HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum awards O2 Marketing Communications title of ‘Best Marketing and Promotion Business’

O2 Marketing Communications (O2MC) was awarded title of Best Marketing and Promotion Business earlier today by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai accompanied by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, President of the Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders.

His Highness presented the award to O2MC CEO Mohammed Almeeza during a midday ceremony at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The award goes out to the overall best advertising and marketing communications agency in the GCC region and is presented by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders (SME). SME is a nation wide organization dedicated to nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship in the UAE and encouraging the growth of new businesses in the small and medium Business sectors in Dubai.

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of SME said, “O2 Marketing Communications’ performance has been exemplary. Barely 18 months old, their high quality, research-based, tailor-made services have filled a gap in regional marketing communications industry; as a true ambassador of entrepreneurship in their field, they truly deserve this award.’

Today’s award serves to corroborate the evidence of O2MC’s solid work. The company’s research-based methodology, creative talent and high quality execution have already garnered for O2MC recognition and contracts from high profile clients such as Al Salam Bank Group (Sudan, Algeria, Bahrain, Syria), Bahrain Investment Wharf, Deustche Bank, Ducab, Emaar Financial Services, KAASCO, Leader Capital, Orbit Satellite TV and Radio network, Tameer and more.

Mohammed Almeeza, CEO of O2MC, said: ‘It is very exciting and we at O2MC feel truly honored to receive this award from Sheikh Mohammed himself. Marketing, by nature, is very competitive and therefore it is truly gratifying to be recognized for our marketing and creative work in the region.’

‘Like many smaller companies, we have the advantage over our larger competitors in being more flexible organizationally, and are able to devote more time to our client’s individual needs. We work very diligently to maintain strong relationships with all of our clients; this award belongs as much to them as it does to us,’ he added.

With forty employees averaging in age just below thirty years old, O2MC attributes its success to its research based methodology, fresh perspective, diversity, talented staff and an environment conducive to creative thinking. The success doesn’t stop here; while headquartered in Dubai, O2MC has locations in Bahrain and Syria, with plans to expand throughout the GCC in the coming year.

Tags: Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Mohammed Almeeza, O2 Marketing Communications, O2MC

Advertising-programme content relationship must change, say experts at Arab Media Forum

More collaborative action is required to manage the relationship between advertising and programme content, according to media experts at the Arab Media Forum 2007.

Abdullah Rasheed of Emirates Media Group mediated a discussion on ‘Content versus Profit: the Impact of Advertising on Programme Content’. Tahseen Khayat, Chairman of New TV, Lebanon, Abdullatif Al Sayegh, CEO of Arab Media Group, and Mansoor al Jamri, Editor in Chief of Alwasat, Bahrain participated in the session as speakers.

Al Jamri spoke on the need for an independent body to regulate advertising and public relations industries, specifically in the GCC region. He said there was currently no mechanism in place to prevent the impact of advertising on managerial decisions regarding programme content in the newspaper sector. He also underlined the urgent need to identify public relations and marketing-oriented messages, particularly which deal with public health and safety.

Al Sayegh recommended an action-oriented approach, urging his newspaper colleagues to adopt more modern practices such as SMS news updates and reader contributions. He said advertising and editorial could be complementary. However, advertisements should be surrounded by powerful editorial in terms of subject matter and tone, to offer a holistic reader experience.

Khayat advocated a hands-off strategy for the broadcast media. He urged governments and research companies to desist from stifling creativity. He deplored media monopolies, particularly in the GCC region, and said that governments must set in place anti-trust laws to guard against this practice.

The forum is being attended by more than 500 delegates, including editors-in-chief of major regional and international print and the broadcast media, as well as leading journalists, columnists, academics, analysts, commentators and senior government officials. It will conclude tomorrow with the launch of the Arab Media Outlook, a report analysing trends and forecasts for the industry.

Tags: Abdullah Rasheed, Abdullatif Al Sayegh, AMF, Arab Media Forum, Emirates Media Group, Mansoor al Jamri