Author Archive for Nick Cooper
Are we creative or just insane?
Ramsey Naja is chief creative officer, JWT MEA It pains me to say it, but I often get the feeling that this business of ours is losing its magic. In fact, it is not just a feeling but a sad realisation. There is a host of reasons to support this, but the most important is [...]
Man made monsters
Hind Shoufani is a Palestinian filmmaker and writer. “Picture this. You had a rough day at the office, where the client who aggravates you the most spent half the day nitpicking about the curve of the chair in the corner of the photo you used for the job. Or your coworker spilled Bolognese sauce all [...]
Interesting Times expands out of Beirut
Beirut-based boutique agency Interesting Times has expanded into Abu Dhabi following its winning of the Ferrari World advertising account. The agency’s new office will house an account team responsible for handling the business, which had been held by TBWA\Raad since the theme park opened in November 2010. Ashraf Mansour, one of the founders of Interesting [...]
Visa hands regional PR brief to BPG
Global credit card company Visa has handed its regional PR brief to BPG Public Relations. The Dubai-based agency beat an undisclosed number of agencies to the account following a competitive pitch that had begun in early September. BPG officially takes over the business on 1 November. Naamat Baradhy, head of corporate relations at Visa Middle [...]
Bill Gates to open 2012 media summit
The 2012 Abu Dhabi Media Summit will open with a keynote address by Bill Gates on Tuesday, 9 October. The three-day, invite-only event will be held at the Yas Viceroy Hotel and the theme is ‘Redefining the digital frontier’. The focus will be on digital media in emerging markets and on the technology disruption that [...]
It’s all done in the worst possible taste…
Phil Lynagh is regional managing director at Tag: Worldwide JLT I’ve just had the misfortune of seeing the recent campaign produced by DDB London for Harvey Nichols and what a shocker, literally. Now, I’m old enough to remember some Benetton ads that caused quite a stir back in 1991 and I am as equally disgusted [...]
Time for adland to take a pitstop
Ramsey Naja is chief creative officer, JWT MEA Ah, summertime. A word so evocative it cannot but conjure up wonderfully stereotypical, HD-quality pictures of sandy beaches and pantone-perfect blue seas, mermaid-like beauties and sand-kicking Herculeses, pristine boutique hotel rooms and infinity pools… and frighteningly deserted ad agency desks with phones endlessly ringing in the background. [...]
Emirates launches new global brand platform
Emirates is to launch its new global brand platform at the beginning of next week as the airline continues its “evolution from a travel brand to a global lifestyle brand”. Themed ‘Hello Tomorrow’, the Dubai-based carrier will roll out an integrated marketing campaign on 2 April as part of its bid to position the airline [...]
ADM announces third CEO in 13 months
In a surprise move, Abu Dhabi Media (ADM) has replaced its CEO Malcolm Wall (pictured) after only six months. Ayman Safadi will now take on the role, making him ADM’s third CEO in 13 months. The reason for Wall’s departure is unknown, although it is believed he will continue to act as advisor to the [...]
Leo Burnett wins network and media agency of the year as Y&R retains ad agency crown
Leo Burnett was named network of the year and media agency of the year at last night’s Dubai Lynx awards, with Y&R Dubai becoming the first ever agency to retain the agency of the year crown. Y&R’s haul included the grand prix in the direct category for its ‘Headline News Cup Sleeve’ campaign for Al [...]
