The global boom in MarTech investment has enabled companies of all types to conduct relationship marketing. Yet, many have struggled to create distinction and customer relevancy, necessitating a better approach to building lasting relationships. It’s with this perspective that Ogilvy today announces new global leadership for Ogilvy One and next-generation services for creating more valuable relationships by design. Led by creativity, powered by data, and supercharged by AI, Ogilvy has a distinct approach to designing relationships that create business, brand, and customer value.Ogilvy One will serve as the global brand for Ogilvy’s current and next-generation customer experience and relationship service offerings to clients. Kent Wertime, a seasoned Ogilvy executive, has been appointed as the Global CEO of Ogilvy One. With nearly 25 years at Ogilvy, Kent previously led Ogilvy One in Asia and has since held various leadership positions. He will continue in his most recent role as Co-CEO for Ogilvy APAC. Ogilvy One’s leadership team includes Roberto Fara, who will take on an expanded role as the Global Creative Experience Lead for Ogilvy One and will retain his role as Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy Spain, along with Rajesh Midha (NoAm), Clare Lawson (EMEA & Chief Client Officer), Ab Gaur (APAC & CEO of Verticurl; Global Chief Data & Tech Officer, Ogilvy), Mauro Caggiano (LATAM), Jason Davey (AUNZ), Ravi Pal (CTO), and Nate McNabb (Global Partnerships).Brands that create a positive relationship with a consumer are 3x more impactful than brands that don’t (source: Mesh Experience Research 2023). Ogilvy One offers a range of services to design relationships that are truly reflective of brands: Customer Acquisition, Service Design, Continuous Commerce, and CRM & Loyalty. This offering is underpinned by a unified global technology backbone powered by Verticurl, the leading marketing technology services agency Ogilvy acquired in 2013. Ogilvy One has approximately 3,800 specialists around the world spanning strategy, creative and design, UX/UI, data, media and performance, platform integration, creative technology, innovation, and AI among other areas. Ogilvy One currently works with a broad range of B2C and B2B clients including some world’s most iconic brands such as IBM, Mondel?z, Nestlé, Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, Verizon, and Enterprise, as well as regional and local clients.Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO of Ogilvy, said: “When David Ogilvy first started talking about direct marketing decades ago, he recognized that some of the most effective marketing isn’t just directed at your target audience, it speaks to them on a personal one-to-one basis. Now we take that to a new level with a fresh leadership team for Ogilvy One and a commitment to designing relationships based on ideas that create enduring value exchanges between consumers and our clients’ brands.”“Over the last decade, companies invested heavily in technology, but that alone is not the solution. In today’s hyper-commoditized world, brands need to design relationships that create differentiation and relevancy with their consumers. That’s where the exponential power of creativity plays a vital role,” Kent Wertime, Global CEO of Ogilvy One, said. “Today's consumers, choose their points of interaction with brands, from discovery to purchase, and dictate more of the relationship. With a deep understanding of brands and full-dimensional view of consumers coupled with award-winning creativity and a strong data and technology backbone, Ogilvy One is uniquely positioned to design valuable relationships for brands that are impactful, relevant, and enduring.”

TheCarCrowd has announced that its alternative investment model has been reviewed and certified as Sharia-compliant by the Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB), marking a significant milestone for the UK-based company. This certification underscores TheCarCrowd's dedication to offering ethical investment opportunities in the burgeoning market of classic cars, ensuring alignment with Islamic finance principles.At the heart of TheCarCrowd's operation is a unique fractional investment platform, focusing on the world of classic cars as passion assets. By acquiring collector cars and offering up to 1,000 shares per vehicle, TheCarCrowd democratizes access to this exclusive asset class, enabling investors globally to hold a stake in rare and appreciating automotive history. The Car Crowd have expertise in deploying private capital into investible classics as well as sourcing rare and collectable cars for global alternative investment platforms. "Receiving Sharia certification from SRB not only diversifies our investor base but also reinforces our commitment to providing inclusive and ethically grounded investment opportunities," said David Spickett, CEO of TheCarCrowd. "Our mission is to connect people with their passion for classic cars, offering a transparent, regulated, and now, Sharia-compliant path to investment."The Shariyah Review Bureau, a leading Sharia advisory firm, has been instrumental in this process, offering comprehensive Islamic financial solutions that align with Shari’a standards. With a distinguished track record in certifying and auditing a wide range of financial products and services, SRB ensures that TheCarCrowd's investment model and operations comply with Sharia law, thereby catering to a broader audience seeking ethical investment opportunities.Yasser S. Dahlawi, CEO of the Shariyah Review Bureau, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "Our partnership with TheCarCrowd exemplifies our commitment to expanding the scope of Sharia-compliant investment avenues available in the market. It's a pleasure to support TheCarCrowd in aligning their unique collectible business model with Islamic financial principles, further enabling access to ethical investments in the classic car sector."This certification from SRB opens new doors for TheCarCrowd, inviting investors from around the world to explore the lucrative and passionate world of classic car investments within a framework that respects ethical and religious considerations. As TheCarCrowd continues to innovate and expand its platform, the Sharia compliance certification is a testament to its inclusive, ethical approach to investment in one of the world's most timeless asset classes.

The Marketing Society has introduced four successful marketing professionals joining its board, coming from renowned companies including LIGHTBLUE, GVGL Marketing Management, Atlantis Dubai and, LEGO Group. These new talents highlight the Society's dedication to attracting top talent and cultivating an exceptional community of marketers.  The Marketing Society serves as a catalyst for the region’s most intelligent marketers, fostering, expediting, and uniting to succeed in both their professional journeys and their contributions to the industry. With a membership now exceeding 470 individuals in the UAE, the Society functions as a central hub for marketing professionals committed to advancing their skills, shaping the industry's future, and creating positive local and global impacts. The recently appointed board members bring a rich tapestry of diverse expertise to the forefront, amplifying the Society's capability to propel innovation and inspire meaningful transformations in the marketing landscape. Among the newly welcomed board members are:Craig BorthwickCraig Borthwick - Partner, LIGHTBLUE. Craig is an accomplished marketing expert with 18 years of experience on a global scale, including leadership roles within agencies. In his position as Partner at LIGHTBLUE, Craig has not only achieved remarkable results with renowned global brands like MDLBEAST, NEOM, Porsche, PlayStation, and Tom Ford, but also provides strategic consultation on integrating government entities to support broader regional objectives and fostering platforms for emerging talent. Craig's approach prioritizes the comfort of clients, partners, and the agency's talent, even in challenging situations, leading to unprecedented growth, exceptional performance, and a notably positive work culture.   Ebru TuygunEbru Tuygun – Managing Director, GVGL Marketing Management. Ebru is passionate about bringing brands' purposes to life, worldwide. With two decades of leadership experience in renowned consulting companies like Deloitte and Accenture, she has overseen major global projects and earned recognition as one of the Middle East's top CMOs. Ebru's expertise lies in crafting marketing growth strategies, enhancing employer branding, and championing diversity initiatives. Her academic journey includes studying political science and international relations at Bogazici University and completing management and leadership programs at Harvard Business School and Stanford University Executive Education. Actively involved in initiatives promoting women's leadership, Ebru serves as Chairwoman of IWBD's Advisory Board, advocating for inclusivity and delivering speeches on women's leadership in various global forums.  Hanan EissaHanan Eissa – Vice President Marketing & PR, Atlantis Dubai. With over 23 years of hands-on experience in the marketing industry, Hanan oversees brand and performance marketing at Atlantis Dubai, including content creation, communications, media strategy, digital marketing, and customer insights by leading a global team. Notably, Hanan spearheaded the successful launch of Atlantis The Royal, one of 2023’s most talked-about resort openings worldwide and has been behind groundbreaking campaigns like the 10:35 track collaboration with Tiesto and Tate McCrae. Additionally, Hanan has orchestrated strategic marketing collaborations with renowned brands such as Parkwood, Valentino and most recently, managed a successful partnership with Louis Vuitton for Atlantis The Royal first year anniversary.   Ula BieganskaUla Bieganska – Head of Marketing, LEGO MEA. With over 17 years in marketing, Ula began her career at Procter & Gamble in Poland, then moved to Geneva for regional and global roles. A dream offer from LEGO Group took her to Prague, then Denmark, and finally Dubai, to the newly opened office enabling further brand expansion across the Middle East and Africa. Ula thrived on launching new campaigns and building the marketing team in the vibrant, cross-cultural environment, which inspired her to pursue her passion for writing. In August 2023, she fulfilled that dream with the publication of her first fantasy novel, "The Lizard."

NY VFXWAALA, a visual effects (VFX) studio founded by actor Ajay Devgn, has entered into a strategic partnership with Goodbye Kansas Studio (GBK) of Stockholm, Sweden.Key aspects of the partnership:  • Investment and Joint Venture: NY VFXWAALA, through an offshore subsidiary, has acquired a significant stake in GBK, solidifying the collaboration. Additionally, a joint venture studio will be launched in India to leverage combined expertise.  • Combined Expertise: GBK brings a wealth of experience in VFX, animation, and game trailers for major studios like HBO, Netflix, and Ubisoft. NY VFXWAALA boasts an award-winning portfolio of over 300 films.  • Global Reach and Growth: The partnership aims to expand service offerings globally, attracting talent from India and Asia. They will target new markets and capitalize on the growing VFX and gaming content outsourcing trend.  • Enhanced Service Offerings: The combined entity will offer a broader range of services, including 3D scanning, motion capture, and character design. They will also focus on the Indian gaming market and other Asian opportunities.  • Research and Development: A collaborative R&D team will be established to explore new technologies and tools for the VFX industry.Ajay Devgn, Founder and Chairman of NY VFXWAALA, said: "This partnership with GBK allows us to extend our global reach and deliver exceptional services to clients worldwide. We are excited to collaborate with a like-minded partner and contribute to the creative and technological advancements in the industry."Per Anders Wärn, Chairman of the Board, Goodbye Kansas, said: "NY VFXWAALA is a perfect partner, sharing our commitment to talent, technology, and storytelling. This partnership strengthens both our organizations and creates new opportunities for our employees and clients."Stefan Danieli, CEO of Goodbye Kansas: "We welcome NY VFXWAALA as a strategic investor and partner. This collaboration will significantly contribute to our growth and expand our production capabilities, supporting GBK's profitable future."Naveen Paul, Creative Head and Co-founder of NY VFXWAALA, said: "We are thrilled to partner with the GBK team. Together, we aim to raise the bar for quality, expand globally, and offer exceptional service. We invite talented individuals worldwide to join us on this exciting journey."

RTS Investments Group has announced a partnership with Marriott International to operate its Business Bay Hotel in Dubai. The hotel will undergo a rebranding and join the prestigious Renaissance Hotels portfolio as the Renaissance Business Bay Hotel, Dubai. The transition is expected to be completed in Q2 2024, with the hotel remaining fully operational throughout the process."We are thrilled to bring the Renaissance Hotels brand to our property in Dubai's vibrant Business Bay district," said Andrea Strim, General Manager of the Business Bay Hotel on behalf of RTS Investments Group. "The Renaissance brand is known for its sophisticated experience and focus on cultural exploration, which perfectly aligns with our vision for the hotel. This partnership with Marriott International allows us to continue delivering exceptional hospitality with a renewed focus on bespoke experiences for our guests."Following the rebranding, the hotel will cater to curious travelers seeking a deeper connection with the city. The Renaissance philosophy emphasizes providing guests with unique and enriching local experiences, seamlessly linking them to the heart of the Business Bay neighborhood. The redesigned hotel will embody the brand's commitment to discovery and curated design."We are delighted to welcome the Renaissance Business Bay Hotel, Dubai to our portfolio," said Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East, Marriott International. "Business Bay is a rapidly growing commercial and residential hub, and this new hotel strengthens our presence within the district. We look forward to working with RTS Investments Group to introduce the Renaissance brand's design, engaging service, and signature rituals to the neighborhood."RTS Investments Group also extends its sincere gratitude to Millennium and Copthorne Middle East Holdings Limited for their valuable collaboration and support in operating the hotel. The existing partnership with Millennium continues for their second property in Barsha Heights, which will remain under the Millennium brand umbrella.

Cairo-based online furniture marketplace Homzmart has partnered with MoEngage, a marketing automation and customer engagement platform, to drive engagement at the right time and place for the right customers.Founded in 2020, the E-commerce platform sells home furniture, home décor, lighting, and home supplies through a visualized community. It will leverage various capabilities of MoEngage, like segmentation, analytics, and omnichannel communication orchestration. With MoEngage, the brand plans to overcome challenges like manual efforts, creating onboarding and cart abandonment journeys. Most importantly, they will use MoEngage to build journeys for “anonymous to known users”.“Our partnership with MoEngage is a significant step forward in achieving our customer-centric vision," says Karim Ahmed, Group CMO at Homzmart. "By leveraging MoEngage's powerful engagement platform, we'll gain deeper customer insights and deliver the personalized experiences our customers are expecting.”Additionally, for real-time customer engagement and 1:1 personalization, the brand plans to leverage the website personalization capabilities of MoEngage. Furthermore, to reduce its manual efforts, Homzmart will explore the AI capabilities of MoEngage for deep segmentation and personalization.Overall, from this partnership, the online furniture brand plans to uplift its metrics like user engagement, customer lifetime value and increase in RoI. The online furniture brand explored and compared various vendors, but they chose MoEngage as the platform based on the depth of segmentation, transparency, and flexibility of the platform.Another factor that helped them narrow down the list was the local expertise that MoEngage inherited and an understanding of regional nuances and challenges.“We are excited to partner with one of the leading players in the online furniture and home decor space. Homzmart has remained laser-focused on customer engagement with personalization and we are happy to assist them in this steadfast endeavor to unlock the next phase of engagement with insights-led personalization,” said Kunal Badiani, Regional VP Sales at MoEngage.Homzmart joins the growing list of 1500+ global companies across 35 countries, such as Azadea Group, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Landmark Group, Sympl, Apparel Group, Airtel, Ola, Nexta, Oyo, Orcas, and Mashreq, that trust MoEngage to deliver a consistent experience across multiple devices and touchpoints. 

Flextock, a leading e-commerce enabler in the Middle East, cites that the KSA was on pace to reach an impressive $13.71 billion in digital sales by the close of 2023 and a projected annual growth rate of 14.37% leading to a market volume of $23.46 billion by 2027. Against the backdrop of this digital growth, Flextock has emerged as a notable success story, capitalizing on the flourishing market to contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of e-commerce in the area.The company most recently displayed this during White Friday & Riyadh Season 2023. While traditional companies typically see a doubling of sales during this period, Flextock boasted a noteworthy triple surge. The strategic approach of Flextock’s machine learning algorithm in predicting high-demand SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) enabled the fast and accurate delivery of the orders which minimizing the opportunity loss for merchants in the KSA to below 1%; this is a remarkable achievement compared to the industry benchmark in the region of 3-5%.With consumers in the Kingdom increasingly gaining confidence through internet penetration of 98% and a growing young population, the expansion of e-commerce platforms is rapidly growing. Moreover, with the Saudi government promoting digital transformation as part of its Vision 2030 initiative to diversify the economy, the increased use of mobile devices for online shopping is progressively being seen by consumers to contribute to the overall expansion of the sector.Looking ahead Saudi Arabia is anticipated to surpass a remarkable 20 million digital economy users by the year 2030. To stay on par with the bolstering growth, Flextock’s machine learning algorithm accurately predicts what is in high demand and estimates the velocity of SKUs efficiently to benefit all their merchants and minimize turnovers as well as maximize delivery time to under three days as opposed to the industry standard of just over three days.Mohamed Mossaad, CEO of Flextock commented: "Our pioneering strategy for merchant growth in Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in solidifying our impactful presence, highlighting the direct link between our merchants' success and ours. In the White Friday and Riyadh Season frenzy, where consumer activity reaches new heights, the demand for flexibility and agility has never been more pronounced. Our recognition of this paradigm shift led us to prioritize our promptness in product delivery, as well as our versatile approach to help ensure availability during peak seasons allowing us to streamline the process for our merchants. Understanding that consumer outreach extends beyond the day-to-day social media platforms, tapping into diverse channels ensures a widely accessible and agile shopping experience, allowing us to align with the pace and preferences of today’s dynamic marketplace in the region.”With e-commerce experiencing a notable escalation in the KSA, consumers rely on social media platforms for their shopping needs such as Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat, among other platforms. In response to rising advertising costs, Flextock strategically diversified its sales channels, providing consumers with an outlet to not simply rely on traditional platforms which ultimately resulted in an additional 35% of merchant orders that led to their success.   With a diverse range of users, Flextock is not only accommodating micro-brands and large-scale retailers during busy seasons but also all year around.

Italy’s premier professional football league, Lega Serie A, today inaugurated its first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) office in Abu Dhabi at a media event that also saw the launch of the brand's strategic vision and plans for the region.The event was hosted by Lega Serie A’s Michele Ciccarese, Commercial and Marketing Director, Anna Guarnerio, International Media Rights Director, Alfonso De Stefano, Managing Director MENA and Omar Al Hakim, Head of Brand Partnerships MENA.The latest international expansion for the Italian league will enable Lega Serie A to broaden its influence across the MENA region, with an emphasis on the GCC and North Africa. The new MENA office – which is located in Yas Creative Hub on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi – will provide a regional base for the league to increase its fan base in the region by building connections with the 53% of the MENA population who have an interest in football.  The Italian league aims to do this with a strategic plan and roadmap that will unlock opportunities for collaboration with local and regional partners; raise the profile of the league’s iconic clubs, such as Juventus, AC Milan, Fc Inter, As Roma, Ssc Napoli and Lazio; and better engage with the region’s Calcio fans through increased investment in grassroots talent, new charitable activities in regional markets, and bespoke content and content partnerships designed for Millennial and Gen Z audiences. "We are very pleased to continue our global expansion project of the 'Calcio’ product and to face new challenges that represent fundamental steps towards the internationalisation of Italian football," Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Serie A, stated. "With our presence and the opening of the new office, our goal is to be closer to fans and longtime supporters in a strategic market like the Middle East. At the same time, we aim to promote a healthy education of the new generations in the values of sports, involving them both on and off the field through projects with digital experiences. Additionally, we are developing entertainment initiatives for fans by localising events of Lega Serie A that will feature the presence of teams, players, and legends. Thanks to our broadcasters and regional partners, Abu Dhabi Media and Starzplay, we will bring football close to the fans for a unique and immersive experience. We are convinced – De Siervo concluded – that through the spread of our product in these areas, many young talents from the Middle East will have the opportunity to regularly play in Serie A."Commenting on the announcement, Alfonso De Stefano, Managing Director MENA of Lega Serie A, said: “The MENA region is a crucial market for us, with a deep passion for football and a growing interest in the Italian game. There are already an estimated 16 million Lega Serie A fans in the region – half of them under the age of 25 – and connecting with this fan base and with the wider audience of football lovers in the region is our top priority. Our new headquarters strengthens our regional presence, giving us direct access to fans, and opening doors to a range of future collaborations with key stakeholders in our sport and beyond.”At the office opening, Lega Serie A also underscored its commitment to establishing grassroots initiatives to encourage and develop local talent, passion and skill in partnership with regional football associations and training academies.Omar Al Hakim, Head of Brand Partnerships MENA of Lega Serie A, said: “Our mission here is not only to promote Lega Serie A, but also to be a catalyst for football development in the MENA region. We are looking to establish relationships and forge partnerships with organisations who share our values to nurture local talent and promote the appreciation for the sport throughout the region.”To build engagement with football fans, particularly its Gen Z audiences, Lega Serie A recently launched a bilingual English and Arabia Snapchat account to host regionally relevant content – the first such account from a global football league with Arabic content for MENA audiences. The league also confirmed that it will announce a number of new initiatives and content partnerships in the coming months.In 2022, Lega Serie A signed a broadcasting partnership with Abu Dhabi Media and Starzplay, which are now exclusively streaming the league’s matches to audiences across 20 countries in the MENA region.

In celebration of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, Qatar Airways is bringing the excitement of the much-anticipated tournament to football fans in Mumbai via the Interactive Pop-Up, on 1st and 2nd October.The pop-up will be available at Jio World Garden and will feature an interactive experience, including the opportunity for fans to test their skills against the world-class Brazilian football player, Neymar Jr., and simultaneously learn more about the history of Qatar and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.Fans will also have the opportunity to share their Pop-up experience on social media for a chance to win FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM travel packages, and match tickets.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: "As Qatar gears up for the FIFA World Cup TM, we as the Official Airline Partner continue to build up the enthusiasm of football fans around the world in different ways. We eagerly look forward to welcoming all visitors planning to attend the event between November and December, and the Interactive City Pop-Up in Mumbai will allow even more fans to feel the incredible energy and passion before it starts."For those looking to secure their seats now, Qatar Airways invites fans to purchase an official Qatar airways travel package, which includes return flights, match tickets and accommodation, to cheer on their favourite team, as tickets are selling out fast. Fans can book their travel packages with a few easy steps to allow at gatarairways.com/FIFA2022.FIFA's Official Airline Partner since 2017, Qatar Airways has sponsored events including the 2019 and 120 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, and the FIFA Arab Cup, all of which were hosted in Qatar.The airline is eagerly anticipating the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - the first in the Middle East and offering a seamless journey from more than 150 destinations across the globe to fans attending this world-class event. Its goal to bring communities together through sport, the World's Best Airline has an extensive global orts partnership portfolio that includes football-governing bodies such as FIFA, CONCACAF and ONMEBOL. The airline also sponsors some of the world's most renowned sporting teams and disciplines including, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern München, Al Sadd SC, equestrianism, kitesurfing, padel, and nis, amongst others. In its goal to bring communities together through sport, the World's Best Airline has extensive global sports partnership portfolio that includes football-governing bodies such as FIFA, NCACAF and CONMEBOL The airline also sponsors some of the world's biggest football clubs including Al Sadd SC, FC Bayern München, and Paris Saint-Germain.