Following a host of multi-sectoral business wins, Bates PanGulf (BPG), part of WPP, has announced new appointments and promotions in the region. A press release stated that BPG has announced 15 key hires across PR, media, UX, content and creative in the UAE while it undergoes a strategic transformation.
To ensure successful execution of the transformation, Souheil Arabi has been promoted as chief operating officer, BPG Group. A BPG-veteran since 2001, Arabi will oversee BPG’s MENA-wide expansion, consulting and productisation initiatives, in addition to consolidating the Kuwait practice.
Arabi said, “We are excited to welcome 2023 with a well-articulated vision, clear execution plan and disruptive work with some incredible clients and brands. BPG’s success has been built on our continuous evolution and collaborative culture. With this transformation, we go a step further: leveraging technology to create an agile, integrated and collaborative platform, built around exceeding client needs and creating customer delight and keeping our customers’ needs at the heart of all that we do.”
Darius LaBelle has been promoted as president, BPG UAE and Viju Varghese has been promoted as president, BPG Kuwait.
Ketaki Banga has been appointed chief communications officer and Mark Soufiar has been appointed chief media officer.
Aaron Arthur is now chief creative services officer, overseeing Kuwait’s creative output as well as building a cloud-based remote services offering.
Ramy ElSakka, chief creative officer will oversee all branding, creative and content output out of Dubai.
Darius LaBelle, president, BPG UAE said, “Our teams, structure and services are designed to build on the BPG CX Multiplier, through which we use data and human insights to deliver targeted personal messages across digital and physical channels.”
BPG’s recent client wins include Jumeirah Group, a large bank from Sultanate of Oman, GROHE, Kwai, Titan Eyewear and Zayed Sustainability Prize in the UAE as well as Assima Hospital, Dhaman National Health Insurance, Ooredoo Telecom and Weyay Bank in Kuwait. Mandates encompass integrated marketing, communications, influencer marketing, creative advertising, branding, media services, digital and performance marketing, social media and content management. The revenue from the recent wins alone is expected to clock over $6m.
