New Memac Ogilvy and CB’a partnership launched in MENA

The Memac Ogilvy Group and CB’a Design Solutions have joined forces as equal partners to launch a new international design solutions company, called CB’a Memac, across the MENA Region; it was announced today, Wednesday 28 May 2008.

CB’a Memac has chosen Dubai for its Regional Headquarters and revealed plans to open ten offices across MENA over the next five years.

This new company has been formed by Memac Ogilvy; the leading MENA diversified marketing services group, and CB’a, the world-renowned design solutions company based in Paris, with branches all over Europe.

Both companies are part of WPP.

Memac Ogilvy began life in the Gulf twenty five years ago and now has offices spread across the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA).

Edmond Moutran, Memac Ogilvy’s Chairman and Chief Executive explained: ‘The Memac Ogilvy Group is experiencing rapid and record expansion across the region. This is for the whole range of our integrated, or 360 degrees, creative marketing services, which are provided for all types of clients to reach all audiences. Our disciplines now cover advertising, direct marketing, customer relationship management, digital influence, public relations and most recently activation.’

‘Now is the time to add proven world class design solutions to our MENA offerings. The aesthetic international creative style of CB’a and unique French flair has taken them to the highest levels of reputation in Europe. This will now join together with our key MENA knowledge and capabilities to create a leading brand consultancy across the region’ he added.

CB’a Design Solutions is a specialist in Brand Identity with its main expertise being: Packaging, Corporate Identity, Retail Architecture and Digital Design.

Today, their network comprises of 9 offices throughout Europe, which are leading projects around the world.

CB’a has an impressive portfolio of clients including: Nestlé, Unilever, L’Oréal, Emaar, Bank Al Maghrib, Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière, Carrefour and Alstom.

CB’a’s creative work was presented at the new company launch, including many other examples of award-winning activities.

The new CB’a Memac company brochure was also revealed in Dubai for the first time, illustrating creative examples with the backdrop of the inspiring Louvre.

Louis Collinet, founder and CEO of CB’a, added: ‘Since its foundation in 1982, CB’a has always remained true to its origins: Creativity and France. The combination of these two has ensured that the unique CB’a French creative flair has achieved recognition and continues to attract new clients around the world.’

‘Thanks to the vision, creative insight, dedication and strong leadership of Eddie Moutran, Memac Ogilvy has established themselves as the leader in 360 degrees communication solutions in MENA and starting today, combined with the CB’a French creative flair, together we will create new opportunities and achieve new successes.’

CB’a Memac chose Dubai for its headquarters because the Emirate has now become one of the world’s leading cities for retailing and branding activity.

It was the venue of the first ‘International Design Forum’ in 2007 and has a Design Museum under construction.

Government statistics confirm that Dubai is the number one duty free retail brand tourist destination in the world.

Also, according to a recent 2008 Report ‘How Global is the Business of Retail’ by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the UAE is ranked as the most international retail market outside of Europe, ahead of China, Russia, Singapore and the US.

Ayman Hammed commented: ‘CB’a Memac is a true product of its founders and their visions. It will combine Memac’s regional insights with CB’a’s creative flair to produce superior solutions for its clients. The time has come for firms in the region to have an alternative to what is on offer in this market. We will provide world class solutions that meet local needs and help our partners unlock their untapped potential. No place is more suitable for this task than Dubai.’

Tags: CB'a, CB'a Memac, Edmond Moutran, Memac Ogilvy, WPP

Young Lions compete to put out fires in the UAE

The winners of the 2008 UAE Young Lions creative competition were announced at the IAA offices in Dubai Media City after being briefed to raise awareness about warehouse fires.

Twenty teams from all over the UAE competed, each consisting of a Copywriter and Art Director, all with their sights set on representing the UAE in the International Young Lions Competition at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in the south of France. It is the largest gathering of worldwide advertising and marketing professionals, as well as featuring advertising’s most prestigious awards.

The teams had 9 hours to produce first class work by responding to a very topical brief form the Department of Civil Defence to educate the public on the dangers of warehouse fires. They had to produce a press advertisement or A3 poster to increase public awareness on the risks warehouse fires pose to life, property and the environment. The call to action was to be vigilant and educated about warehouse fire safety precautions and regulations.

Captain Pilot Othman Mohammed Ahli, Director of Al Quoz Fire Station, who was on hand to present the awards, said: ‘It is great to have the young creative minds of the UAE competing to raise awareness of this extremely important message. The quality of work was outstanding.’

The prizes were also presented by the Managing Partner of the Motivate Group, Mr Ian Fairservice, with the winners being flown to the South of France as guests of the Motivate Group. In addition, the Motivate Group will also be sponsoring Ms Reem Captain, a UAE National and final year communications student, to attend the prestigious Roger Hatchuel Academy conducted by keynote speakers at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival.

The winning teams were as follows:
GOLD: Rafael Rizuto and Tuline Malecki from Memac Ogilvy were the front runners, scooping the Gold award, and will proudly represent the UAE at the Cannes Competition in June.
SILVER: Timsy Vadhani and Karuna Murthy from Brandcom claimed the Silver prize.
BRONZE: Shaun Dean Thomas and Joanna Chaker of Fortune Promoseven were awarded the Bronze.

The excited winners will now plan their trip to Cannes in France where from the 15-22 June they will represent the UAE at the 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. They will join at least 30 teams from around the globe and vie to win the prestigious Cannes Lions Young Creative Award.

For the 6th year running, Motivate Publishing and Motivate Val Morgan Cinema Advertising, the official Cannes Advertising Festival representative, hosted the event.

Sponsors who made this event possible were: The International Advertising Association premises for the venue and catering; Xerox for all colour printers and paper; Arab Business Machines Ltd (Apple IMC ME) for Apple Mac computers and monitors; Adobe for design software and Gallo Images/Getty Images for the image library.

Tags: Adobe, Apple Mac, Arab Business Machines Ltd, Brandcom, Fortune Promoseven, Gallo Images, Getty Images, IAA, Ian Fairservice, International Young Lions Competition, Joanna Chaker, Karuna Murthy, Memac Ogilvy, Motivate Publishing, Motivate Val Morgan, Othman Mohammed Ahli, Rafael Rizuto, Shaun Dean Thomas, Timsy Vadhani, Tuline Malecki, UAE Young Lions creative competition, Xerox