Search Results for : Agency

Neticenzy, a Dubai-based digital marketing agency with a focus on social media, recently won TikTok’s B2B account. Communicate had a relaxed chat with Fadi Khater, Founder & Managing Partner, to discuss this big win and more. Much more. Your PR announcing Netizency’s TikTok win does not read like the typical PR. It was kind of […]

UAE-based Q Communications just announced its expansion to Europe, right in the middle of a pandemic. Co-Founders Elsa Roodt and Katie Harvey explain how such a move is indeed a challenge, but one that can be turned into a strength. “You shouldn’t open a business with your best friend.” “We are mid-recession, no one will […]

How Covid-19 is changing the business and the industry at large, according to Mullen Lowe’s Chief Executive Officer of Middle East and North Africa. How is the Covid-19 crisis reshaping the marketing and advertising industry in MENA? The impact of Covid-19 was a sudden shock that forced everyone [in the industry] to quickly find solutions to […]

How Covid-19 is changing the business and the industry at large, according to Group M MENA’s Chief Executive Officer. How is the Covid-19 crisis reshaping the marketing and advertising industry in MENA? The time has come to ‘re-optimize’ everything from brand purpose, positioning, company structures, processes and growth strategies. Consumers have become far too picky and […]

How Covid-19 is changing the business and the industry at large, according to FP7 MENA’s Chief Executive Officer. How is the Covid-19 crisis reshaping the marketing and advertising industry in MENA? The coronavirus has and will continue to restructure our everyday: actions, habits, feelings, need for safety and security, how we connect with others personally and […]

In a study published, recently, by the London based Global Disinformation Index (GDI), an estimated $235 million is spent annually on websites that are designed to mislead the public and spread disinformation. The advertisers do not necessarily know the business practice of the websites. The study analyzed programmatic advertising on 20,000 misinforming domains around the web. […]

By Mario Morby Words like violence Break the silence Come crashing in Into my little world Enjoy the silence.  Lyrics from one of, if not, the greatest song of the 90s?  Don’t know. Maybe.  As much as I’d like to debate music from the 90s that would sort of contradict what I’m about to say, which […]

By Ann-Christine Diaz and Max Sternlicht At the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, Ad Age sat down with and Alex Diamond, HBO’s director of consumer marketing, and Andy Ferguson, group creative director at Droga5, to learn more about the expansive “Game of Thrones” #FortheThrone campaign that kicked off the final season of the popular show—and which […]

By Hussam ElHage I am revisiting this article a year after I initially wrote it. Originally, I was going to discuss the new entrants to the advertising world; consulting firms. But now, they’re already here! Let me begin by saying that during my time working within media agencies, Accenture and other firms on a global […]

By Mohamed Itani Let’s face it, some of you must have thought of or desired at some stage to manage your media in-house. Well, if you go by the saying “if you want something done right, do it yourself” then you must have actually gone beyond the simple thought of in-housing. Well, it also appears […]

By Afreen Khan C2 Comms describes themselves as not just “any” advertising and branding consultancy agency, but importantly seekers of change and creating new perceptions.  The company that has lately announced a rebranding for itself, talks to Communicate about “reengineering of the way we approach the business of communication.” C2 Comms Managing director Roy Aftimos […]

Publicis Groupe has launched Digitas, a connected marketing agency, in the Middle East, earlier in May 2019. The agency is set to provide brands in the Middle East with access to a  diverse expertise across data, strategy, creative, media, and technology all under one roof. We spoke to Tony Wazen, Chief Executive Officer Middle East of […]

Leo Burnett UAE and Lower Gulf today announced, in a press statement, that the agency’s Regional Executive Creative Director of Dubai André Pereira Nassar, is leaving the agency after more than five years to pursue other opportunities. “We are truly sad to see André leave us but we respect his desire to pursue other opportunities […]

GroupM, WPP’s named, Ravi Rao, CEO at GroupM Middle East North Africa (MENA), the group said in a statement. He replaces Filip Jabbour, who was appointed in 2015 when GroupM launched in the region and has taken the decision to step down. “Clients increasingly require services beyond media planning and buying, and I’m looking forward […]

Burger King used an ultra-realistic autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) to create their latest advertisement launched within cinemas in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In the latest ad, an actor is seen drawing a tray with the meal towards him, and slowly biting into the sandwich. The 45-second cinema spot, with sound design by Elie Akl, highlighted […]

Auto enthusiast, movie buff and ardent Disney, Spielberg and Steve Jobs fan, Colin Gottlieb is also the CEO of Omnicom Media Group EMEA and Chairman of OMD Worldwide. When he visited Dubai last month, we caught up with him to talk advertising, business and movies.  On why he was in Dubai I am responsible for […]

With Ramadan quickly approaching, advertisers are planning for one of the busiest months of the year. This also extends to the digital landscape, which experiences a significant increase in user consumption during this period and therefore a peak in the advertising industry. Twitter conducted an online survey with users who celebrate Ramadan in the UAE, […]

Hotwire, the global communications agency, represented in MEA through its exclusive partner Active Digital Communications, has announced an exclusive partnership with The Hoffman Agency to collaborate in Asia.  “Dubai-based Active DMC has many international clients across the world as part of our partnership with Hotwire. The addition of Hoffman into our partner network now allows […]

Successful independent agencies can make their larger peers seem bloated and inefficient. But is it easy to just start an agency from the ground up? We sat down with some of the biggest players in the smallest shops during the Small Agency Conference and Awards not long ago to find out what makes indie agencies tick, and […]

Mindshare MENA, part of GroupM, has won the Pizza Hut account. The account was previously handled by PHD for digital and Initative for offline media. Pizza Hut is part of Yum Group globally but Americana has the franchising rights in the MENA region. Americana moved its portfolio of clients from Initiative to Omnicom’s Hearts & […]

Socially-led creative agency network We Are Social, has acquired a majority stake in Socialize, the Middle East’s largest independent social media agency. The move, which is subject to regulatory approval, is We Are Social’s first acquisition, and extends its network to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the first time. We Are Social […]

Just 3% of CMOs think they have the perfect internal skill set 72% are increasing content marketing budgets Only 25% say they make full use of data they have access to   A recent survey by marketing and advertising consultancy NewBase shows that globally CMOs are appreciating the changing media landscape, but the budgets show […]

If you thought P&G had cut all it could from agency and production fees, think again. Chairman-CEO David Taylor said in an investor presentation that the company plans to reduce such spending by $400 million through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. That comes after a combined $750 million in such savings over the […]

Global marketing and communications group Publicis announced the signing of a strategic partnership with internet giant Tencent earlier this week at the Viva Technology Paris, a leading event devoted to start-ups and innovation.   Tencent, operates popular social and media platforms in China, and this partnership is claimed to be the first of its kind […]

On December 6, OMD hosted the Future of the UAE event at the Waldorf Astoria in Dubai. Throughout a series of talks and panels, the agency aimed to explore expectations and attitudes of consumers toward life in the UAE and its future. During the talks, results of a 2,000-person face-to-face survey of UAE consumers were […]

I can recall a time when the most primitive mobile phones were a marvelous addition to our lives, when computers became household products, moving from a binary DOS operating system to the colorful world of Windows and, today, an application-driven environment. Nowadays, most innovations focus on bridging the gap between an individual and the wider world, […]

In July 2015, Aaron Lau, CEO of Cheil Greater China, was tasked with additional duties as the president of international [operations]. He sits down with Communicate to discuss what’s next for Cheil Worldwide and how a company with Korean roots won’t soon forget its past, but has its eyes on a more global presence. How […]

Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) in many organizations have become bigger IT spenders than any other business function, including the CIO. This is because the role of the CMO has effectively moved to that of being the ‘chief digital officer’. Customer engagement and lifetime value expansion have become integral in the entire business process, whereas customer […]

While creative agencies are constantly looking to increase their offerings with a well-rounded approach, salaries still play a large role in an employee’s choice to join a workplace or their loyalty to one. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking, but according to Hays’ “GCC 2015 Salary & Employment Report,” 41 percent of respondents expect a pay increase […]

Purpose gives a greater meaning to everything. In any company, explaining why you do what you do can help give your employees, clients and consumers a sense of meaning. Perhaps ironically, we in the marketing services industry are often terrible at ‘selling’ what we do. And it is hurting us. A lot. We’re notoriously better […]

How has the creative process evolved in the industry over the past few years?  The difference is that clients are now more savvy than ever before. I was one of the first members of the PR industry to be assigned a chief creative role in the late ’90s, when creativity wasn’t held in high regard; it […]

Communicate is proud to announce the publication of it’s first book, which will be released along with the magazine’s October issue. De-Commoditizing the Ad Industry: How Ad Agencies Can Reinvent Themselves and Enjoy Exponential Growth is the first piece in a special collection series from Communicate and it’s publisher, Mediaquest. Penned by Leo Burnett MENA’s […]

Social media is one of the fastest growing industries in the Middle East and it is a great career choice for millenials, since social networks are an important part of their digital lives. When Meltwater opened its doors in the Middle East, one of the challenges was attracting the right talent. We foster an entrepreneurial […]

Global media agency Starcom Mediavest Group (SMG) just announced a corporate rebranding initiative. Alex Saber, chairman of Starcom Mediavest Group MENA and VivaKi MENA, explains the reasons behind the company’s latest global refurbishment and the effect it will have on its MENA operations. Velocity marketing was a core reason behind the makeover, as Saber explains: “We […]

The advertising industry is filled with a wide range of characters. They are often stereotypical and some of them need to be alleviated. From idealistic creatives to hardcore finance people, there are numerous classifications of advertising staff. But how does one look beyond stereotypes and reach equilibrium? After years of working with recruiters in the advertising industry, there […]

Dubai South, the Emirate’s new epicenter, has recently appointed Horizon FCB, a global full-service advertising agency to head the communications efforts around the development, with the intent to raise global brand awareness and position Dubai South as a key destination for logistics, aviation and commercial trade. Horizon FCB will initiate Dubai South’s creative efforts to reflect upon […]

ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller has been appointed as the PR agency for Aster DM Healthcare (corporate), MEDCARE Hospitals and Clinics, Aster Hospitals and Aster Medical Centers.

Dubai based advertising agency, Spark* Middle East announces its renewed collaboration with wasl Properties & wasl Corporate for creative advertising solutions. The role has been held by Spark* for the past three years. “wasl’s renewed partnership with Spark* Middle East is based on trust and the quality of creative services offered. I would like to extend my gratitude […]

J. Walter Thompson Company has recently announced the first set recipients of the new of the Helen Lansdowne Resor (HLR) Scholarship, which is awarded annually to five of the most talented female creative advertising students around the world. The HLR Scholarship, named after the industry and J. Walter Thompson’s first female copywriter, Helen Lansdowne Resor. It was launched […]

GCC Board Directors Institute (BDI) has appointed H+K Strategies (H+K) as content partner to the Institute for the next three years.  Additional content partners for the board include PwC, McKinsey & Co, Heidrick & Struggles and Allen & Overy, while supported by the Capital Market Authorities in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, Qatar Financial Centre and the […]

“Do everything with intent. Make sure intention is the number one ingredient in your creation.” Speaking at Cannes Lions, the award-winning producer Pharrell Williams touched on something all businesses should always be thinking about. The social landscape as we know it is changing, primarily because of an increase in consumer preferences towards morality. Millennials aren’t […]

Clique Communications Group, now Clique, has recently announced its new brand  identity and new integral members. “We wanted to create an identity that truly represented who we are,” says Ashwin Salian, Clique’s managing partner & co-founder, in a press statement. “After six years in the region, we have changed and grown a lot. The rebranding process was […]

Four Communications, the independent communications agency located in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Edinburgh, is ready to undergo an expansion due to a £10 million equity finance investment from BGF (Business Growth Fund), taking a minority stake in the agency. The key services provided by Four Communications, include, PR, public affairs, marketing, sponsorship, digital and […]

At Ad Age’s Small Agency Conference in Boston, a panel of industry veterans discussed the best ways of navigating new business today. Search consultancy AAR Partners Co-President Lisa Colantuono,72andSunny Business Development Head Rebekah Jefferis, Work & Co Partner/Product Management Gene Liebel and new business consultancy RSW/US Owner and President Mark Sneider offered do’s and don’ts for the process, […]

Ketchum RAAD Middle East has been selected to assume responsibility for Clarks Middle East’s PR duties, consulting the shoe brand on communications, events, and press functions. Irfan Porbanderwalla, president – Middle East & Africa, of Clarks says in a press statement, “We are pleased to begin working with Ketchum RAAD Middle East as we enter our […]

National airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways, has announced the appointment of Cheil Network to assume global and social marketing duties. The network’s new responsibilities will include driving creative and strategy across all digital and social channels, in addition to support with performance-based marketing, analytics and reporting. Digital specialists, The Barbarian Group, that work within […]

Dubai-based communications agency Cicero & Bernay (C&B), as been awarded the contracts for Olive Garden and The Counter. These two latest acquisitions join C&B’s food & beverage portfolio that includes accounts like KFC, Zaatar w Zeit, GGICO Gourmet, Cinnabon and Seattle’s Best Coffee. With the acquisition, C&B will be responsible for their official launches, media relations, […]

Havas Media has been named media agency for Ubisoft, a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services. The contract spanning across 17 countries in Europe and Australia will incorporate Havas Media’s full range of media, digital and specialist services. It will also involve the management and central coordination of all of Ubisoft’s central and local […]

Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has won the performance and search business for UAE-based telecommunications service provider du. The assignment expands on SMG’s media mandate for du, which was awarded to the agency in December 2014 that culminated in the agency’s appointment to the media buying and planning, as well as data and analytics responsibilities for the brand’s online and offline […]

Initiative Dubai has won the media buying and planning duties for Honor 6 Plus Huawei’s first e-commerce only brand in the region, following a multi-agency pitch. The mandate covers media planning and buying, including digital for 2015. “Honor is a sub brand of Huawei, focusing the generation of the promising internet youth” says Mr. Sun Baigong, the head […]

Following a competitive pitch, Olayan Kimberly Clark has appointed Grayling META to handle PR and Digital communications for its Kleenex brand across the GCC. In a first for Kleenex in the region, Grayling will be responsible for the brand’s traditional PR, as well as digital strategy and content management across all its social media platforms. The agency has […]

Omnicom Media Group MENA has been accredited by the Global Reporting Index (GRI). Which, according to the company, makes them the first media agency  in the MENA region and the second globally to have received this accreditation. The GRI is a non-profit organization that promotes economic sustainability. Omnicom Media Group MENA has chosen to adhere […]

British entrepreneur, John Wilford, has launched a new marketing agency, JW International (JWI) to serve the Middle East region. This new business will be based on the same ethos as its sister business in the United Kingdom, Rave Communications. Founded 15 years ago, Rave has worked with brands like Cadbury, Graco, Warwick Business School and IRWIN Tools. JWI aims for […]

One of Geometry Global’s latest recruits, Jo Booth, joins WPP’s activation arm as the regional head of strategy in Dubai. We recently had the opportunity to speak with her about her new role, Geometry’s regional presence, and her hopes and dreams. An aspect of her role that Booth wants to highlight is campaign measurement and […]

PHD, the international media network part of Omnicom Media Group, has been awarded SC Johnson’s full media account in both the MENA region and globally. According to the new agreement terms, PHD will be handling planning and buying responsibilities for the FMCG company, effective immediately. In a statement to the press, Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO […]

Innovation is hard because ‘solving problems people didn’t know they had’ and ‘building something no one needs’ look identical at first,” said Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of enterprise cloud company, Box. While advertising may be able to do the latter, we’re not sure how good it is at the former. That’s probably why we’ve […]

Brazen has been appointed as the UAE & UK PR partner for Glider Yachts – a modern, British yacht manufacturer. The PR and content marketing agency will handle the PR in both regions, which will involve a strategic and tailored approach to luxury, business and yachting media, appealing to ultra high net worth individuals. Glider […]

  The production house was, once, a very defined roof under which a very defined set of people lived. They all knew their roles and their job was clear: to produce. As the old adage goes: times change. Digitization has forced the production industry to evolve and function in a much more collaborative way because […]

YoungNetwork Middle East has won the PR account for The Gift Concierge launch. The Dubai-based agency, which is part of the international YoungNetwork Group, will manage communications for the specialized luxury personal gift shopper service. YoungNetwork will be in charge of the media and bloggers relations to launch The Gift Concierge service in the country. “We are thrilled to […]

MediaCom has been recognized as the world’s leading media agency by RECMA, the independent research organization charged with the in-depth assessment of global media agency network performance. The results were published this week in RECMA’s authoritative Network Diagnostics report, with MediaCom ahead of Carat, OMD and Starcom across 19 qualitative metrics designed to measure agency […]

UM MENA has announced its selection by Ooredoo Qatar for their media planning and buying duties. UM MENA has managed Ooredoo’s media buying and planning activities since 2011 and, after a multi-agency pitch, the business was retained by their Qatar Office. “As regional vanguards of the media industry, we are delighted to have a prestigious organization like Ooredoo […]

In late April, Omnicom announced the launch of its research agency, Hall & Partners, in the MENA region. Caroline Frankum, who was H&P’s managing partner in London, will be the CEO for EMEA while Ziad Skaff will head operations as managing director. Skaff previously spent eight years as regional executive director of research and insights […]

Tribe Global’s new Middle East presence is taking shape with the appointment of regionally based agencies TMH, Fusion 5 and LIGHTBLUE. Tribe Global is a global network of independent media, advertising, digital, design, branding and experiential agencies. Consisting of 26 members from around the world, including agencies based in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, […]

The Network Communication Group (TNCG) houses four agencies under it: AGA-ADK that is probably best described as a creative agency, Pencell PR & Events, digital agency Wetpaint and media agency Equation Media. Yet, it seems that the group and its agencies are rather quiet, whether that’s on the awards front or hosting and participating in […]

Grayling, global communications consultancy, has announced the launch of its new office in Nairobi, Kenya. The establishment of Grayling’s Kenyan operation cements its presence in Africa and the new office will act as a regional hub for East Africa. Grayling has developed a client-base across the African continent which it has represented until now through […]

Troy Ruhanen was appointed to his new role as president and CEO of TBWA Worldwide in July 2014. Formerly an Omnicom executive and an ad man through and through, his leadership will surely create a resounding buzz throughout the industry. The first item on Ruhanen’s agenda is to revitalize the company’s core mantra, Disruption, defined […]

In late 2014, business intelligence company Cloudfish was born out of the merger between digital agency Fetch and the data analysis division of DNY group. Founded by Michael Chaftari, with the idea to help communication agencies monitor and analyze social media activities for their clients and campaigns, Cloudfish helps its clients make use of their […]

In a move designed to meet the growing needs of current and future clients in Qatar, OMD has officially launched operations in the country with a new office in Doha. Until now, the communications planning network was servicing its portfolio of Qatari clients from Lower Gulf in Dubai. The decision to open a local operation comes after the […]

Digital monitoring agency OOX has added Alrai Media Group Kuwait to the list of local and international publishers using the OOXmonitor service. In 2004, Alrai Newspaper merged with Alrai TV to form Alrai Media Group. Soon after forming, the Group introduced alraimedia.com. “Given Alrai’s reputation as a leading publishing house in Kuwait on print, TV and now online, […]

Digital and social media agency AccelerateME Online launches a new campaign titled “Nothing is created, everything is transformed.” The agency, based in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, featured the campaign on its newly created website, acceleratemeonline.com. The campaign emphasizes the transformational power of social media in our days and reflects how social media has created a […]

  The second session of the IAA Debates was held at the IAA premises on May 18, with industry leaders presenting their views on the subject:“Who Should Lead: Media or Brand Agencies?” The panel, which was made up of industry leaders, Tarek Miknas, CEO at FP7; John Antoniades, CEO at Starcom Mediavest Group; and, Fadi […]

PR firm Impact Porter Novelli’s consultant Ramzi Ayash was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Communicate sends its sincere condolences to his colleagues, friends and family.

As part of its CSR activities, agency TBWA\RAAD Lebanon has turned its end-of-year party into an occasion through which employees can bring joy to others during the festive month.“We Found Mary, Help Her Find Christmas” is an event that it organizes to spread the Christmas spirit among those who are deprived of its joy. While […]

A new addition to the portfolio of Mindshare Global Media Network’s Beirut office is the Waterfront City account, which it acquired following a pitch made by seven top agencies, which included OMD, MEC, and Vertical. Starting December 2013, Mindshare Beirut will oversee Waterfront City’s media operations, which includes managing its communication channels’ strategies, implementation and […]