Media network appointed to manage restaurant brand’s online activities
Dubai, June 17, 2015: Yum! Brands has appointed PHD to help its restaurant chain Pizza Hut capitalize on digital technologies and opportunities in the Middle East. Given the high levels of Internet and smartphone penetration in the region, digital has emerged as a fundamental media for all brands to employ to connect with their consumers. Omnicom Media Group’s media network has been tasked with managing the chain’s e-commerce initiatives and online activities.
Following a comprehensive market review to which five agencies were invited, Yum! Brands, the local management company for Pizza Hut in the region, chose to work with PHD for its well-established digital expertise and competencies. Programmatic buying and paid search services to optimize traditional online initiatives are all included in the assignment.
“PHD offered an unrivalled 360-degree digital solution, with proven capabilities in delivering efficiencies on e-commerce & digital media initiatives, as well as strong strategies for engagement,” commented Sunil Suresh, Digital Director at Pizza Hut. “The team demonstrated an excellent understanding of our business needs and a clear vision of how to make Pizza Hut the leading brand on digital platforms. We look forward to working closely with them and expanding our online presence in the region.”
Elda Choucair, managing director of PHD UAE, said: “Digital has been at the forefront of PHD’s agenda from the very beginning. At every level, it has been a key priority for us to be able to create a sustainable advantage for our clients. I am happy to see that our dedication has paid off and we are excited to work with Pizza Hut on taking their digital presence, and their business, to the next level.”
About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant in the world. In 2014, Pizza Hut was named the Harris Poll Equitrend (R) Pizza Brand of the Year and was the recipient of the Innovation and Leadership in Advertising Award from the American Advertising Federation, 10(th) District. The only pizza company to be named a top ten franchise in 2013 by Entrepreneur Magazine, Pizza Hut began 56 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, and today operates more than 15 000 restaurants in more than 90 countries.
About PHD:
PHD Worldwide is known globally as an innovator in communications planning and buying across broadcast, print, digital, mobile, social and emerging media. Built on a culture of thought leadership, PHD’s philosophy is “Finding a Better Way.” PHD is one of the world’s fastest growing and most awarded media and communication agencies, with over 3,000 staff working in over 80 offices worldwide.
In the Middle East, it first opened in Dubai in 2005, creating a team for Abu Dhabi in 2008 and opening an office in Riyadh in 2010. At the end of 2012, PHD was awarded 20 ‘Agency of the Year’ accolades including Adweek’s ‘Global Media Agency of the Year’, while the Cristal Festival named it Media Network of the Year in 2013. Not only has its philosophy of “Finding a Better Way” proved effective for its clients, which include Arla, Bentley, Hyatt, Mashreq Bank, Porsche and SC Johnson, it has also contributed to PHD being named a Great Place to Work in the UAE three years in a row, ranking third in 2014.
PHD is part of the Omnicom Media Group (www.omnicommediagroup.com), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC)
www.phdmedia.com
Samer Marzouq
Digital Media Superhero, Online Marketing Pro, Mad-Men Fellow, Tech Junkie, Advertising Whiz, Chief-Blogging-Officer, Bilingual Copywriter, Amateur Photographer