CAMPAIGN PR FACES TO WATCH 2019 – JOE LIPSCOMBE, 30, CONTENT DIRECTOR, PR AND INFLUENCE, MEMAC OGILVY UAE

Nominated by Sami Moutran, managing director Abu Dhabi; director PR and Influence UAE, Memac Ogilvy
“Joe has been an integral part of the PR team here for a number of years now. He has truly elevated our storytelling capabilities, turning traditional content into fascinating multi-format pieces that drive influence. He brings a creative flair to everything we do, and is the person I can most rely on to ensure we are pushing ourselves, our teams and our clients to consistently improve.”

Career path
“I started out as a TV journalist in the South of England – where nothing ever happens. That’s how I learned to sniff a story. I dabbled in cosmology and astrology reporting, and current affairs at Sky News before heading to the Middle East. I was part of the team that launched Bloomberg Businessweek in the region, and covered conflict, industry, technology and politics. I moved to Ogilvy as the region’s first content director in 2015 and haven’t looked back. I am a member of the One Club For Creativity, a published author, and an international speaker (sort of).”

Guiding principles
I am not a natural manager, I try always to lead by example by producing and fighting for work that constantly pushes the boundaries of what we do, and what the industry believes PR does. I lean on the restless support of my close ally Sami Moutran, as well as the regional leadership team for their neutral judgement and guidance. I believe wholeheartedly in purpose-driven work, transparency and originality.