List announced during the “Global Summit on Entrepreneurship” in Istanbul, Turkey

Mr. Mohammed Johmani Founder and CEO of O2 Network receiving the award

Dubai, December 7th, 2011: O2 Network, the conglomerate of marketing communications, public relations, branding and interactive firms, was recently named among the “Arabia Fast Growth 500” list which is announced by “AllWorld Network”. The list was announced during the “Global Summit on Entrepreneurship” that took place in Istanbul, Turkey in the presence of leading business, political and social figures including USA’s Vice President, Joe Biden.

O2 Network was recognized for this award as a result of the vast growth in sales and operations it witnessed between 2008 and 2010, crossing 25%. Mohammed Johmani, Founder and CEO of the O2 Network received the award and expressed his gratitude to the organizers and to the Network’s employees and executive staff.

“It is a privilege for O2 Network to be selected among the Arabia growth 500 list and this is a true testament for the efforts of the employees and their endless ambition to generate further growth every year,” said Johmani. “We have seen a growth in marketing consultancy, public relations, branding, and social media services in the markets we are active in and we expect even more growth in 2012.”

The list included companies from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain in addition to companies from Turkey and Pakistan. The companies represent a range of industries from tourism to transportation, film to finance, education to ecommerce.  The majority of the applicant companies are approximately five years old, and the majority of the entrepreneurs plan to establish another company in the next two years.

“AllWorld” Network was established in 2007 by Deirdre Coyle, Anne Habiby and Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, after many years of promoting entrepreneurship in the developed and developing worlds. “AllWorld” is a for-profit organization with a mission to find and scale all the growth entrepreneurs of the emerging world, creating the largest information system and network of growth entrepreneurs.  

Experts to discuss targeted and digital marketing at Total Marketing Summit, targeting region’s expansive social media users

Dubai – November 2nd, 2011: According to recent statistics, the MENA region is home to approximately a 10th of the world’s Facebook users. Currently, the region has over 56 Million Facebook users, representing a market penetration of 16 percent  and total number of Twitter users in the Middle East is estimated to be about 6.5 million people . These figures show how marketers cannot ignore digital natives that increasingly turn to social media in their daily lives. In this digital age with an increased reliance on technology, marketers need to be consultative in their approach to consumers, according to a top marketer.

“We need to find a way to be consultative marketers and evolve to become digital natives. We have to adapt our marketing approach in a consultative way, or we will be forced to,” said Jeremy Foster, Head of Marketing, Government and Industry Relations, Ericsson – UAE and key speaker at the forthcoming IIR Middle East Total Marketing.

Foster further states: “The successful future for marketing is connecting to people in the moment that they’re in a natural cycle. A natural cycle, for example, is being hungry at lunch time. If you understand the context of cycles, the consumer will feel in control.”

The summit to be held from 20-23 November 2011, at The Address hotel, Dubai Mall will address the complete marketing strategies needed to meet the growing needs of the increasingly-integrated marketing responsibilities faced by industry executives.

Hasan Fadlallah, Founder and Managing Director of BrandLounge, Branding and Marketing Strategists elaborates saying: “The role of digital marketing cannot be neglected anymore nor can it be looked at as a complimentary tool. Digital marketing is now the focal point where marketers and brand agencies turn to at the start of any brand activation and engagement program. Our presence as gold sponsors for the Total Marketing summit comes as a natural step due to our belief in the program, content and structure of the topics and the need to redraw the branding and marketing roadmap in times of severe competition and change.”

Speakers from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia will be converging at the renowned event, to discuss the future of marketing, the latest consumer and research trends, as well as provide practical solutions for marketers in the industry by identifying key trends. A series of case studies will be presented and numerous networking opportunities will be available at the event.

Foster concludes saying: “Consumers have changed. Marketers need to learn how to control consumers, by adding context in their natural cycles and by using consultative marketing.”

AR Rahman joins roster of leading pop artists signed by JBL for multi-year campaign

October 06, 2011

Harman International Industries, a market leader in home, professional and car infotainment, has announced the launch of JBL’s ‘Hear the Truth,’ a strategic multiyear campaign showcasing an evolving roster of some of the world’s top musicians who want their fans to listen to music as it was intended to be heard. In line with the launch, Harman Middle East, has also revealed an increase in advertising spends this year by 300 per cent. The launch of this unique campaign in the Middle East is expected to help the company reach its target of USD 300 million in Middle East revenue for the fiscal year 2011-2012. As part of the campaign, Harman has shared that the next few weeks and months will see the launch of TV commercials, print advertising, radio clips, online programs, social media engagement and concert venue promotions that challenge listeners to ‘Hear the truth,’ which has been conceptualized to resonate with JBL’s long-time fans and music lovers through the artists and songs they adore.

Five internationally renowned artists will kick-off the campaign, with Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson behind the camera for the commercials. The ‘Hear the Truth’ campaign artists includes Grammy and Oscar award winner AR Rahman; Grammy award winning rock band Maroon 5; Chinese pop sensation Liu Huan; 80’s rock legends Night Ranger and the multi-platinum super band Styx. Harman has also revealed that additional artists will also be joining the ‘Hear the Truth’ campaign and will include hip hop artists, country music stars and international pop sensations.

“JBL’s ‘Hear the truth’ campaign is headlined by world-class musicians, and it’s important to understand why: At a time when access to music has never been easier through our smartphones, portable music players, cars and computers deliver songs on demand no matter where we are - it has become increasingly important to focus on the core value of what music means to so many: quality sound. The JBL brand is renowned worldwide by musicians and sound engineers, and our mission is to ensure their musical integrity is faithfully recreated through JBL products,” said Dinesh Paliwal, Chairman, President and CEO, Harman.

“The ‘Hear the truth’ message from JBL is what I strive to achieve every day and I am proud to be part of this campaign,” said AR Rahman. “I’m very fortunate to have passionate fans who expect exciting music from me – and I sincerely believe music should be heard the way every musician intends the audience to experience it. For me, that means it should be heard on JBL equipment.” he added.

“JBL is a brand known globally for delivering music as it was meant to be heard, a legacy we bring to our next generation of products that maximize the digital music experience,” said Jeff Willard, Chief Marketing Officer, Harman International. “We expect this campaign to excite music lovers and our fans while showing why the greatest performers in the world trust JBL.”

During the course of the campaign, JBL will utilize social media channels to share unique behind-the-scenes video content from video shoots with the featured artists. These engaging clips will showcase the commitment, artistry and vision that the musicians bring to their craft so listeners and fans can ‘Hear the Truth.’

“It is no secret that the Middle East region is now seeing explosive growth in the use of social media, mobile devices, smart phones and video– dramatically changing how we share information. With a huge fan base following in the Middle East for Maroon 5 and AR Rahman, their endorsements stand as a testament for innovation and the quality of sound that we offer, leaving a strong mark of assurance to consumers in the Middle East,” said Amit Malani, President, Harman Middle East.

The JBL heritage reaches back more than 65 years, as founder James B. Lansing developed the first sound system designed specifically for installation in movie theatres. It is the only audio brand to have been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for contributions to the film industry. JBL was an innovator for ground-breaking music festivals, as its loudspeakers were used at Woodstock in 1969, while today JBL sound systems are fixtures in top concert and performance venues around the world. JBL is a leader in developing audio equipment to maximize music for the digital area–developing iPad, iPhone and iPod speakers for the home and office; premium after-market sound systems for car audio enthusiasts and ground-breaking loudspeakers for home theatres and audiophiles.

Shankara Narayanan

Dubai, October 4, 2011: Watermelon Communications, a leading media solutions firm with offices in Dubai, Doha and Singapore, has announced the appointment of Mr. Shankara Narayanan as the head of its Digital division.

In his new role, Mr. Narayanan will extend his expertise to offer comprehensive digital solutions to Watermelon’s clientele. With his work in digital planning spanning across industries globally, Mr. Narayanan will also provide strategic direction and leadership to the firm’s online businesses in the region and South East Asia.

Prior to joining Watermelon Communications, Mr. Narayanan worked on accounts such as BMW & MINI at INTERONE Resonance Middle East.

Commenting on the new appointment, Mr. Madhu Kuttat, Managing Director, Watermelon Communications, said: “Mr. Shankar Narayanan’s expertise will help strengthen our ability to offer comprehensive media communication solutions to our clients. Also, the Digital media offerings will help us in reaching out to a new set of clients across this region and beyond.”

To announce the ‘Brand of the year’ award in addition to launching the seventh edition of the Superbrands UAE book

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 5 2011: Superbrands, the independent authority and arbiter of branding, announced that they are hosting their annual tribute event to honour UAE’s strongest brands on July 11, 2011 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. Superbrands will also announce the highly anticipated ‘Brand of the Year’ award in addition to unveiling the seventh edition of the much coveted coffee-table style Superbrands book, which includes a two-page profile of each of the Superbrands, at the Tribute event.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Mike English, Director, Superbrands Middle East, says, “It gives us great pleasure to announce the ‘Oscars of Branding’ night, our tribute event for UAE’s strongest brands. We are happy that many local brands, which include new entrants, have made it to the Superbrands list this year in addition to globally recognized brands. These brands were not only voted for by our distinguished brand council members but also by 2,500 marketing professionals, who voted through an online poll. The brand which scores the highest points will be awarded the accolade of ‘Brand of the Year’ at the Tribute Event.”

After a rigorous selection criteria, set by the Superbrands Council, over 2,500 professionals were invited to vote for candidate brands. More than 1,415 leading UAE brands were scored by the Superbrands Council and through the online poll and the highest scoring brands were then designated as Superbrands. Only brands that achieve the level of recognition set by the independent Superbrands Council are eligible for inclusion in the Superbrands UAE book, which traces the history and achievements of each of the brands

“UAE’s best brands, which range from FMCG brands to local family owned businesses, are featured in the Superbrands book. We are pleased to see many new local brands making an entry this year along with globally recognised brands. Participation in the Superbrands book is by invitation only and acknowledges the inherent strength of the organisation and its brand value,” Mr. English adds.

The Superbrands Council comprises individuals who have shown exceptional aptitude in business and who have a thorough knowledge of the market and methods of business. To be voted as a Superbrand is a powerful endorsement and is evidence for existing customers, potential customers, media, suppliers, investors and employees of each brand’s exceptional status.

The Superbrands tribute event, which will be attended by the Who’s Who of the corporate world, is set to be a true celebration of many of the country’s highest profile brands, and promises to live up to its global reputation as the “Oscars of Branding”.

M&N’s Strategic Planning Division launched to service increased client demand in the Gulf 

Martin Winch

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4th July 2011: Following customer research carried out by leading specialist agency M&N Communications, a new division has been established by their Abu Dhabi-based office to provide strategic planning advice to their real estate clients.

“GCC real estate businesses collectively lose a significant amount of money by not adopting a strategic approach to communications planning. Our study estimates that money could be saved if more internal research was carried out to agree key issues, which a communications plan can then address.  Success has more often been achieved by default, as opposed to any form of strategic planning” says Martin Winch, Chairman of M&N. “With the knowledge our clients share with us, as early as possible in the development lifecycle, we can ensure that marketing and communications investment is clearly focussed on supporting their business goals.”

By carrying out brand workshops, client interviews and one to one meetings with senior management and staff, M&N  can identify what to say, when to say it and who to say it to. And, as specialists within the real estate sector, M&N can then create and implement a strategic campaign, with tactics and tools which are both realistic and cost effective.

Winch adds “After recently preparing a detailed communications strategy for one of the region’s largest developers, we realised how many clients had still not bothered with a more strategic approach to communications planning. All too often, PR fees are earned by being reactive rather than proactive. This is simply the wrong way round and delivers poor value. Real value and brand equity can be added by adopting a more strategic focus to marketing and communications investment.”

Rufus Leonard Middle East has been signed as the new creative agency for PIPER, a relaxation/chill out drink: part of an entirely new class of drinks in the beverage sector to the Middle East. The account will be live across the UAE, with a view to growing alongside the expansion of the product.

This win was part of a four-agency pitch, further to PIPER ending their relationship with an Abu Dhabi-based agency.

Initially, Rufus Leonard will be developing promotional materials and collateral for the consumer launch of PIPER in the region across all retail categories, as well as developing a complete marketing roll out strategy, including sampling and guerrilla tactical activities.

Marina Diaz, one of the founders of PIPER said, “We’re excited to announce our appointment of Rufus Leonard Middle East as our creative partner, as part of the official launch of the brand in the UAE. They have been selected based on their international renown in both the FMCG and digital arenas, both of which are key areas of communication for us.”

Liza Medd, Regional Head of Rufus Leonard Middle East said, “We’re proud to have been selected as PIPER’s agency, as this gives us an opportunity to further strengthen our expertise in FMCG in the region – as well as it being a great opportunity to work with such an exciting growth market such as functional drinks in the Middle East.”

See more at www.rufusleonard.com

Advanced Interactive Media Solutions (AIMS), the GCC market leader in interactive digital campaigns, has announced that its CEO Ahmed El Ridi recently participated in the panel discussion that was held as part of the inaugural OVAB (Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau) event in Dubai. This was the first event that OVAB, the group established to raise awareness and develop standards for the emerging Digital Out Of Home (DOOH) advertising industry in Europe, was organising in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  AIMS will be a member of this bureau to support digital signage industry in the region.

During the event El Ridi emphasized the importance of educating clients and media agencies in the region about the potential of digital signage and also how the audience measurement system that this medium offers differentiates it from others forms of advertising. He also highlighted how AIMS successfully overcame specific challenges to install digital signage in some of the malls in Dubai, and shared the company’s experience in executing several high-impact projects in the UAE.    

“The digital signage market in the region is still in its infancy, and there is a definite need to create greater awareness among the media agencies and the business sector about the impact and reach of this medium,” said El Ridi. “The first OVAB event presented the perfect platform for industry peers to share best practices and discuss the opportunities and challenges of the digital out of home advertising segment

IABC’s flagship event connects over 100 communicators to share best practice

Clare Woodcraft_Deputy Director at Shell Foundation UK.jpg

Dubai - March 15th, 2011: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have long suffered from a lack of formal industry associations in the communications field. While the situa-tion has changed somewhat with the growth of Dubai as a media hub and the growing demand for communications professionals in the region – both from local and interna-tional companies – there is still huge gap in the market.

Recent research published by the International Association for Business Communicators (IABC) shows that the role of communications in ever more critical. In a recent web cast, IABC Fellow, Jim Shaffer spoke of how communications professionals need to change. Traditionally, he argued, communication professionals have been asked to communicate about change but increasingly, they need to be able to change – this, he said, would al-low them to boost both their organization’s bottom line and their own careers.

EuroComm 2011, the flagship communications forum of the IABC for the Middle East and Europe, stands to unite over 100 communications professionals from across both regions on the 150th anniversary of the founding of Turin. The forum will provide a platform to share best practice in the communications industry in a post-recession environment. Over a two day period (April 7-8), some of the top professionals in the industry will gath-er to talk about adding value to the business in difficult economic circumstances.

Events such as EuroComm 2011 provide an excellent platform for both IABC members and non-members to exchange real professional experiences across a diverse and rich geography.

Similarly in the latest CW Bulletin of the IABC, Barbara Fagan-Smith highlights the con-stant change of the business landscape that she says is transforming the way business communicators work. “We have more ways to communicate with audiences who have less time and attention to consume the messages…The need to evolve from communica-tion tactician to strategic business partner is not just desirable, it’s imperative,” she said concluding that “participating in IABC chapter meetings and attending other professional events are great ways to do this.”

Speakers this year include Stephane Dujarric, Director News and Media for United Na-tions Secretariat (former ABC producer and UN spokesperson for Kofi Annan). He will speak about his current role as Communications Director of UNDP. Clare Woodcraft will also speak about her experience of working in communications in the Middle East and of the importance of understanding social investment given the growth in this sector. Other speakers represent the International Committee of the Red Cross, Lloyds Banking Group and the European Training Foundation (which is also co-hosting the event).

Corporate Communications Conference kicks off in Dubai highlighting immense growth of social media

Dr Hamad Al Hammady

Dubai – March 1st, 2011: The communications industry has grown exponentially in the region throughout the last decade. Advertising spend increased from US$6 million (AED22 million) in 1990 to US$280 million (AED1 billion) in 2010; while spend on public relations increased from US$47 million (AED172 million) to US$1.1 billion (AED4 billion) .

Advances in technology have established new mediums of communications. Tablets, smart phones and the ever-evolving social media platforms have given the communica-tions industry a new face. A recent Deloitte report states: 70-80 percent of Fortune 500 companies will support at least one tablet variant for some portion of their work force. This demonstrates accessibility of information anywhere and reinforces the need for prompt communication. 

“Speed is of the essence in modern communications. This has given rise to a ‘nano sec-ond culture’ for most enterprises. However, speed of communications should be coupled with accuracy and transparency, the failure of which can be detrimental to a company in many ways,” asserts Donald Steel, Chief Communications Adviser, BBC UK and speaker at the Corporate Communications Conference 2011.

Social networks represent communications in the ‘nano second culture’. As the Deloitte report states: In 2011, social networks are likely to globally surpass the breathtaking mi-lestone of one billion unique members. They may also deliver over two trillion advertise-ments.

Steel is of the opinion that with the growth and significance of social media, organiza-tions need to adopt the new evolving medium. “Social networks are huge. However, many company CEOs want to see return on investment (ROI) through these mediums. The ROI and impact on a business for social media can be tracked through innovative tools such as unique impressions, clicks, fans, page views among others.”

The Corporate Communications Conference held from February 27th – March 3rd, 2011 in Dubai will highlight issues such as online communications, the impact of social media, establishing a strategic communications function and crisis communications. The Confer-ence now in its fifth year is being held at the Mövenpick Hotel JBR. The repositioned and revamped conference will feature leading corporate communications practitioners sharing techniques that have worked for them through real life case studies. The main confer-ence is taking place today and tomorrow and will close on Thursday with an online com-munications workshop.