Roy Haddad has been named this year’s Dubai Lynx ‘Advertising Person of the Year’.
Haddad, who became WPP’s first ever director for the Middle East and North Africa in July last year, will receive the accolade at the Dubai Lynx on 13 March. The honorary award is presented to an individual who has made “significant contributions to advancing the reputation and profile of the comm-unications industry” in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Roy Haddad has tirelessly worked hard, and motivated all those around him, to achieve great success whilst elevating the industry’s standards of advertising and communications in the region,” said Terry Savage, chairman of Lions Festivals, who, along with Motivate, jointly organise the Dubai Lynx. “His endeavours to continuously develop the business are carried out with utmost commitment and passion, and as such we are proud to honour Roy with this accolade.”
Following his WPP appointment last year, Haddad retained his role as chairman of JWT MEA, although he stepped back from his executive responsibilities at the agency, with Vatche Keverian taking over as CEO.
“I am obviously, at one and the same time both ecstatic and humbled by this recognition,” said Haddad. “To be bestowed this honour somehow makes the 36 years I spent in passionate pursuit of the next big idea, all worthwhile, if not delightful.”
Haddad began his career in 1977, prior to setting up his own business in London in 1984. In 1987 his agency signed an association agreement with JWT.
