Carat MENA, part of Dentsu Aegis Media, has appointed Gulf Marcom Group in Bahrain to support its clients with interests in the Kingdom.
Gulf Marcom Group is billed as ‘the first marketing communications group established in Bahrain’. It was set up in 1974.
Gulf Marcom Media House, the media planning and buying arm of Gulf Marcom Group, will represent in Bahrain Carat’s client portfolio that includes British Airways, General Motors, Ikea and Total. Client interests in Bahrain were handled from the Dubai office prior to partnership.
According to an agency statement, a signing ceremony took place on 8 December with Gulf Marcom represented by chairman Khamis Al Muqla, managing director Thamer Al Muqla and media director Philip Antony. The Carat team was led by Ahmad Haidar, managing director, Carat, Saudi Arabia and Zein Jammoul, regional finance director, MENA.
Al Muqla said, “The affiliation with Carat connects our local insight, based on 30 years of experience, with its global tools and buying power that will add tremendous value for brands operating in Bahrain. The partnership will also be leveraged by the wider Gulf Marcom Group, which includes agencies in branding, advertising, event management and digital.”
Ahmad Haider, who will manage the operations in Bahrain, said, “This new partnership illustrates the importance Carat is placing on Bahrain’s media market, which has seen significant growth in recent years, and the subsequent need to support our clients in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This market has huge promise fuelled by urbanisation and a growing sense of consumerism and we are pleased to partner with a well-established and respected group.”
