Carat appoints Arjan Pomper as new CEO

Following a series of new operations opening throughout the region, Carat has appointed Arjan Pomper as its new CEO to manage the growing business in the Middle East and Africa. Pomper, who is a member of the executive board in Europe, has also overseen a restructure to the regional headquarters in Dubai.

As an independent media agency, Carat took full ownership of its UAE business last year and more recently re-registered with Dubai Media City. The move aligns the office with its global network and allows Dubai to fulfil its ambition to take a leading position in the regional market.

As part of Aegis Media, Carat is currently the fastest growing media agency in the Middle East and North Africa. In the last year the group has created coverage in 15 new markets and through strategic partnerships and joint ventures, grown from 4 to 19 new offices, all which will form part of Pomper’s responsibility as the regions CEO for Carat. Meanwhile, Pomper is also implementing a similar growth strategy for the Sub-Sahara and African region.

Outlining his plans for the future, Pomper said, “Carat is the strongest agency in Europe and in recent years Asia Pacific and the US significantly improved its footprint in their respective regions. This is my remit for Mena – to offer clients the same holistic service across the whole region and bring our international accounts to the Middle East as a result, whilst also proving our worth to local brands.”

Speaking about the region Pomper continued, “The Middle East is an amazing market capable of huge growth, especially online. And as the world’s biggest spenders in digital we hope to be leading that change and are placing a huge amount of resource in the region to make it happen.”

Carat is part of the Aegis Group PLC which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Pomper has worked as CEO of the Dutch office for five years. Before that he was in the same role but for Universal McCann, starting his career as a media planner.

In the Middle East Pomper will lead an agency that works with some of the world’s biggest brands including Kellogg’s, Philips and adidas. Pomper will also be supported by a regional management team throughout the respective offices in the Middle East and African region.