FP7 McCann MENA and MullenLowe MENA will come together to form McCann MENA following Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group and MCN, the agencies announced on Monday.
The new agency will operate as part of McCann’s global network and will bring together the two agencies’ creative capabilities, talent and regional expertise. It will also give clients access to Omnicom’s wider capabilities across the Middle East and North Africa.
McCann MENA will report to MCN and will be led by Mounir Harfouche, who has led MullenLowe MENA through a period of creative and business growth.
Harfouche has also worked closely with Tarek Miknas, under whose leadership FP7 McCann was named MENA Network of the Year at this year’s Cannes Lions and MENA Effie’s Agency and Network of the Year.
Miknas will be involved in the transition before stepping down from his current role to pursue personal and family projects.
“This combination strengthens what we can offer clients across the region by bringing together two highly complementary businesses,” said Ghassan Harfouche, Group CEO, MCN. “It gives us greater depth across creativity, strategy and specialist capabilities, while creating the scale to respond to increasingly complex client needs. Most importantly, it allows us to build on strong existing relationships while retaining continuity in leadership, and giving clients access to more talent, thinking and expertise across our wider network.”
Reflecting on FP7 McCann’s legacy, Tarek Miknas said: “FP7 McCann has been built over decades by extraordinary people, enduring client partnerships and a belief in the power of creativity to build brands and businesses. I am immensely proud of what this agency has achieved and of the legacy our teams have helped build. This is the right moment to pass the baton and allow that legacy to become part of something even stronger. I know Mounir well, I trust his leadership, and I am confident he will build on what’s great by shaping what comes next.”
Mounir Harfouche, who will lead McCann MENA as CEO, said: “We have an opportunity to grow McCann MENA as an agency that draws strength from remarkable creative cultures. Our focus now is on shaping new possibilities for our people and giving our clients access to more ideas, talent and capabilities. We will approach the consolidation thoughtfully, with a clear ambition for building an even stronger, future-ready proposition for the changing needs of brands across the MENA region.”
The agencies said core client teams and established relationships would be maintained during the transition. The consolidation will also give employees opportunities to work across a wider client portfolio and the broader McCann and Omnicom network.
McCann operates in more than 100 countries and is known globally for its advertising campaigns and its “Truth Well Told” philosophy.
