Dubai: Award-winning, integrated agency BPG (Bates PanGulf, part of WPP) has launched brand-new digital platforms that reflect its ‘Customer Experience first, Integrated by Intent’ positioning and growing regional footprint. The launch coincides with the opening of BPG Arabia, the agency’s new headquarters in Riyadh, to strengthen services for a growing roster of clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Avi Bhojani, Group CEO, BPG, said: “Delivering exceptional customer experiences is table stakes for today’s successful businesses. And in a world powered by digital experiences, a brand’s digital assets are meant to give an almost physical experience. That's why we're incredibly excited to unveil BPG’s new platforms to coincide with the opening of our new Riyadh office. Dynamic, interactive, and user-friendly, BPG’s new digital platforms offer seamless access to information, resources, and engagement opportunities. We built them to be a living, breathing extension of Brand BPG, reflecting our culture, values and vision. As we embark on an exciting new chapter in the Kingdom, we're confident that our enhanced digital presence will forge stronger connections and sustainable success. For TeamBPG, it’s onwards and upwards."Valli Lakshmanan, President, BPG Arabia and Chief CX Officer, BPG added: “BPG Arabia is another milestone on the BPG 3.0 journey. We look forward to becoming the leading partner for homegrown Saudi brands, propelling them to greater heights aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious roadmap to achieve greater economic diversification, growth and prosperity for all. The new BPG digital platforms, with designs reflective of the times we live in, will foster conversations we have with our clients and community. Bolstered by over four decades of experience in the region, we are here to create meaningful and memorable brand experiences for Saudi businesses.”The new BPG website showcases the full spectrum of the agency’s capabilities - from data-driven marketing strategies that tap into dynamic audiences, to AI-powered personalization that creates truly individualized brand interactions. The agency’s expertise delivering MarComms for a multitude of sectors – from retail and real estate to logistics and finance has been showcased, along with its burgeoning client portfolio of global leaders and regional success stories.BPG is hosting a two-day ‘Integrated by Intent’ workshop later this week to equip its teams with the knowledge and skills necessary for a holistic, CX-powered approach to MarComms. Industry leaders such as Mariagrazia De Angelis, Managing Director at Landor & Fitch MENA, Sasan Saidi, CEO of Wunderman Thompson NYC, Sunil John, former President - Middle East and North Africa (MENA), ASDA’A BCW, and Ravi Rao, former CEO of GroupM MENA, will delve into topics such as human-centric marketing, media transformation and principles of great partnerships. The workshop aims to equip Team BPG with a robust "Integrated by Intent" toolkit, enabling seamless and impactful brand experiences for clients.

In today's video Interaction on Adgully Middle East, we welcome Avi Bhojani, the CEO of BPG Group. With over 40 years of experience in the Middle East industry, particularly in marketing services and media, Bhojani brings a wealth of knowledge about the region's dynamics and opportunities. Since assuming the role of CEO in 1991, he has demonstrated strong leadership and strategic vision, guiding the organisation through various transformations and expansions.During his conversation with Adgully, Bhojani delved into the significant impact of AI on marketing services, recognizing its potential to enhance efficiency and effectiveness while emphasizing the enduring importance of creativity in the industry. He discussed the transition of marketing services to a customer experience-focused function, with technology and digital channels playing a pivotal role in driving growth. Despite the transformative power of AI, Bhojani emphasized the ongoing need for human innovation in the industry.Bhojani also highlighted BPG's 3.0 initiative, which aims to enhance customer experience strategies across multiple markets by prioritizing innovation and client relationships. His emphasis on the role of culture in organisational success reflects a holistic approach to leadership, recognising the importance of collective efforts and values within BPG.The expansion plans into Saudi Arabia demonstrate BPG's strategic ambitions and readiness to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the region. Leveraging its expertise and operational capabilities, BPG aims to deliver high-quality customer experiences in Saudi Arabia, tapping into the country's potential for disruption and growth.For more insights from this industry veteran, watch the video.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/757IqmL5oiU?si=FcMz0owVblW1-SyI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Award-winning, integrated agency BPG (Bates PanGulf, part of WPP) has announced several senior-level appointments to drive its regional growth and substantial new business wins. The internal promotions and new hires are across the agency’s comms, media, and creative teams. With these investments in talent, BPG has grown its talent pool in the UAE by 45%.Spearheading the agency’s momentum on integration are former Business Director Benjamin Schwartz who has now been promoted to VP, Client Services and former Senior Business Director Mara Carpencu Pop, now promoted to VP, Communications Services.An advertising professional with 14+ years of experience in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Ben has previously worked at global network agencies (BBDO, TBWA, Ogilvy) on global brands such as Nestle, Lenovo, PepsiCo and Ford. Mara brings 15 years of all-round experience in PR and MarComm to her role and has led integrated communications campaigns for global and regional clients, across tech, business solutions, telecom, travel, real estate and consumer brands.BPG’s newly promoted Creative Directors Aaron Leung, Ahmad Al Otaibi and Nicolaas Van Der Merwe collectively bring decades of regional expertise to their roles, having worked on accounts like Porsche, HSBC, Nike, Harvey Nichols, Kraft, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Ford and more, as well as regional powerhouse brands such as NEOM, FAB, Aldar, E&, and Government of Dubai.Within BPG’s Client Servicing team, Sarah Rizvi has been promoted to Account Director. BPG’s newly promoted Account Managers include Avanthika Sivakumar, Oliver Harb and Sriyaa Shah. In the Comms team, Stanislava Burianek has been promoted to Senior Account Director and Iman Fathi Dawod to Senior Account Manager.Avi Bhojani, Group CEO, BPG said: “BPG has clocked up exceptional growth numbers in recent years, energized by its ‘Integrated by Intent’ positioning and customer-centric culture. This growth is driven by our people, who are our greatest strength, and we will continue to invest and reward our talent, coupled in the unique Culture at BPG, that empowers talent and enables them to take complete ownership, within a broad framework that is consistent with BPG’s offering. I cannot be prouder to lead TeamBPG into the next stage of our evolution, confident that we will leverage our creativity, knowledge, and more than four decades of regional expertise to deliver exciting outcomes for our clients.”Darius LaBelle, President, BPG UAE said: “BPG has opened January 2024 by securing several high-profile clients and unique mandates across sectors including automotive, culture, F&B and finance. A solid pipeline of existing business supplemented by exciting new business wins testify to the success of BPG’s ‘CX first, integrated by intent’ positioning. We look forward to our newly promoted team members defining future growth and evolution in our product and our culture, shaping a year of breakthroughs and boundless possibilities.”

The Public Relations and Communications Association in the Middle East and North Africa (PRCA MENA), has today announced BPG Group as its latest corporate member.BPG (formerly Bates PanGulf, a WPP company) has helped brands transform, succeed, and win in a changing world for over four decades. BPG’s ‘digital first, integrated by intent’ positioning and innovative solutions deliver success for an exceptional portfolio of clients across the GCC.Melissa Cannon, International Director at PRCA MENA, said:"We are delighted to welcome BPG Group as the newest member of PRCA MENA family. Their experience and dedication align with our core mission, which is to drive progress in the realm of public relations and communications throughout the MENA region. We look forward to working close on projects and collaborations.Avi Bhojani, Group CEO, BPG said:“We look forward to being a part of PRCA MENA’s vibrant community, and further strengthening our PR capabilities with knowledge building, the free-flowing exchange of ideas and opportunities for collaborations through this platform. Even as the regional PR industry continues to transform in exciting new ways, our shared vision and values will prime us for long-term success.”

Award-winning agency BPG (Bates PanGulf, part of WPP) is entering Q4 2023 with incredible growth numbers and several high-profile strategic wins for its specialist MarCom services in UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman. BPG’s ‘digital first, integrated by intent’ positioning has paid off handsomely – with over 50% revenue growth, amounting to annualized revenues of $13m to $15m.Avi Bhojani, Group CEO, BPG said: “More than four decades in business have shown us that innovation, agility and customer-centricity determine the survival of the fittest. Today, the brands that are loved are the ones prioritizing customer experience (CX), through a blend of culture, processes and data. BPG 3.0 is here to support the shift in thinking around customer journeys and focusing on their needs. It is an exciting time at BPG as we bring together our incredibly talented and motivated integrated team to serve some of the region’s most iconic brands.”This year, BPG has bagged some of the most coveted regional pitches, winning brands such as Trojena - The Mountains of NEOM, Wasl, Darna Rewards by Aldar, Uber, Talabat Kuwait, and more. Building on its exceptional experience in finance and banking, BPG won strategic branding projects for First Abu Dhabi Bank. Other new business wins include Bank Dhofar, RAKBANK and Sohar International Bank, who just acquired HSBC in Oman. The multi-practice mandates encompass integrated marketing, communications, influencer marketing, creative advertising, PR, branding, media services, digital and performance marketing, social media, and content management. The exciting pipeline of new business wins has been supplemented by expanding mandates from long-time clients such as Ooredoo, Central Bank of Kuwait and Diraya with Kuwait Banking Association, Wooden Bakery, and Domino’s Pizza. BPG’s social media practice has steadily expanded, bagging new clients such as Porsche UAE (Al Nabooda), Titan Watches, and DMCC.The agency’s CX practice, integral to BPG 3.0, has also been one of its fastest growing, having extended and delivered CX strategies and assets to clients across Dubai, Kuwait and Oman. BPG has secured over $2m worth of annualised revenue, for CX projects varying in scope from designing and refreshing websites and building sales enablement apps to UX/UI optimization.BPG 3.0 was born after a significant, game-changing creative win in Saudi Arabia. BPG is working on a unified customer experience through its full-service hubs in UAE and Kuwait, supported by BPG Cloudworks – a borderless remote team that stretches from North America and Europe to Egypt, Lebanon, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. This strategic transformation is inspired by culture, powered by insights, human by design and integrated by intent. In 1995, BPG 1.0 was born after winning an integrated mandate from the Dubai Government. BPG 2.0 emerged in 2003 after winning mandates for public advocacy andcreating centres of excellence and offices around the world.Souheil Arabi, Group Chief Operating Officer, BPG and CEO, BPG Kuwait said: “BPG 3.0 is coming to life as our business is growing in every dimension: teams, services, revenues, and clients. This has been a year of tremendous activity and achievement with some notable wins for our team – which we look forward to celebrating next month at our 27th Annual Offsite, one of BPG’s most cherished traditions. We are doubling down on embracing relevant and appropriate AI tools into our day to day lives, and excited about the role of CX in brand building.”BPG has continued on an expansion trajectory, with 35% growth in its talent pool across UX, content, creative, PR and media. The agency continues with its landmark BPG NXT graduate training program and has just hired four NXTers in Dubai and two in Kuwait from over 800 qualified applicants. Running since 2006, BPG NXT identifies and nurtures young talent, giving them opportunities to shine. With this program, BPG has given the regional MarCom industry over 100 outstanding professionals.Darius LaBelle, President, BPG UAE said: “Our ambition is not to be the biggest agency, but the smartest and most valuable one built around our clients’ needs. The BPG CX Multiplier, through which we use data and human insights to deliver targeted personal messages across digital and physical channels, has been one of our most successful solutions. We look forward to driving impactful results for our clients, with integrated teams in content, comms, media, data, experience, and brand on every brief.”

Award-winning, ‘integrated by design’ agency in the MENA region – BPG (part of the WPP Network) has announced senior-level appointments to drive the agency’s renewed focus on customer experience, in addition to hires across PR, media, UX, content and creative.Research by Gartner has revealed that experience-led businesses have 1.6x higher brand awareness and 1.7x higher customer retention. BPG is working at the inflection point of data, customer, creative, communications and brand to deliver real outcomes for customers, with value and growth for clients. Strong customer experiences can generate positive business impact in 2022 and beyond.Darius LaBelle joins BPG as EVP/Chief Client Officer to lead the agency’s CX, digital, creative, and strategy products. Darius has two decades of experience in strategy, brand, business growth and CX across consumer, healthcare and B2B brands in Asia, the Middle East, the US and Australia. He has worked with agencies such as BBDO, Ogilvy, Havas and Sapient and for brands like Emirates, Aldar, AbbVie, Sanofi, 3M, ANZ. Before joining BPG as Chief Client Officer Darius was based in New York, where he helped launch Havas Health CX, a data-led experience agency.Ramy El Sakka joins BPG as SVP/Chief Creative Officer. Ramy started his career with J Walter Thompson Cairo, working on brands such as Nokia, Nestle, Lipton, HSBC and Cadbury Adams, and winning pitches for Vodafone and Egyptian Tourism. Ramy has worked with Leo Burnett Cairo, DDB Dubai and BBDO UAE, to lead brands such as Orange, PepsiCo, Henkel, Glad, Etisalat and Lipton Ice Tea. He played a major role in charting DDB’s success and has won numerous awards for the agency. A project he is proud of is “Lucky or Not” for Etisalat which was awarded best film of the year by Vimeo and exceeded set KPIs.Avi Bhojani, Group CEO, BPG said: “BPG is an Integrated by Design’ agency where creative, communications, media, data, CX and content converge under one roof. This gives brands the freedom and ability to plan and execute their marketing with the customer truly at the centre. We are increasingly seeing that customers expect more from every interaction they have with brands across multiple touchpoints. I’m confident that Darius and Ramy will leverage their CX and creative expertise and BPG’s 40-year market insights in the region to deliver exciting outcomes for brands and clients both from the government & private sectors.”