Starcom MediaVest Group announces new leadership in MENA

SMG announces two senior leadership appointments in MENA. Philip Jabbour to take the helm as CEO of SMG MENA. Tarek Daouk is promoted to the newly created role of Chief Innovation and Integration Officer. Both appointments are effective January 1st, 2011.

“SMG MENA is in a powerful, dominant position in MENA. In the last 3 years, the size of the agency has doubled. This has been built on a combination of great people, leadership and best in class product,” said Laura Desmond, Global CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group. “In the future, category leading growth will come from accelerating innovation, diversification of offerings and product and rapid adoption of our Human Experience Company mission. Philip and Tarek have a combined track record of growth success, are respected visionaries and fearless leaders with the courage and character to continue to drive real change for our industry and our clients.”

Philip Jabbour was formerly the EVP of Business Development for the broader EMEA region. A resident of Dubai for sixteen years, Philip has been instrumental in driving growth over recent years, including the global win and stewardship of Emirates. He also helped secure high profile; key multinational expansion wins including Coke in France and the GSK five- market consolidation with SMG in Europe.

Tarek Daouk was formerly the EVP, Starcom MediaVest Group, MENA. In this new role as Chief Innovation and Integration Officer, he will be charged with creating and deploying a diversification strategy and a systemic product integration program across every market in MENA.

Starcom MediaVest Group operates under the umbrella of VivaKi (formerly PGM, Publicis Groupe Media). Outgoing chairman of VivaKi MENA and SMG MENA CEO, Mike Readman adds, “I have been fortunate to work with the industry’s best talent who have proven that ‘transformation’ can be made into a reality very quickly. Philip and Tarek are an unstoppable talent pairing that will drive SMG’s human experience agenda through to its core. In their capable hands and fearless focus on clients, I am confident that we will see continued growth in this dynamic and critical region.”

Jabbour and Daouk are members of SMG’s Global Management Group—a 40+ global leadership team whose task is to set and deliver on the global business plan.