Business Roundup
Bahraini Named among Middle East’s 50 Most Powerful People in Media Akram Rashad Miknas, Chairman of the Middle East Communication Networks (MCN), has been named on Communicate magazine’s first ever list of most powerful people in the region’s media, marketing and advertising industry. Miknas was given the post of third most powerful person on the list, which was compiled by the magazine using a formula based on public facts and market intelligence about the top players in the industry and the companies they work with. Sheikh Walid Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, Chairman, MBC Group topped the list. Miknas, a citizen of Bahrain, has been chairman of MCN since 1968 and has, for over four decades, influenced the media, marketing and advertising industry. MCN, the holding company for several of the region’s leading communications firms, finds it roots in Fortune Promoseven, an advertising agency founded by Miknas in Lebanon in 1968. “Being named to Communicate’s Power List 2011 is not only a tremendous honour for me but also a validation of over 40 years of hard work and passion,” Miknas said. “When Fortune Promoseven first started 43 years ago, it was difficult to envisage the spectacular growth we have seen since. Today as one of the largest communications groups in the region, the MCN group can boast of having some of the world’s biggest brands in advertising, media buying and public relations. That is certainly something to be proud of by any measure.”
Mindshare Wins Three Golds at Cannes Mindshare, a global media and marketing services network, goes beyond media at Cannes, scooping a total of three gold, two silver and one bronze award across Cyber, Titanium and Integrated, Media and Outdoor categories at this year’s Cannes Advertising Festival. The accolades demonstrate both the agency’s quality and breadth of work. As Nike’s global media partner, Mindshare is part of the global communications team that picked up a Gold Lion for the ‘Write the Future’ campaign in the Titanium and Integrated Lion category. The collaboration, which includes Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam, AKQA and Razorfish, also won a Gold Cyber Lion. The carefully synchronised global strategy and the power of the network led to the campaign being the most viral video on the planet in 2010. Mindshare Tunisia was credited for work on Brand Collective’s campaign ‘June 16th 2014’, the campaign picked up a Gold Media Lion. A Silver Lion went to Mindshare Turkey for its unique Koc Group campaign, seeing the agency break new ground with a live pitch on Turkey’s Got Talent final. As the credited media partner for LG Electronic’s ‘Washing Tunnel’ campaign, Mindshare South Africa also scooped a Silver Lion in the Media Lion category. Mindshare UK won its first Bronze Outdoor Lion for Lynx Angel Ambush by creating an augmented reality digital outdoor campaign to bring to life the seductive effect of Lynx Excite, the fragrance so tempting ‘even angels will fall’.
Taking Care of Sofitel’s Ambassadors
Akram Miknas
Sofitel Bahrain management believes that if they take care of their Ambassadors; the Ambassadors will take good care of the guests. So, every month, the management holds a stylish party for all the Ambassadors to entertain them, update them about the business situation and how the hotel is performing, and to award them for the excellent work during the month. The entertainment is prepared and performed by the talented young Ambassadors, and they get the chance to display and showcase their different abilities and capabilities in different areas away from work. Amongst the talents; people sing, dance, design, paint, and show photography - to name a few. The programme of the party last month was presented by the ‘Master of Ceremony’ Somaya Khauoja , while general manager Bert Plas and Pradeep Shinde the director of human resources were busy awarding and congratulating the winners of the month. They announced the nominated and elected Ambassadors of the month (front and back of the house), supervisor of the month, ‘Mr and Mrs Smiley’, ‘Mr and Mrs Magnifique’, and ‘Mr Cusu-main’. They all won cash prizes.
Gulf Insider August 2011
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