UM MENAT Strengthens Leadership Team with Two Key Appointments

UM MENAT has bolstered its leadership team with the promotion of James Dutton to Chief Product Officer and Mohammad Mannaa to CEO of KSA.

James Dutton, previously serving as Regional Director – Digital, will now lead the charge in enhancing UM’s product roadmap and delivery for clients, partners, and internal teams. He will drive the development of UM’s transformational product agenda, overseeing strategy, client solutions, digital services, and global integrations of partnerships and enterprise solutions to drive client growth across the region. Dutton’s focus will encompass the expansion of new specialist service areas in international client expansion, gaming, and AI solutions development.

Mohammad Mannaa, formerly the Managing Director of KSA, will now lead the KSA team in driving UM’s growth agenda, which includes technology, innovation, and performance across various portfolios. This strategic move aligns with the agency's vision for significant expansion in the Kingdom in 2024 and beyond.

Commenting on their new appointments, James Dutton said, “The media industry is moving faster than ever, and so I’m very excited to be expanding my remit into helping UM and our clients navigate the complex media, data, and technology solutions available in achieving growth goals through the development and expansion of our extensive product solutions. More than ever, we need to look at how automation is playing more of a role in media deployment and optimization, to understand how to make decisions that really matter in media.”

 “I am thrilled to lead our talented team at UM in Saudi Arabia. Together, we are committed to collaborating with clients and partners to deliver impactful campaigns that resonate globally. Our focus is on pushing boundaries, elevating brands, and shaping the future of media through innovative storytelling, while leveraging cutting-edge technology,” said Mohammad Mannaa.

Joe Nicolas, CEO of UM MENAT, said, "As we navigate the evolving media landscape, we remain steadfast in our mission to not only adapt but thrive in the face of change. Both James & Mohammed have continuously proven their expertise and leadership in driving innovation and building capabilities. With these newly established roles, we are poised to deliver exceptional value to our clients across the region.