn’t be about appraisals and job interviews. Instead, it should be an annual exercise of assessing where you are, where you want to be, and how you can get there. For advertising and marketing professionals, in particular, a career could go so many different ways that having a roadmap – with annual [...]

2015-01-25 17:06
Full Article More Digital
 
Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com
 
 

WPP’s Team Egypt to support the Egypt Economic Development Conference

On January 22, the Intercontinental hotel in Davos, the host city for the World Economic Forum 2015, saw a high level dinner between President El-Sisi of Egypt and a select group of international guests. On the agenda was Egypt’s mid term development strategy, ahead of the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) to be held in Sharm El Sheik, [...]

2015-01-25 11:56
Full Article More Digital
 
WEF03
 
 

New appointments at JWT Dubai and Cairo

Mohammed Sabry, managing director, JWT Dubai JWT has announced the strategic appointment of award winning managing director, Mohammed Sabry, to head up the agency’s flagship operation in Dubai.  Appointed by Michiel Hofstee, JWT’s CEO for the Gulf region, Sabry moves from his position as managing director at JWT Cairo, where he has led the Egyptian [...]

2015-01-24 04:29
Full Article More Digital
 
Mohammed Sabry, MD, JWT Dubai
 
 

Havas Media Middle East wins Aldar Properties business

Havas Media Middle East today announced that it has been selected to manage the media account and digital creative services for Abu Dhabi based company Aldar Properties PJSC, one of the largest property developers across the Middle East and North Africa. The appointment follows a regional pitch, which began in October 2014. Havas Media Middle [...]

2015-01-22 16:12
Full Article More Digital
 
win win
 
 

PHD wins SAP’s media business

OMG’s media and communications agency PHD has been awarded the global media strategy, planning and buying duties for enterprise software conglomerate SAP, including the Middle East region. The move comes after SAP announced that it was consolidating its global communications business with Omnicom Group, including all advertising, media and other marketing activities. Speaking on the [...]

2015-01-22 15:41
Full Article More Digital
 
win2
 
 

New appointments at PHD

Based on last year’s performance and growth, PHD UAE has promoted five of its senior employees. Ian Dolan has been promoted from account director to the newly created position of strategy director. As an account director for the last three years, he has provided strategic input on multiple successful pitches. In this new role, Dolan [...]

2015-01-22 15:30
Full Article More Digital
 
ladder
 
 

Socialize starts 2015 with new wins

Independent digital marketing agency Socialize has started 2015 with the addition of the digital account for Korean instant messaging mobile application, LINE. Confirming the win, Akanksha Goel, managing director of the agency, says: “With messaging apps set to become ‘the new social medium’ in 2015 we are incredibly proud of this partnership a brand that [...]

2015-01-22 15:16
Full Article More Digital
 
win win
 
 

United Nations Volunteer Program and MBC Hope Doing Good competition join hands

The United Nations Volunteer Program joined hands with MBC Hope Doing Good Competition during its second annual event to honor and grant awards to the “Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future” project, and to MBC Hope’s Doing Good competition winners. The event took place in Dubai, UAE, in the presence of the guest of honor Ahmad Alhendawi, [...]

2015-01-22 13:12
Full Article More Digital
 
MBC Hope Doing Good Competition Awards- and UNV Awards- Group Picture
 
 

New appointments at OMD Arabia

(From L to R: Hani Dajani, Toni El Rahi and Faisal Shams) Following a significant increase in the billings of the network in 2014, OMD Arabia has restructured its management and appointed new general managers for its offices in Riyadh and Jeddah. Toni El Rahi, previously general manager of OMD Riyadh, has taken the role [...]

2015-01-21 15:09
Full Article More Digital
 
OMD Arabia appts
 
 

Omnicom Media Group MENA agencies reorganize their trading leadership

(From L to R: Elie Bachaalani, Hassan Shoker, Mario Abdelnour) Omnicom Media Group MENA agencies OMD and PHD have restructured their investment management function. Elie Bachaalani, who previously headed the investment management function at PHD in the UAE, has taken the same role at OMD UAE. He replaces Mario Abdelnour, who has moved up to the [...]

2015-01-21 14:30
Full Article More Digital
 
OMD new appointments
 
 

Top 10 online trending bytes

Online journal trendingbytes.com shares the latest digital, web and user insights, as well as social media news, with Communicate Levant. Meet Instagram’s five new filters Hey selfie-obsessed Instagramers, you’ve been stuck on X-PRO II for a while haven’t you? You probably haven’t heard this before but you will soon get acquainted with the newest filters [...]

2015-01-20 11:24
Full Article More Digital
 
trending-bytes-banner JANUARY
 
 

Hassan Shoker moves from Mindshare to PHD

Ex senior director – trading at Mindshare, Hassan Shoker, has joined OMG’s PHD as head of investments, report industry sources. For more information, click here.

2015-01-19 19:28
Full Article More Digital
 
ladder
 
 

New PR and content marketing agency Brazen launches in Dubai

One of the UK’s award-winning PR and content marketing companies, Brazen, has opened its first global office in Dubai Media City and will now operate in both the UAE and the UK. Launched in 2001 in Manchester, the agency offers four core areas of expertise: public relations, social media, digital engagement and live events. Brazen’s [...]

2015-01-19 17:36
Full Article More Digital
 
brazen
 
 

Publicis Groupe names Anthony Gazagne President of PublicisLive

Publicis Groupe today announced that Anthony Gazagne has been named President of PublicisLive, an events agency within the Groupe’s network MSLGROUP, specialist in the production of international conferences and prestige events. Gazagne’s predecessor, John Rossant, who held the position of President since 2008, will leave Publicis Groupe to continue the development of his foundation, The [...]

2015-01-19 17:19
Full Article More Digital
 
Anthony Gazagne
 
 

Synechron appoints David Horton as head of innovation for Middle East

Synechron, a global technology consulting and outsourcing firms, today announced the appointment of David Horton as head of innovation for the Middle East. The new appointment highlights the company’s strategic ambition to solve the toughest technological challenges for clients in the region. David Horton will drive Synechron’s agenda in the Middle East and will be [...]

2015-01-19 15:34
Full Article More Digital
 
David Horton, Head of Innovation, Synechron Middle East
 
 

Just Falafel rebrands as JF Street Food

Just Falafel, the Middle East’s home grown fast-casual restaurant brand, has rebranded itself as JF Street Food, to reinforce its philosophy of serving the world’s oldest recorded street food. To further drive the rebranding, the company has collaborated with global fashion personality Asil Attar and her company Lead Associates. The collaboration will see Attar and [...]

2015-01-18 15:42
Full Article More Digital
 
JF Street Food
 
 

Havas Media Group launches LuxHub a new global luxury practice

Havas Media Group has officially launched LuxHub, a global consulting specialist label that will deliver media communications and marketing support for both luxury brands and luxury audiences. Headquartered in Milan, the network also launches with established centres of excellence in London, Paris, New York and Dubai, with further expansion plans in key markets such as Shanghai, [...]

2015-01-18 12:35
Full Article More Digital
 
Isabelle_Harvie-Watt
 
 

Whose image is it anyway?

  When Ellen DeGeneres gathered a group of famous Hollywood faces around her at this year’s Oscar’s ceremony, she created what is arguably the world’s most famous selfie. Generating over 2.5 million retweets, DeGeneres became the first twitter user to generate 1 million retweets from a single post, with some experts estimating the image to [...]

2015-01-18 12:23
Full Article More Digital
 
Greg Aslangul,
 
 

Millward Brown releases annual digital and media predictions for 2015

Millward Brown, a global company focused on brands, media and communications, has released its annual digital and media predictions for the year ahead. For the seventh year running the company is providing marketers with a clear guide to the challenges and opportunities of the next 12 months. Authored by Millward Brown experts from around the world, the 2015 [...]

2015-01-18 11:25
Full Article More Digital
 
Welcome to the future
 
 

OOX signs up three new subscribers to OOXmonitor

Digital ad monitoring agency OOX has announced three new subscribers to its OOXmonitor service: Khaleej Times, Okaz, and Sport360. OOX co-founder and co-managing director, Liana Majed says in a press statement: “We’re absolutely thrilled to add this great line-up of publishers to our roster. It is refreshing to see more print publishers investing in digital [...]

2015-01-15 18:20
Full Article More Digital
 
OOX logo
 
 

Cadillac moves from Leo Burnett to Saatchi & Saatchi

  On the heels of a global review process, Cadillac has ended its 11-year relationship with Leo Burnett MENA, with Saatchi & Saatchi officially taking over the creative remit as of January 1, 2015. “2014 made for the last year in the contract with Leo Burnett. The RFPs were sent out by end of February [...]

2015-01-15 16:41
Full Article More Digital
 
shifting hands
 
 

ArabNet Beirut 2015 to boost Lebanese startups

Following Banque du Liban’s (BDL) Circular 331, which was announced just a year ago, more than $150 million is now available for investments in Lebanese startups. Half a dozen new institutions have cropped up supporting and funding entrepreneurs, including venture capital funds, seed funds, accelerators and bootcamps. Decision makers from these new institutions will join [...]

2015-01-15 12:52
Full Article More Digital
 
ArabNet Beirut 2015
 
 

Posterscope appoints new general manager from within

Dentsu Aegis’ out-of-home communications agency, Posterscope announced the promotion of Abdallah Saab to general manager. Saab previously held the position of business development director at Posterscope, having spent the preceding seven years working for sister agency Carat.  Saab will continue his business development responsibilities in this new role, but will also focus on enhancing Posterscope’s [...]

2015-01-14 13:31
Full Article More Digital
 
Abdallah Saab (2)
 
 

Jeera, another social platform to be launched

Yet another social platform has been launched under the name Jeera. It has been described as a “social discovery platform based on interests that enables its users to connect, communicate, and socialize with each other in groups and communities,” according to a press statement by the company. Tareq Abuissa, founder and CEO, says in the [...]

2015-01-14 13:07
Full Article More Digital
 
jeera
 
 

New promotions at SMG KSA

Starcom MediaVest Group KSA has ended 2014 on a high note with a number of promotions. Edmond Bouez has been promoted to general manager of Starcom Jeddah, while Khaled Abou Sleiman has been promoted to general manager of MediaVest Riyadh and Ziad Sukkariah to general manager of Starcom Riyadh. The three have previously served as [...]

2015-01-14 13:00
Full Article More Digital
 
Starcom-MediaVest-Logo
 
 

Starcom MediaVest Group announces new regional management structure

Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), a division of Publicis Groupe [EURONEXT Paris: FR0000130577, CAC40], has announced an evolution in its global management organizational structure into five regions:  APAC, EMEA, LATAM, North America and North Asia. For the past four years, SMG had been operating in a market cluster model organizing the world by market dynamics. The [...]

2015-01-14 12:55
Full Article More Digital
 
Starcom-MediaVest-Logo
 
 

The most social brands in December

Based on social insights tool, Social Bakers, we compile our monthly roundup of the hottest brands on social media in the month that has gone by. In December 2014, the e-commerce industry led the roost with the beauty industry coming in at fifth spot. Unsurprisingly, e-commerce in the MENA has been growing at a rapid [...]

2015-01-12 10:51
Full Article More Digital
 
social baker
 
 

Buying for Baby: How KSA, UAE, and Egypt Shop in the infant market

The Middle East faces one of the highest population growth rates in the world, even exceeding that of India and China between 1990 and 2008, when over 107 million new babies were born. This 44 percent growth means that the baby products market grew significantly – over 14 percent – as parents shopped for their [...]

2015-01-11 13:54
Full Article More Digital
 
mom shopping with baby
 
 

CABSAT 2015 to drive regional content and entertainment industry growth

With the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) media market expected to grow from $16 billion in 2014 to $24 billion in 2019 according to Strategy & Analysis of CABSAT will examine the global impact of industry-evolving mega trends and highlight how regional companies can adopt products and strategies to drive monetization and growth opportunities. CABSAT 2015, one [...]

2015-01-11 12:37
Full Article More Digital
 
CABSAT
 
 

Comms full circle

  In the past, communications planning followed a very linear process: there was kind of a relay race happening between the various constituencies. They were briefed separately and in a specific sequence. They operated in isolation and the scope of each was defined by the decisions of the preceding level in the pecking order. Like [...]

2015-01-11 12:07
Full Article More Digital
 
Nadim Samara_2014
 
 

Jaguar launches British Intelligence campaign featuring actor Nicholas Hoult

Luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar has launched its new British Intelligence global marketing campaign in the MENA region, led by a new cinematic 30-second television advertisement featuring British actor Nicholas Hoult and directed by Oscar-winning British director Tom Hooper. British Intelligence is an evolution of Jaguar’s acclaimed British Villains campaign for the F-TYPE Coupe and will [...]

2015-01-08 17:06
Full Article More Digital
 
Jaguar British Intelligence
 
 

Even Lebanese dogs are migrating abroad

The Lebanese Expat Pet Programme, a new initiative launched by Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA) to raise awareness about the fact that the organization has resorted to sending dogs abroad for adoption due to low adoption rates within the country. The organization has a no-kill policy and the shelter of abused and [...]

2015-01-07 15:12
Full Article More Digital
 
Xpat-Pets-Website-Shot-3
 
 

Dubai Media Network (DMN) sees social media shaping FMCG landscape in GCC

UAE based social media and digital marketing service provider Dubai Media Network (DMN) says that the ability of social media to amplify word-of-mouth marketing has been transforming the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) landscape in the oil-rich GCC region. Tariq Abu Samra, head of business development at DMN, says in a press statement that companies in [...]

2015-01-07 13:01
Full Article More Digital
 
social media
 
 

Group Plus Media announces new appointment

Media group Group Plus Media has appointed Andre Zovighian to join its UAE team as executive manager following the acquisition of new digital networks in Dubai. The company has acquired 12 LED screens for the next 10 years just next to the Dubai Mall entrance. Zovighian brings with him 13 years of experience in the [...]

2015-01-07 12:40
Full Article More Digital
 
Andre Zovighian
 
 

Digital marketing predictions for 2015

  As we enter the New Year, it’s important to reflect on how the trends we’ve seen in the past year will impact marketers in the year ahead. For marketers, 2015 will be the year of more personalized customer interactions, a time to leverage more accurate measurement tools, and the time to fully embrace the [...]

2015-01-07 12:07
Full Article More Digital
 
Matthew Idema
 
 

Mindshare appoints new regional talent development director

WPP’s global media agency Mindshare, today, announced the appointment of Kaveh Gharachorlou as its new regional talent development director for the MENA region. Gharachorlou has over 20 years of experience in human resources management. He received an MBA in HR Business Management as well as an MA in HR Strategy and Change, and was awarded a [...]

2015-01-07 11:28
Full Article More Digital
 
mindshare-sharelogo
 
 

Understanding consumer happiness is critical to brand engagement

Young people have a fundamentally different approach to achieving happiness compared to previous generations, which has profound implications for brand marketing. This is the key finding of ZenithOptimedia’s latest global consumer insight study titled: “The Pursuit of Happiness”. In its qualitative and quantitative study of the lives of Millennials – consumers aged 18 to 34 [...]

2015-01-06 17:52
Full Article More Digital
 
millenials
 
 

Bland together

In September, Product of the Year (POY), an independent awards program recognizing consumer-voted goods held a panel discussion under the theme “Getting Under the Skin of Shoppers” that featured Amine Issa, PhD in biomedical engineering at non-profit medical group Mayo Clinic Everest research. In October, Omnicom Media Group (OMG)’s media and communication agency, PHD, organized [...]

2015-01-06 13:20
Full Article More Digital
 
bland together
 
 

TNS appoints Stephen Hillebrand as CEO Middle East

Custom market research consultancy TNS has announced the new leadership of its key regional business operations with the appointment of Stephen Hillebrand as CEO Middle East. Hillebrand takes over from Steve Hamilton-Clark who had been at the helm for the past 17 years steering the business through a period of exponential growth. Hillebrand has spent the past seven [...]

2015-01-06 13:02
Full Article More Digital
 
Stephen Hillebrand, CEO TNS Middle East_IMG_2805
 
 

Mindshare expands partnership with Danone

WPP’s global media agency, Mindshare was recently selected by food products company Danone to expand their existing business relationship across their entire portfolio. Mindshare has been working as the media agency for Al Safi Danone since early 2008, and was also entrusted with social media business for the growing water category in 2014. Danone recently [...]

2015-01-05 10:47
Full Article More Digital
 
mindshare-sharelogo
 
 

Agency 222 expands its sports practice

Agency 222, the integrated advertising and communications agency, expands its sports practice with three major sports clients to support Qatar’s sporting vision. While continuing to work with Qatar Football Association since early 2013, the agency has recently landed two new sports clients: Qatar Stars League and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. The local [...]

2015-01-04 16:42
Full Article More Digital
 
win2
 
 

Understanding search behavior of travelling

With online spending in the MENA region projected to grow from $9 billion in 2012 to $15 billion by 2015, travel remains the biggest item bought online. An average of $1521 is spent each year per person. As several low-cost airlines have entered the Middle East market, search optimized content marketing agency Sekari investigates just [...]

2015-01-04 16:37
Full Article More Digital
 
online travel
 
 

Mindshare’s Boye Balogun starts own venture

Boye Balogun, former regional head of digital at Mindshare for the last three years will head newly established Future Tech Media as co-founder and managing director. Future Tech Media, a newly formed Middle East & Africa digital solutions and consultancy business has opened up with its first office in Dubai. Balogun says Future Tech Media [...]

2015-01-04 15:16
Full Article More Digital
 
Boye Balogun
 
 

Facebook reveals the 2014 Top 10 most checked in places in UAE

In typical end of year tradition, Facebook looks back at the moments that marked 2014. Including yearinreview.fb.com and the most talked-about global topics, it also looked at the most checked-into places in the UAE. Most Checked-Into Places in UAE 1. The Dubai Mall 2. Miracle Garden Dubai 3. Atlantis The Palm, Dubai 4. Burj Khalifa 5. [...]

2014-12-31 13:21
Full Article More Digital
 
Top10_Places_UAE
 
 

Changed TV consumption habits in the UAE

Ericsson has released its ConsumerLab TV & Media UAE Report. The report reveals that on-demand streaming has surpassed traditional TV viewing in the UAE. 84 percent of consumers watch streamed content compared to 76 percent who watch scheduled broadcast TV several times a week. Rafiah Ibrahim, president of Ericsson Middle East says in a press [...]

2014-12-31 12:39
Full Article More Digital
 
Rafiah Ibrahim
 
 

Shazam Launches its first industry awards in the Arab region with Connect Ads

Shazam, one of the top 20 most popular apps globally and Connect Ads, a digital media and technology solutions provider and a subsidiary of OTVentures, have launched “The Shazam-Connect Ads Awards”. Leading agencies and brands were celebrated in the first edition of the regional awards which took place at Meydan Beach Club in Dubai. With [...]

2014-12-31 11:48
Full Article More Digital
 
140813-Shazam features
 
 

Power to the people

This year saw the continued explosion of social media penetration across the Middle East, prompted in part by the proliferation of connected devices, but, also, unfortunately, by the emergence of new polarizing forces that are shaping international opinion on the direction and stability of the region. The communication challenge for MENA governments has never been [...]

2014-12-30 17:52
Full Article More Digital
 
[Ziad Hasbani] CEO of Weber Shandwick MENA
 
 

9 examples of real mind-blowing technology that you haven’t heard of yet

We’re certainly not in Star Trek’s neighborhood when it comes to technological capability, but the car is packed and ready to go. While it’s easy to lose yourself in daydreams of teleportation and interplanetary travel, already we can do amazing things, like turn the ocean into a big glass of drinking water. A cancer-killing computer [...]

2014-12-30 17:49
Full Article More Digital
 
Welcome to the future
 
 

Hyundai opens digital showroom in Dubai

Hyundai has launched what it claims to be the Middle East’s first digital showroom, in an attempt to change automotive sales by providing customers with a more personalized and advanced experience. The Hyundai Digital showroom, which is located in Dubai, offers all the traditional features of a car showroom while addressing the needs of those [...]

2014-12-29 18:02
Full Article More Digital
 
Image 2 - Hyundai Digital Showroom Opening in Dubai
 
 

JCDecaux and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority partner up

JCDecaux SA, the global outdoor advertising company, has announced its collaboration with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority for the installation of “an innovative and engaging public display at Abu Dhabi International Airport, supporting the Emirate’s social media push to promote the Abu Dhabi destination,” the company says in a press statement. The 20-meter long [...]

2014-12-29 16:41
Full Article More Digital
 
JCDecaux and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority partner up
 
 

UAE automotive sector’s online ad spend

OOX monitor has released an infographic sizing up the automotive sector in the UAE based on online advertising spend over the last year – from November 2013 to October 2014. Below are the highlights of the report: The total amount spent by UAE’s automotive sector on online advertising is $16.1 million The highest recorded spend [...]

2014-12-29 13:12
Full Article More Digital
 
online ad spend
 
 

Getty Images releases visual trends predictor book for 2015

As the year draws to a close, Getty Images has released its second edition of its annual book predicting the most impactful visual and cultural trends for the coming year, titled Creative in Focus. Also available in an ebook format, the trends featured in the book are based on research and insight gathered by Getty [...]

2014-12-29 12:59
Full Article More Digital
 
trends
 
 

BPG Maxus to hold conference on creative technology

Scheduled to take place on January 21, 2015 at the One and Only Royal Mirage hotel in Dubai, 365 degrees is a conference on creative technology; the use of technology innovations in marketing and business. Integrating such innovations into regular campaigns is a tough task, largely to lack of R&D investment but BPG Maxus strives [...]

2014-12-29 12:40
Full Article More Digital
 
news
 
 

May the best agency win

It’s that time of the year again; no, not the time for new resolutions and old regrets – at least, not in print – but the time for Communicate to unveil its list of the top creative and media agencies of the year, based on the most awarded campaigns of 2014.  The list is based on a [...]

2014-12-28 17:59
Full Article More Digital
 
Agency of the year
 
 

OSN rebuffs Baker & Mckenzie’s buyout claim info

Claims by the UAE law firm Baker & McKenzie Habib Al Mulla in a press release, distributed by public relations company ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, and carried by some news organizations mentioning that OSN has been sold to an unknown US buyout firm were seriously questioned today. The incorrect information was circulated to the news media in [...]

2014-12-28 17:49
Full Article More Digital
 
OSN logo with strapline
 
 

The old daze

  In 1968, very few people knew about Dubai. It was the year the government of Kuwait donated its old black & white TV studios to the government of Dubai. It was also the year Kuwait Television started transmission from Dubai. This new station’s managing director – the late – Riad Al Shouaibi soon realized [...]

2014-12-28 17:08
Full Article More Digital
 
Ramzi Raad
 
 

Inspired Light by Infiniti lights up Dubai Motor Festival

Infiniti Middle East recently launched its Inspired Light campaign, touted as the “world’s first performance of light painting with cars”. Centred on the Infiniti SUV, QX705 Elite Sport, the campaign was planned over a span of six months in collaboration with light painter Patrick Rochon and a global production team. The team was firm in [...]

2014-12-28 13:47
Full Article More Digital
 
Inspired Light 1
 
 

UAE’s top LinkedIn marketers

LinkedIn identifies the most engaged marketers in different countries, and this year – for the first time – it has looked at UAE marketers as well. Marketers in this list do not just have higher-than-average connections on LinkedIn, but are also connected to a number of companies and groups, and active in terms of engaging [...]

2014-12-28 12:36
Full Article More Digital
 
linkedin
 
 

Midas Awards announces 2014 winners

  The Midas Awards® World’s Best Financial Advertising℠ has announced the winners for the 2014 competition. Founded in 2001, the Midas Awards recognize excellence in financial marketing and advertising from around the world. The awards focus on four areas: products and services, craft, use of medium and use of discipline. This year, the international Grand Jury awarded the Grand Midas Award to [...]

2014-12-28 02:02
Full Article More Digital
 
Midas awards
 
 

DDB Dubai wins MENA Grand Prix at Cristal Festival

  DDB Dubai’s campaign Preserving Pride for Persil (Henkel) won the MENA Grand Prix in the Consumer Marketing Category at the Cristal Festival in Courchevel, France. The work also received three Golds in Design & Packaging, Point of Sale and in Best use of Promo and Activation categories, and three Silvers in Point of Sale, [...]

2014-12-28 02:00
Full Article More Digital
 
DDB Dubai wins MENA Grand Prix at Cristal Festival
 
 

The quirky ways 7 countries celebrate Christmas

If you’ve ever considered it odd that US Christmas traditions revolve around indoor trees – real and plastic – and a plump, bearded man sliding down chimney, you’re not wrong. In fact, US’ conception of Santa Claus can largely be attributed to a single 1828 poem, Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which [...]

2014-12-24 13:17
Full Article More Digital
 
christmas santa little girl
 
 

CEO of Equation Media resigns

Karim Koraytem has resigned from his role as CEO of Equation Media, a subsidiary of communications group The Network. Roger Sahyoun, chairman of the group, will be acting as CEO until further notice.

2014-12-23 16:56
Full Article More Digital
 
news publishing ipad
 
 

Carat expands into Bahrain with new partner

  Carat MENA, part of Dentsu Aegis Media, is continuing its expansion across the Middle East and North Africa by appointing a partner in Bahrain to support its clients with interests in the Kingdom. Gulf Marcom Group, which was the first marketing communications group established in Bahrain in 1974, has teamed up with Carat. Gulf [...]

2014-12-23 15:27
Full Article More Digital
 
carat expands to bahrain
 
 

New speakers added to STEP 2015

Jeremiah Owyang, one of Silicon Valley’s respected figures in the online collaboration space will be giving a keynote on collaborative economy. He was named one of the best twitter feeds globally by Time Magazine in 2011. David Passiak, head of research and innovation at dubizzle, will be alongside Jeremiah; and will be presenting findings from the first [...]

2014-12-23 11:44
Full Article More Digital
 
STEP 2014 Main Stage
 
 

RBBi subscribes to OOXmonitor

Digital ad monitoring agency OOX today announced the latest addition to the roster of agencies using the OOXmonitor service, Red Blue Blur Ideas (RBBi). RBBi specializes in user experience design and user interface design. RBBi recently expanded its range of digital services to encompass media planning and buying. “We soon realized that competitive online ad [...]

2014-12-23 10:48
Full Article More Digital
 
OOX logo
 
 

Rainbow Milk gives a gift for a tweet

Dairy product manufacturer FreislandCampina Middle East, part of Royal FrieslandCampina launched its ‘Proud to Be Part of Your Life’ campaign last month for its brand, Rainbow milk. The campaign drew inspiration “from the brand’s proud association with the UAE since 1955” says the brand in a press statement. The campaign saw the brand taking an [...]

2014-12-22 14:05
Full Article More Digital
 
rainbow milk tweet vending machine
 
 

Martin Yofre appointed general manager of FP7 Jeddah

FP7 Jeddah appoints Martin Yofre to the role of general manager as of 2015. Prior to his current role as general manager for Momentum, Yofre was with Lowe MENA, where he led the setup of the digital discipline. “In both his roles, Martin’s contribution to the growth of both Lowe and Momentum was instrumental and [...]

2014-12-22 12:02
Full Article More Digital
 
Martin Yofre
 
 

The digital talent war

The shortage of digital skills in the MENA market place is unprecedented and it is easy to identify the factors behind the shortage in skills. The use of social, search, mobile, digital and analytics services in global companies is high especially in western countries that are leading the market in the use of such tools. [...]

2014-12-21 16:07
Full Article More Digital
 
Umran pic
 
 

University of Roehampton, London Online introduces MSc in Marketing

Today’s businesses are under increasing pressure to deliver results because of high demand and increased competition. As a result, organizations – local and global, big and small – are in need of marketing professionals with specialised skills who can stay ahead of rapidly evolving trends. The University of Roehampton’s new fully online MSc in Marketing degree programme was developed [...]

2014-12-21 13:49
Full Article More Digital
 
Graduation cap
 
 

Bank Audi launches new interactive digital banking experience

Bank Audi opened its latest Novo branch in Beirut Central District on December 16 to cater to the various banking needs of customers in an ultra-modern space. The new branch gives clients an easy and interactive access to banking services from 10:00am to 10:00pm, 365 days a year. In addition to Smart ATMs, which allow [...]

2014-12-19 12:07
Full Article More Digital
 
Novo DT branch
 
 

Effie MENA Awards 2014 Showcase

  Grand Prix Title: Sapna – How 17,793 Nails Shaped the Future for Generations to Come Agency: FP7 Dubai Client: Smartlife Gold: Automotive Title: 2014 Patrol: Conqueror Agency: TBWA\RAAD Dubai Client: Nissan Gold: Best Youth Marketing Campaign Title: Net Heads Campaign Agency: FP7 Cairo Client: Mobinil Gold: Single Media Activation, Brand Experience and Best Use of CSR Title: Sapna – How 17,793 Nails Shaped the [...]

2014-12-18 18:21
Full Article More Digital
 
Effie Awards Mena 2014
 
 

Andrei Grigorescu to lead Discovery’s advertising sales hub in the Middle East

  Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), a division of Discovery Communications, announced the appointment of Andrei Grigorescu as senior ad sales director – emerging business. Based in Dubai, Grigorescu will head the recently created central hub for Middle East-based advertising sales, starting with the launch of local advertising on [...]

2014-12-18 17:59
Full Article More Digital
 
Andrei Grigorescu_Photo (1280x853)
 
 

Mars moves planning business from Starcom to MediaCom

Mars has moved its planning business to WPP’s MediaCom while incumbent Starcom MediaVest continues to handle its buying business, report industry sources. A spokesperson from MediaCom confirmed the move but neither agency has released an official statement yet.

2014-12-18 14:48
Full Article More Digital
 
win win
 
 

La Cure Gourmande says ‘merci’ to customers through the UrbanBuz digital loyalty platform

Local franchisee company Grey Gold LLC has partnered with customer engagement and loyalty platform UrbanBuz to launch its digital customer loyalty and engagement system called Merci (meaning thank you in French) for one of its international brands, La Cure Gourmande. The brand is best known for its gourmet handmade biscuits, caramels, chocolates, lollipops, and nougats [...]

2014-12-18 11:12
Full Article More Digital
 
La Cure Gourmande
 
 

AdZouk chosen as exclusive advertising representative for Arabic platform Shablol

AdZouk, a premium online advertising platform, has announced its exclusive partnership with Shablol, a leading Arabic language web portal and safe social network for kids. AdZouk will be the sole campaign booking source for media agencies, advertisers and marketers wishing to target Shablol’s audience. Jamie Atherton, managing director says in a press statement, “We are [...]

2014-12-17 18:07
Full Article More Digital
 
Jamie Atherton, Managing Director, AdZouk 1
 
 

RAKBANK and YouGov Survey on the UAE dream

On December 10, RAKBANK announced the results of a survey among a thousand UAE residents conducted by research company YouGov to identify the dreams of people in the UAE. The survey coincides with the bank’s recently launched ‘Dream it. Live it’ programme, which gives all RAKBANK MasterCard credit card holders the chance to win travel [...]

2014-12-17 16:30
Full Article More Digital
 
RAKBANK-YouGov survey
 
 

UAE celebrates 43rd National Day with digital flag

This National Day, the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development developed a different version of the UAE flag – a digital one – comprising of two million people’s signatures. Generation Inc’s digital agency, Generation C planned and executed the campaign, which ran from November 1 to December 5. “The idea of the digital [...]

2014-12-17 15:54
Full Article More Digital
 
Ayman Albarbary GenerationC
 
 

BPG | Group assigned to handle Obi mobiles in EMEA

Obi Mobiles, the new smartphone brand co-founded ex-Apple CEO John Sculley, has appointed the BPG | Group for creative advertising and media planning and buying services in the EMEA region. The brand was launched in India earlier this year and in the UAE in late September. Jumbo is the exclusive distributor in the region covering [...]

2014-12-17 12:28
Full Article More Digital
 
John Sculley_Co-founder and Managing Director_Inflexionpoint
 
 

Millward Brown predicts rapid growth in synchronized advertising in 2015

Millward Brown, a global company focused on brands, media and communications, has identified rapid growth in synchronized advertising across TV and digital devices as a key trend for 2015. Consumers can expect to see more linked messages in 2015, with ads on TV being backed up by an increasing number of reminder and reinforcement messages [...]

2014-12-17 12:13
Full Article More Digital
 
man multitasking tv phone laptop
 
 

Combe appoints MEC to handle its media account in the Middle East

Media agency MEC today announced its selection as media agency for personal care products company, Combe Asia-Pacific, a subsidiary of Combe International, which owns global brands including Just For Men and Vagisil. The announcement was given following a media pitch process with undisclosed other agencies. MEC also works with Combe in several markets in Europe [...]

2014-12-16 13:19
Full Article More Digital
 
win win
 
 

A year in search: Google’s trending searches of 2014

Today, Google announced its annual 14th Annual Year in Search, a look at 2014 through the collective eyes of the world on the web, offering a perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in the UAE. This year’s trending searches show growing interest in people, movies, games, sports and events. [...]

2014-12-16 13:07
Full Article More Digital
 
Google logo generic
 
 

New appointments at UM MENA

(left: Antoine De Trogoff; right: Tom Hardstaff) The digital agency has appointed Antoine De Trogoff as regional strategy and content director in early November and Tom Hardstaff as regional strategy director in mid-September. Both were previously at Mediacom in the UK. The company says “there was no specific intent to hire senior media professionals from Mediacom UK,” [...]

2014-12-16 10:26
Full Article More Digital
 
Antoine De Trogoff and Tom Hardstaff UM MENA
 
 

UM awarded Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority’s international and regional media business

As part of a new global media partnership agreement between QFC Authority and MCN’s UM, UM will now represent QFC Authority in all of its media buying and planning activities across the EMEA, APAC and North American markets. Set up in 2005, QFC Authority is the commercial and strategic arm of the Qatar Financial Centre, [...]

2014-12-15 17:28
Full Article More Digital
 
UM logo
 
 

SMG wins du account

Industry sources report that Starcom MediaVest has won the du account. Earlier this month, OMD pulled out of the review. However, an official press statement is yet to be released by either the agency or du. UPDATE: On December 22, Starcom MediaVest released the below statement announcing the win. UAE-based integrated telecommunications service provider du [...]

2014-12-15 15:20
Full Article More Digital
 
Starcom-MediaVest-Logo
 
 

UAE TV ratings system, tview, gets the green light for wide-scale industry adoption

The UAE’s TV audience ratings system, tview, has been given the green light for wide-scale industry adoption, following an intensive quality audit conducted by Paris-based international specialists CESP. The audit report, which was presented to the media industry yesterday at an event hosted by the Media Zone Authority in Abu Dhabi, concluded that tview had [...]

2014-12-15 14:07
Full Article More Digital
 
family watching TV
 
 

What mobile brands really say about people in MENA

New data from digital advertising intelligence company Exponential Interactive reveals what people in the Middle East’s choice of mobile phone brand really says about them. Under the leadership of newly-appointed regional business head, Amer Attyehy, Exponential, conducted an analysis of the anonymous online behavior of 1.1 million people in the Middle East and North Africa, [...]

2014-12-15 13:31
Full Article More Digital
 
mobile brands
 
 

Publicis Groupe acquires Relevant24

Publicis Groupe announced today the acquisition of Relevant24 (R24), which specializes in creating original, multi-media branded content in real-time. Based in Boston, MA with an office in Venice, CA, R24’s 23-person staff provides expertise in leveraging real-time consumer insights with a daily publisher process for original content creation. The team does so with a war [...]

2014-12-15 11:40
Full Article More Digital
 
publicis-groupe-sa-logo
 
 

Corporate hospitality key to premium customer loyalty

Corporate hospitality during sports and entertainment events is one of the most important marketing and sales tools that brands have at their disposal according to Anthony Younes, co-founder and CEO of Chillout Productions, which produces the annual Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival®. Younes, who introduced the concept of corporate hospitality packages to live music events [...]

2014-12-14 17:32
Full Article More Digital
 
emirates jazz fest
 
 

Understanding digital

Following Active PR  and Hotwire PR’s  launch of their first Digital Trends Report 2014 for the Middle East, Communicate sat down with Active PR’s managing director, Sawasan Ghanem to glean some more insight into the changing landscape of digital in the Middle East. Can you tell us about the methodology, duration and location of the research? We [...]

2014-12-14 17:10
Full Article More Digital
 
Sawsan ghanem, MD, Active PR
 
 

Jumeirah Group retains OMD

Industry sources report that Jumeirah Group has retained OMD as its media planning and buying agency following a review. However, an official press statement is yet to be released by either the agency or Jumeirah Group.    

2014-12-14 16:00
Full Article More Digital
 
OMD_A_4cp
 
 

Two is better than one

After reading about US network Showtime amplifying fan engagement around its flagship series Homeland by introducing Showtime Sync, a viewing experience app for the iPad, iPhone and LG Smart TVs, I took a deeper look at the ‘second screen’ marketing trend. The app allows users to share Homeland clips directly to social media platforms during [...]

2014-12-14 14:58
Full Article More Digital
 
IHC MD Ian Hainey
 
 

Growth of global adspend in next three years

The rise of mobile advertising and social media, and the transition to programmatic buying of digital display, will help the global advertising market grow five to six percent a year over the next three years. According to ZenithOptimedia’s new Advertising Expenditure Forecasts, global adspend will grow 4.9 percent to reach $545 billion in 2015. The [...]

2014-12-11 18:38
Full Article More Digital
 
2014 growth increase
 
 

UAE Exchange celebrates 34th anniversary

UAE Exchange, one of the leading global money transfer, foreign exchange and payment solutions brands, which currently handles 7.9 million customers, celebrated its 34th anniversary in October. Through its anniversary campaign, the brand dedicated its success to its customers thanking them for “achieving their aspirations and responsibilities” through the brand. UAE Exchange opened its first branch [...]

2014-12-11 16:39
Full Article More Digital
 
UAE Exchange Logo
 
 

Twitter Rewind 2014

To mark the end of 2014, Twitter has delved into its data to create its annual Year on Twitter roundup. Due to its real time nature, whatever is happening in the world happens on Twitter and this even includes spacecraft @Philae2014 landing on the Rosetta Comet. Most Retweeted Every year, Twitter crowns the most retweeted [...]

2014-12-11 12:27
Full Article More Digital
 
Twitter logo
 
 

YouTube Rewind 2014

2014 was full of YouTube moments that vaulted into pop culture. In celebration of the people, memes and moments that made up an epic year,  here are the top trending videos for 2014, based on views, shares, comments, likes and more. More than 100 YouTube creators from Japan, Germany, Mexico, France and beyond, collaborated to [...]

2014-12-11 12:08
Full Article More Digital
 
youtube
 
 

Impact & ECHO BBDO Kuwait bring home a Bronze at Epica Awards 2014

  Impact & Echo BBDO Kuwait has won the Bronze in the Luxury and Premium Brands category for its “Quiet Far Away” campaign for Alghanim Motors at the 2014 Epica Awards. The Epica Awards, which celebrate global creative excellence, are the only awards judged by journalists working for marketing and communications titles with more than [...]

2014-12-09 12:19
Full Article More Digital
 
Impact and Echo BBDO Kuwait
 
 

The State of Mobile App Downloads

InMobi’s released its latest report titled: “The State of Mobile App Downloads” that analyzes which nationals download the most apps, when do users prefer to download apps, spending habits on apps across platform and categories and apps which are most popular. The research is based on data collected from July to September 2014. The findings [...]

2014-12-08 13:27
Full Article More Digital
 
mobile
 
 

Virtual reality headset, Oculus used in UAE marketing campaign

  Dairy product manufacturer FreislandCampina recently launched a campaign for one of its brand, Rainbow milk to commemorate the UAE National Day using virtual reality headset, Oculus. The Oculus Development Kit 2 (DK2) is being used for marketing purposed for the first time in the UAE, says the company. The campaign was launched on December [...]

2014-12-08 12:06
Full Article More Digital
 
oculus virtual reality headset
 
 

The 20 most expensive Google adwords in the UAE

  Veravo.com, an online resource offering tips and advice to drive web traffic, has released a new infographic showing the UAE’s most expensive keywords.  “Google Adwords appear in the ordinary list of search results on Google, showing up at the top, bottom or beside the regular list. The difference is that advertisers have paid Google [...]

2014-12-07 18:41
Full Article More Digital
 
most expensive adwords
 
 

E-commerce in the Arab World

Regional payment gateway Payfort has released its latest infographic providing an overview of the core markets in Egypt, KSA, Kuwait and the UAE. It includes insight into consumer behavior, the travel market and what we can expect in years to come. You can also read the full report here.  

2014-12-07 18:06
Full Article More Digital
 
e-commerce