Judges 2009
Himanshu Vashishtha
Head, consumer research
The Nielsen Co, UAE
Himanshu Vashishtha leads the consumer research function across the MENAP region. Prior to his current role he was heading the UAE operations as MD.
He has 13 years market research experience in Middle East and across the Indian Subcontinent. Before Nielsen, he headed his own consultancy in India.
Throughout his career he has worked with many global brand teams to develop their strategy for the Middle East. This includes leading companies across a wide range of sectors such as F&B, other FMCG, retailers, automotive, tourism, real estate, public enterprise, durables and finance.
Head, consumer research
The Nielsen Co, UAE
Himanshu Vashishtha leads the consumer research function across the MENAP region. Prior to his current role he was heading the UAE operations as MD.
He has 13 years market research experience in Middle East and across the Indian Subcontinent. Before Nielsen, he headed his own consultancy in India.
Throughout his career he has worked with many global brand teams to develop their strategy for the Middle East. This includes leading companies across a wide range of sectors such as F&B, other FMCG, retailers, automotive, tourism, real estate, public enterprise, durables and finance.
Hussam Abdul Qader
GM - Marketing
Almarai Company, Saudi Arabia
Hussam Abdul Qader holds a BA in Business Administration; completed his studies in Amman Private University, Jordan and the University of Kansas. Previously working for Nielsen for seven years, he held numerous positions across the Middle East covering a span of specialties in marketing research and business development. He joined Almarai in 2003 and was appointed to his current role in 2006, today he heads one of the most successful marketing teams in the region.
Almarai is the most awarded FMCG local brand in the region with a portfolio that expands over Dairy, Juices, Cheese and Bakery. Almarai brand is viewed as one of five brands globally set to become one of the next global brands according to the Financial Times.
GM - Marketing
Almarai Company, Saudi Arabia
Hussam Abdul Qader holds a BA in Business Administration; completed his studies in Amman Private University, Jordan and the University of Kansas. Previously working for Nielsen for seven years, he held numerous positions across the Middle East covering a span of specialties in marketing research and business development. He joined Almarai in 2003 and was appointed to his current role in 2006, today he heads one of the most successful marketing teams in the region.
Almarai is the most awarded FMCG local brand in the region with a portfolio that expands over Dairy, Juices, Cheese and Bakery. Almarai brand is viewed as one of five brands globally set to become one of the next global brands according to the Financial Times.
Karen Hargreaves
VP, Consumer Marketing & Corporate Communications
ME&L, MasterCard Worldwide
Karen Hargreaves is head of consumer marketing and corporate communications for the Middle East and Levant and is responsible for the strategic direction, planning and execution of all consumer marketing and corporate communications activities across 13 markets in the ME&L. She joined MasterCard Worldwide in 2000 as marketing manager.
Hargreaves relocated to the Middle East 12 years ago from the UK, where she gained 12 years extensive agency experience and leadership skills in all aspects of agency disciplines, such as ATL, DM, strategic planning, broadcast sponsorship, brand management, corporate identity, public relations & corporate communications, corporate reputation management and event management.
Prior to Worldwide Hargreaves worked for Hard Rock International in the Middle East as head of sales and marketing. Her interests are reading, fitness and travel.
VP, Consumer Marketing & Corporate Communications
ME&L, MasterCard Worldwide
Karen Hargreaves is head of consumer marketing and corporate communications for the Middle East and Levant and is responsible for the strategic direction, planning and execution of all consumer marketing and corporate communications activities across 13 markets in the ME&L. She joined MasterCard Worldwide in 2000 as marketing manager.
Hargreaves relocated to the Middle East 12 years ago from the UK, where she gained 12 years extensive agency experience and leadership skills in all aspects of agency disciplines, such as ATL, DM, strategic planning, broadcast sponsorship, brand management, corporate identity, public relations & corporate communications, corporate reputation management and event management.
Prior to Worldwide Hargreaves worked for Hard Rock International in the Middle East as head of sales and marketing. Her interests are reading, fitness and travel.
Khalil Minawi
MD
Impact BBDO, Riyadh
Although a he originally graduated as chemist and an economist Minawi's passion for advertising coupled with the lure of creativity drew him into the profession 17 years ago. Since then he ahs managed and built some of top international and local brands such as Pepsi, Fuchs, Henkel, Riyadh Bank and Mobily some of which went on to become award winning campaigns.Minawi is also responsible for the development of talent within the Impact Group. Married with three children his spare time is spent in pursuit of becoming a certified F1 driver and photography.
MD
Impact BBDO, Riyadh
Although a he originally graduated as chemist and an economist Minawi's passion for advertising coupled with the lure of creativity drew him into the profession 17 years ago. Since then he ahs managed and built some of top international and local brands such as Pepsi, Fuchs, Henkel, Riyadh Bank and Mobily some of which went on to become award winning campaigns.Minawi is also responsible for the development of talent within the Impact Group. Married with three children his spare time is spent in pursuit of becoming a certified F1 driver and photography.
Nicola Novellone
Chairman & CEO
Central & Eastern Europe for Leo Burnett Worldwide Group of companies
Nicola was born in 1964 in Asti, Italy. After a degree and EEC scholarship in International Marketing in University of Turin, he started his career in 1986 in Ogilvy & Mather Milan as international account coordinator on Unilever, Shell and major Italian brands. In 1992 he joined Leo Burnett (LB) as Fiat European AD. During his career he worked in LB Sao Paulo as Latin America Fiat Coordinator, LB Rome as MD and LB Milan as MD & new business director. He contributed in establishing Leo Burnett Italy as the fastest growing and most creative agency in the country. In 2009 he was named chairman & CEO of Central and Eastern Europe for Leo Burnett Worldwide Group of companies.
Chairman & CEO
Central & Eastern Europe for Leo Burnett Worldwide Group of companies
Nicola was born in 1964 in Asti, Italy. After a degree and EEC scholarship in International Marketing in University of Turin, he started his career in 1986 in Ogilvy & Mather Milan as international account coordinator on Unilever, Shell and major Italian brands. In 1992 he joined Leo Burnett (LB) as Fiat European AD. During his career he worked in LB Sao Paulo as Latin America Fiat Coordinator, LB Rome as MD and LB Milan as MD & new business director. He contributed in establishing Leo Burnett Italy as the fastest growing and most creative agency in the country. In 2009 he was named chairman & CEO of Central and Eastern Europe for Leo Burnett Worldwide Group of companies.
Hubert Boulos
MD MACDDB, Qatar
Hubert Boulos became MD of new agency MACDDB Doha in November 2008. Prior to that he was research and planning director Impact BBDO, Dubai 2006-2008. He has more than 17 years in advertising having worked in Europe for Saatchi & Saatchi, Lintas (now Lowe), McCann, Publicis. His experience covers FMCGs with clients such as P&G, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Pepsico, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle and Mars.
No stranger to the International Effies Boulos helped two brands to Effie success, MasterCard Europe in 2000 and Johnson & Johnson France in 1998.
A frequent contributor to business titles Hubert is well known for his thought leadership and publications which most recently included Turning PoS into an image and sales accelerator at ESOMAR Automotive conference Geneva March last year.
MD MACDDB, Qatar
Hubert Boulos became MD of new agency MACDDB Doha in November 2008. Prior to that he was research and planning director Impact BBDO, Dubai 2006-2008. He has more than 17 years in advertising having worked in Europe for Saatchi & Saatchi, Lintas (now Lowe), McCann, Publicis. His experience covers FMCGs with clients such as P&G, Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Pepsico, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle and Mars.
No stranger to the International Effies Boulos helped two brands to Effie success, MasterCard Europe in 2000 and Johnson & Johnson France in 1998.
A frequent contributor to business titles Hubert is well known for his thought leadership and publications which most recently included Turning PoS into an image and sales accelerator at ESOMAR Automotive conference Geneva March last year.
Ramsey Naja
Chief Creative Officer
JWT MENA
A former journalist, theatre director, pirate radio DJ and TV news anchorman, Beirut-based Najar was appointed as Chief Creative Officer for JWT MENA in 2004. Since then, the network has seen its creative output improve dramatically across all disciplines. JWT MENA has become one of the region's most awarded networks under his stewardship, culminating in its first awards in Cannes and D&AD. JWT also took the largest share of awards at Dubai Lynx 2008, including Agency Of The Year, while eight of its offices received various gong . A regular contributor to industry forums and publications and a member of JWT's Worldwide Creative Council, Najar has judged on a number of local, regional and international juries.
Chief Creative Officer
JWT MENA
A former journalist, theatre director, pirate radio DJ and TV news anchorman, Beirut-based Najar was appointed as Chief Creative Officer for JWT MENA in 2004. Since then, the network has seen its creative output improve dramatically across all disciplines. JWT MENA has become one of the region's most awarded networks under his stewardship, culminating in its first awards in Cannes and D&AD. JWT also took the largest share of awards at Dubai Lynx 2008, including Agency Of The Year, while eight of its offices received various gong . A regular contributor to industry forums and publications and a member of JWT's Worldwide Creative Council, Najar has judged on a number of local, regional and international juries.
Margie Gilbride
Marketing Communications Manager
Beiersdorf Middle East
In her current role Gilbride is responsible for the advertising and PR and budgets for all brands across the 16 markets in which the company operates. She also manages consumer research, a portfolio which has grown exponentially over the xxx years she has been with Beiersdorf.With 20 years of media experience in multi-national ad agencies and media companies in South Africa, New Zealand and the Middle East working across most categories she has also run her own media planning business and has previously been on the advertiser side working both as a brand manager and as an advertising manager. She is currently the chairman of the BPA Advisory Board in the Middle East and a member of the Executive Board of the ABG.
Marketing Communications Manager
Beiersdorf Middle East
In her current role Gilbride is responsible for the advertising and PR and budgets for all brands across the 16 markets in which the company operates. She also manages consumer research, a portfolio which has grown exponentially over the xxx years she has been with Beiersdorf.With 20 years of media experience in multi-national ad agencies and media companies in South Africa, New Zealand and the Middle East working across most categories she has also run her own media planning business and has previously been on the advertiser side working both as a brand manager and as an advertising manager. She is currently the chairman of the BPA Advisory Board in the Middle East and a member of the Executive Board of the ABG.
Mark Champion
Executive Director
Australain Federation of Advertisers.
Mark Champion is executive Director of the AFA. Previously he was CEO of the Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand (CAANZ) - the industry association representing the interests of communication agencies. He held that position for four years and was also the chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority.
He came to CAANZ from Air New Zealand where he held the position of corporate communications manager. Before that he held a similar role with Vodafone and had responsibility for media and government relations as well as internal communications.
Prior to that Champion spent 12 years as a radio and TV journalist and went on to become an executive producer of TV current affairs programmes.
Executive Director
Australain Federation of Advertisers.
Mark Champion is executive Director of the AFA. Previously he was CEO of the Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand (CAANZ) - the industry association representing the interests of communication agencies. He held that position for four years and was also the chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority.
He came to CAANZ from Air New Zealand where he held the position of corporate communications manager. Before that he held a similar role with Vodafone and had responsibility for media and government relations as well as internal communications.
Prior to that Champion spent 12 years as a radio and TV journalist and went on to become an executive producer of TV current affairs programmes.
Philippe Deliere
Regional client MD Europe & MEA
Wunderman
Born in Paris, a business and marketing studies graduate (ICN Nancy), Philippe started his career in 1988 as DM project manager at Mobil Oil France. In 1990, he joined Telog SA, a database management and telemarketing operation, as consultant. In 1992 he was promoted MD. In 1997, he joined Wunderman Paris, as client services director on the Ford Motor Company account. He was named chief client officer in 2000. Appointed CEO in 2002. Promoted to regional client MD in 2007, he joined Wunderman HQ for Europe and MEA leading the Microsoft account across the region, managing the agency engagement with Microsoft in 29 markets and supervising a team of more than 300.
Regional client MD Europe & MEA
Wunderman
Born in Paris, a business and marketing studies graduate (ICN Nancy), Philippe started his career in 1988 as DM project manager at Mobil Oil France. In 1990, he joined Telog SA, a database management and telemarketing operation, as consultant. In 1992 he was promoted MD. In 1997, he joined Wunderman Paris, as client services director on the Ford Motor Company account. He was named chief client officer in 2000. Appointed CEO in 2002. Promoted to regional client MD in 2007, he joined Wunderman HQ for Europe and MEA leading the Microsoft account across the region, managing the agency engagement with Microsoft in 29 markets and supervising a team of more than 300.
GEMAS EFFIE MENA AWARDS CALENDAR
November 2012
MediaQuestCorp.
Paris | Dubai | Beirut | Algiers | Tunis | Riyadh
Email:
s.rafique@mediaquestcorp.com
m.hatahet@mediaquestcorp.com
Phone: (971) 4 391 0760