JWT Dubai attribute Lynx ‘Agency of the Year’ win to cohesive regional network

Honored as Agency of the Year at this year’s Lynx Awards, JWT Dubai have attributed their success to network cohesion, future readiness and in-depth consumer knowledge.

The Middle East and North Africa network, which dominated the event, also pocketed the Media Grand Prix, as well as Gold trophies in poster, print, radio, interactive and the highly-coveted integrated category.

Commenting on their win, Chief Creative Officer for JWT Middle East and North Africa, Ramsey Naja says, ‘We’re frankly humbled by this.

When both your business and creative results are so impressive, it shows a network that acts as one team across geographies and disciplines.

Chafic Haddad, Regional Executive Creative Director - JWT Gulf adds, ‘This has been an amazing year. With a mix of great clients, great talents, an amazing environment and positive attitude, you can’t go wrong. It can only get better. I would like to salute the gorgeous people at JWT Dubai for making it happen. I’m honored to work with them.

Naja continues that part of the agency’s success stems from driving change in an industry that has refocused to target ‘people’ rather than ‘consumers’.

‘The combination of creative excellence, strategic thinking and business performance has put us at the top of our game. Synchronizing these elements allows us to be a genuine network and a future-ready agency’.

According to Roy Haddad, Chairman and CEO of JWT MENA, the awards and the work itself showed that the agency operated as one team, with one voice, with a consistent delivery across all markets.

‘Our mission is to create ideas that people want to spend time with. In order for that to happen, you’ve got to understand your audience and JWT has always prided itself on strong consumer knowledge. We’re cultural anthropologists first, advertisers second’.

The JWT network was awarded across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia , Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Morocco for work across their stable of top Middle Eastern and multinational brands.

Their success at the Lynx comes in the wake of the network walking away with the lion’s share of MENA Cristal Awards last month, making them the most awarded network taking part in the event.

Tags: Chafic Haddad, Dubai Lynx 2008, JWT, JWT Dubai, Ramsey Naja, Roy Haddad

Saudi Telecom awards business to JWT Riyadh

JWT has won the integrated advertising account of Saudi Telecom, the world’s 15th ranked telecom.

JWT Riyadh will serve as the lead office on the assignment. JWT, the largest advertising agency in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world, defeated the incumbent, Leo Burnett, in a competitive pitch.

“What won the day was our integrated approach,” said JWT Saudi Arabia CEO Nagib Badreddine, who announced the win. “We proposed a Team STC @ JWT, which, in addition to JWT, includes RMG Connect for customer relationship management, Enterprise IG for branding and Buchanan Middle East for PR.”

The integrated effort successfully reflected the dynamic growth and energy that exists in Saudi Arabia today, noted Roy Haddad, chairman and CEO of the Middle East/North Africa region for JWT. “As one of the first agencies in the kingdom, we were in an ideal position to gauge the mood of the market and assess how Saudi Telecom could be a part of the new ambitions that are redefining Saudi Arabia.”

The new work will break within the month and will run throughout the Middle East.

“I’m delighted that we have the opportunity to work with one of the world’s leading telecom companies,” said JWT president Michael Maedel, “and I’m confident that JWT’s integrated communications effort will support Saudi Telecom’s ambitious plans for the future.”

Tags: JWT, Leo Burnett, Michael Maedel, Nagib Badreddine, Roy Haddad, Saudi Telecom, STC