All-round excellence leads to Omnicom Media Group MENA leadership award

PHD head Elda Choucair named “OMG MENA Leader of the Year”

Dubai, February 20, 2013: Ending 2012 with record-high pitch conversion, client and staff retention rates has earned Elda Choucair, general manager of PHD UAE, the accolade of OMG MENA Leader of the Year and a promotion to managing director.

Omnicom Media Group MENA’s award scheme is designed to recognize excellence in driving client value and leadership skills among its companies’ management. Not only is the advertising industry evolving rapidly and the way it operates changing profoundly, managing this during turbulent times requires a talent and character worthy of recognition.

Building on the accreditation of being one of the best places to work in the UAE given to the Omnicom Media Group and its agencies in 2012, Choucair has focused on making PHD a magnet for talent and energy. The positive, stimulating and supportive environment that has resulted the stability and growth in the talent pool the agency is deploying on its accounts.

This has translated into business results, not only for existing clients as several have re-appointed PHD after a review last year, but also for new ones. Between local and international gains, the regional network has had an excellent pitch performance, winning 14 new accounts in 2012.

Choucair has not only worked on the present but also ensured her team is ready for the future, investing heavily in learning and development, as well as enhancing PHD’s thought-leadership. Adding to its successful BrainScape annual conference, the agency has introduced several learning experiences and events, such as Battle of the Brains and Food For Thought. She has also personally contributed actively to the development of the network’s new operating system, Source, as one of its eight-member global council.

“Elda’s performance is impressive on so many counts, it begs the question: “how does she do it?”,” remarked Elie Khouri, CEO of Omnicom Media Group MENA. “PHD has gone from strength to strength under her stewardship and the solidity of her team and its performance are a stunning testament to her leadership skills. She involves herself in every way possible and I know her colleagues, clients and business partners value this interaction greatly. Elda is a true success story by herself and it gives me great pleasure and pride to see her grow.”

Previous recipients include OMD’s Shadi Kandil and Omnicom Media Group’s Tamela Scotcher.

About Omnicom Media Group MENA:
Omnicom Media Group MENA is the holding of OMD, PHD, Integral and Resolution in the Middle East. Omnicom Media Group is the media services division of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom’s branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. Omnicom Media Group also includes a number of specialty media communications companies.

www.omnicommediagroup.com