First Answer Custody FZE, the Dubai entity of Liminal Custody Solutions, a leading provider of digital asset custody and wallet infrastructure solutions, has achieved a significant milestone. The company has secured an Initial Approval from VARA, Dubai's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, and will continue to work towards acquiring a full Virtual Asset Service Provider License from VARA. This marks a pivotal step towards Liminal becoming a trusted custodian for virtual assets within the UAE.Amir Tabch, CEO of Liminal Custody Solutions Middle East stated: "We are thrilled to receive this initial approval from VARA. This achievement underscores our commitment to meeting client needs while adhering to the highest regulatory standards. We look forward to working with VARA to finalize our operations and commence regulated custody services soon."After securing the VASP License, Liminal's team of industry experts and seasoned professionals will oversee its custody operations in the Middle East, implementing robust compliance and security protocols, comprehensive risk management, and thorough audit procedures to safeguard client assets.

Dubai, UAE: Union Coop, a leading cooperative in the retail sector of Dubai, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mohamed Al Hashemi as its Chief Executive Officer. In this pivotal role, Mr. Al Hashemi will steer the cooperative's strategic vision, overseeing the expansion of its business scope and reinforcing its strategic presence within the local and national retail markets.Upon assuming his responsibilities, Mr. Al Hashemi prioritized communication with stakeholders, conducting remote meetings to reaffirm Union Coop's standing as a key player in the country's cooperative landscape. With a focus on development and growth, he is set to collaborate with various divisions, departments, and the experienced team to lead the cooperative into new avenues of success, marking a significant milestone in its business journey.During his inaugural address, Mr. Al Hashemi expressed his commitment to an open-door policy, welcoming feedback and suggestions to enhance retail operations and maintain Union Coop's position as a frontrunner among consumer cooperatives in the country. He outlined a comprehensive vision for the cooperative, emphasizing the implementation of initiatives and plans that involve continuous diversification, digital advancements, and alignment with local and global developments in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape.Recognizing the importance of collaboration, Mr. Al Hashemi stressed the need for strengthened partnerships among entities and stakeholders associated with Union Coop. This collaborative approach aims to provide high-quality services to the cooperative's diverse consumer base, contributing to the overall satisfaction of stakeholders and consumers alike.In line with his strategic vision, Mr. Al Hashemi is keen on investing in the development of employee skills, fostering innovation, and embracing digital technologies. These initiatives are designed to give Union Coop a competitive advantage, attracting premier products and pioneering projects in the vibrant city of Dubai.With an impressive 19-year track record in the retail trade, Mr. Al Hashemi was recognized in 2021 for his outstanding achievements and role in the business sector, earning a coveted spot in the Young Global Leader Forum. His wealth of experience includes successful management of operational processes, contributing to an innovative work environment, and formulating development policies to enhance overall operations.Union Coop looks forward to a new era of growth under the leadership of Mr. Mohamed Al Hashemi, as it continues to uphold its commitment to delivering quality products and services to its valued consumers.

In this exclusive interview with Adgully Middle East, Anna Gidirim, the CEO of Admitad, delves into the company's remarkable journey from a small affiliate marketing network to a global force in performance marketing. Gidirim shares insights into Admitad's major milestones, innovative strategies, and effective team management in a diverse and multicultural environment. She offers a glimpse into the future of performance marketing, how AI is shaping the industry, and her personal approach to maintaining work-life balance. Gidirim's wisdom and experience provide valuable guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals, particularly women, looking to excel in the dynamic worlds of marketing and technology. Excerpts:As the CEO of Admitad, could you share some insights into how the company has evolved since its inception in 2009 ? What are some of the major milestones or achievements that you are particularly proud of ?Since its founding in 2009, Admitad has undergone remarkable growth and transformation. We started as a small affiliate marketing network and have evolved into a global performance marketing company with a wide range of innovative solutions. Some of our major milestones include expanding our international presence and opening offices in 11 countries, developing advanced technology to enhance affiliate marketing, and establishing partnerships with leading brands including Aliexpress, Emirates, Sharaf DG, Dubai Store, Ournass and many more which generate 5 billion dollars annually with our platform. I am particularly proud of our consistent focus on innovation and our ability to adapt to changing market trends. Admitad has a team of over 350 employees worldwide. How do you manage such a diverse and multicultural team ? What are some of the strategies you employ to ensure effective communication and collaboration ?Managing a diverse and multicultural team is a priority for us at Admitad. We value different perspectives and experiences, which contribute to our creativity and problem-solving. To ensure effective communication and collaboration, we utilize digital tools for seamless virtual interaction, encourage open dialogue through regular team meetings, and organize cross-functional projects to foster teamwork and share the experience among different geographies. The company additionally facilitates language courses and provides training for navigating within a multicultural environment, aiming to enhance the efficacy of communication across diverse geos.You have mentioned the focus on innovation, what does it mean for Admitad ? How do you see the future of performance marketing evolving ?The landscape of innovation has become notably challenging due to recent regulatory shifts concerning personal data usage and the latest advancements introduced by prominent players like Apple and Google. Given that our business hinges on tracking, these changes have profoundly transformed its foundation. Had we not proactively anticipated and commenced preparations for these shifts several years ago, our operational capacity would have been compromised. Presently, we persist in refining our tools while foreseeing the forthcoming phases in the evolution of the MarTech sector. For us, this isn't just a matter of thriving; it's vital for our survival.Looking ahead, I see performance marketing continuing to evolve through instant payout solutions, AI, data-driven insights, personalized customer experiences, and stronger collaborations between advertisers and affiliates. There are also more and more small and medium enterprises entering the world of affiliate marketing and recognizing its benefits for growth. Can you provide some key points on how affiliate marketing can drive small and medium businesses forward ?One of the key advantages of affiliate marketing for SMEs which usually does not have large marketing budgets is that instead of paying upfront for clicks or ads, businesses only pay a fee when affiliates bring actual results. It is like having a team of online marketers who earn rewards based on how well they do. This helps smaller businesses show their brand more, reach more customers, and make more sales, without risking a lot of money upfront. Platforms such as Admitad Rise help SMEs to start affiliate campaigns easily and faster. They have a large group of affiliates, saving the trouble of finding them on your own. These platforms also give tools to keep track of data, analyze how well things are going, and handle payments. This makes it easier for small businesses to see how their marketing is doing and make changes if needed.Now we live in an unstable world. Crisis situations can significantly impact businesses in your experience, what are some effective strategies or approaches to survive and get back on track during challenging times ? Can you share any specific examples from your own journey at Admitad ?Crisis situations indeed test a company's resilience. Admitad's approach involves maintaining a strong financial foundation, diversifying our partnerships, and agilely adapting to changing market conditions. For instance, during the economic downturn of 2020, we swiftly adjusted our strategies to focus on sectors that showed growth potential, which helped us navigate the challenging times successfully. We ensure protection against adverse effects on specific industries through our comprehensive diversification across various sectors, coupled with the continuous integration of innovative tools tailored to contemporary customer requirements. The ongoing surge in e-commerce further contributes to our favorable trajectory. Our strategy involves parallel investments in well-established economies such as the USA and Germany, alongside an assertive pursuit of market participation in emerging regions like India and LATAM. Simultaneously, we are strategically entering uncharted territories for the affiliate industry, exemplified by our focus on nascent markets like Indonesia, with the goal of securing pioneering positions.Being a top manager and a mother of an 11 year old boy, how do you manage to maintain a work-life balance ? What are some practical tips or strategies you can share with other professionals who struggle with balancing their personal and professional lives ?Balancing work and personal life is a challenge many professionals face. My approach involves setting clear boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and delegating responsibilities. Regularly scheduling quality time with my family and practicing self-care are crucial as well. It is important to remember that achieving work-life balance is an ongoing effort and may require adjustments over time.As a media contributor on performance marketing topics, what are some common misconceptions or misunderstandings that you often come across ? How do you aim to educate and inform your audience about the potential of performance marketing ?A common misconception is that performance marketing is solely about driving immediate sales. In reality, it is a comprehensive strategy that involves building long-term relationships with customers, enhancing brand loyalty, and optimizing various touch-points across the customer journey. My aim as a media contributor and a conference speaker is to educate the audience about these multifaceted aspects of performance marketing.You said that AI is part of Admitad's strategy, how exactly do you use AI in your business model ?We are currently engaged in the testing of an AI-driven fraud detection program. This initiative aims to identify violations of the network rules and restrictions as well as ensure transparency and traffic quality. We also implement AI technology in Admitad's Instant Payout forecast tool, which permits affiliate publishers to promptly access their earnings, eliminating the need to retain funds for extended periods. The machine learning model, boasting a remarkable 95% accuracy rate, has significantly simplified publisher payouts.What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs or professionals who aspire to reach leadership positions in the business world, particularly in the field of marketing and technology ?To aspiring women entrepreneurs in marketing and technology, my advice is to believe in yourself, embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, and seek out mentors who can guide you. Stay curious, continuously update your skills, and don't be afraid to take calculated risks. Remember, your unique perspective is an asset that can drive innovation and positive change in your chosen field.

Kuwait: Citi recently announced the appointment of Omar Amireh as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for its business in Kuwait. As CEO, Omar will assume overall responsibility for driving Citi’s business in the country, and will report to Ebru Pakcan, Head of Citi’s Middle East and Africa (MEA) cluster.Omar will concurrently continue to serve as Corporate Banking Head, a position he has held since 2018, when he moved to Kuwait. Since starting his career in Jordan in 2005, Omar has held a variety of EMEA-wide roles across Citi’s businesses, having worked in Jordan, Kuwait, and the UK.“Citi has a remarkable history in the region and has been serving clients in Kuwait for more than 70 years. I’m excited to have the opportunity to lead the team, drive business and help our clients succeed” said Omar.Ebru Pakcan, Middle East & Africa Cluster Head said: “Omar’s extensive international experience and his in-depth knowledge of Kuwait will be of great value to our clients in this fast-growing market.” 

Dubai: Havas Middle East has promoted Naveen Chako Mathews as the General Manager for Havas Media UAE. Mathews, who has been with Havas Media for over nine years in the role of Head of Business, will now oversee all media operations in the UAE and client servicing in his new position. He will also support Havas Media's CEO, Houda Tohme, in expanding the agency's offerings. In a restructuring of responsibilities, Tohme will shift her focus to the Media Group's expansion into new Middle Eastern markets and its operations in Saudi Arabia.Expressing his gratitude for the leadership's trust and encouragement, Naveen Chako Mathews, the newly appointed General Manager, shared his excitement about taking on the role and further evolving the agency's offerings. CEO Houda Tohme praised Mathews' dedication and strategic thinking, highlighting his significant contributions and outstanding results that have played a crucial role in the agency's success.Havas also announced the promotions of Fabio Silveira and Dana Tahir to Managing Directors. Fabio Silveira, who has been with the Havas Group in various markets for over a decade, and Dana Tahir, who joined Havas Middle East in 2008, will continue to develop the business in their new roles.Dany Naaman, CEO of Havas Middle East, expressed confidence in the promoted leaders and their ability to drive growth, enhance the quality of work and services, and execute ambitious growth plans in the region. The agency is also undergoing global changes, including a rebranding of its visual identity, which will be rolled out across all markets, including the Middle East, later this year.

Dubai: Over 27 startups by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) offered more than 100 job positions, including full-time, part-time, freelance, and internship opportunities, catering to a broad range of students during “Startup Career Fair 2023” which was organized by Sheraa and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in partnership with Crescent Enterprises.The Fair brought together over 500 enthusiastic students seeking internships and job opportunities and was held at Sheraa Hub at AUS, featured interactive booths and fireside chats alongside leading innovators and entrepreneurs in the UAE and beyond.Attendees had the opportunity to network and build connections with 27 Sheraa-supported startups, which advertised 100+ key positions in sales & business development, product strategy, product development, marketing, IT and software, graphic design, finance, engineering, data management, customer relationship management, filming, editing, and content creation.Founders of startups such as OptimizeApp, Zidyia, Made for You Global, Cycled Technologies, Yspot, exhale, AR Engineering, HoloFair, Kyma, Foloosi Technologies Ltd, Savii, jalebi.io, Lune Technologies, EYouth, FortyGuard, Esaal solutions, and Ludus Films shared their experiences and insights at the fair, offering valuable advice to students looking to enter the startup world. With a focus on providing students with firsthand insights into working at a startup, they discussed topics such as the challenges and benefits of working at a startup, company culture, career growth, and more.Najla Al-Midfa, CEO of Sheraa, said: "Nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs is at the heart of what we do at Sheraa. The Startup Career Fair served as a platform for startups and students to connect on a personal level and discover opportunities for collaboration and growth. The fair's success is a testament to the thriving startup ecosystem in Sharjah and the region, and we look forward to continuing to support and encourage students as they consider careers in our homegrown companies or venture off on their own."Rania Morsi, AUS Interim Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, said: "We are proud to have partnered with Sheraa and Crescent Enterprises to organize the first-ever Startup Career Fair at AUS. This outstanding event brought together students and startups in a dynamic and interactive environment, fostering connections and facilitating networking. We are committed to providing our students with valuable opportunities that enable them to pursue their aspirations and realize their potential. We also strive to create a platform where startups can tap into a pool of exceptional talent."At the interactive booths, students had the opportunity to engage directly with participating startups to explore potential internship or full-time positions. Startups such as OptimizeApp, which enables SMEs to organize social media campaigns through a single app, and Zidyia, the world's first modern subscription-based learning management system built natively on the cloud, showcased their offerings and connected with talented students.The fair's success was a testament to the strong startup ecosystem in Sharjah, as Sheraa and AUS facilitated connections between students and startups. The event provided students with a platform to discover their passions and interests and paved the way for a bright future in innovative companies.

Dubai: GroupM, the leading media investment management group, has announced a major restructuring of its regional leadership in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market. The company will dissolve its APAC-level management structure and move to a sub-regional model, with four market clusters reporting directly to global leadership. This move will do away with the role of APAC CEO Ashutosh Srivastava, (pictured above), who will be seeking new opportunities within WPP, but will continue with the GroupM business to help with the transition to the new model.Under the new structure, GroupM will be led by the heads of four market clusters in the APAC region, including Greater China and North Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia and New Zealand. The decision to move to a sub-regional model is part of GroupM's drive to simplify the business and remove layers, in line with a change earlier this year that saw GroupM EMEA chief Demet Ikiler leaving.GroupM CEO Christian Juhl has emphasized that the restructuring is not a cost-saving move but rather an effort to bring key markets closer to global leadership and fuel growth. The move will enable GroupM to drive media services into agencies on behalf of clients more efficiently.GroupM has a strong history of investment in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, especially in China, over the past several years. One of the key factors behind this success has been the leadership of Srivastava, who has spent over 25 years with WPP in various top positions at Mindshare and GroupM in South Asia and APAC. With the recent restructuring, GroupM is now in a great position to maintain its leadership position in the region and further advance its media agency services to new levels.

Dubai: Publicis Groupe, a leading global advertising and communications company, has announced the appointment of Tony Wazen as CEO of Publicis Media, effective 1 May 2023. In this newly created role, Tony will lead the media agencies of the Groupe in the Middle East, focusing on innovative approaches to drive growth and ensure client success for the long term.Bassel Kakish, CEO of Publicis Groupe Middle East & Turkey said, "Tony is a true visionary and leader in the media industry, and we are thrilled to have him take on this new role. His extensive experience in strategic thinking and in-depth brand communication will be a valuable asset to our clients, and his focus on innovation and growth will help us stay ahead of future challenges and opportunities."Under his guidance, Tony will be instrumental in propelling Publicis Groupe’s ongoing transformation journey forward. This includes prioritising talent development and driving the continued growth and evolution of its media business and future-proofing its products and services to ensure that they remain competitive and relevant in today’s evolving landscape. “Harnessing the power of Publicis Media to drive personalisation at scale, create value and deliver winning solutions to clients will be the raison d'être,” commented Tony Wazen, CEO of Publicis Media ME. "We are driven by a common purpose, shared behaviours, and a relentless focus on our client’s business to drive growth in a platform-powered world. Through our scaled capabilities across strategic investments, insights, analytics, data, technology, commerce, performance marketing and content, we are dedicated to being the trusted transformative partner, guiding clients on their business transformation journey.”Tony's leadership and strategic thinking have been well demonstrated throughout his over 15+ years of experience with Publicis Groupe, which began when he joined Optimedia in 2008. He grew to lead the agency until 2019 to join Digitas where he played a pivotal role in its rapid growth, making it a key pillar agency for the Groupe in the region. Bringing two decades of expertise in marketing and communication planning, Tony has led successful transformations and effective developments for numerous global, regional, and local clients.With Tony at the helm, Publicis Media is poised for continued growth and success across the Middle East. His focus on driving innovation and achieving client success will ensure that the Groupe retains its leadership position within the industry.

Dubai: Citi announced the appointment of Shamsa Al-Falasi as Chief Executive Officer of Citibank, N.A. UAE Onshore Branch, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), subject to regulatory approvals. Shamsa will also assume the role of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) UAE across all Citi entities operating onshore & offshore in the country.Al-Falasi is a seasoned banker with almost two decades of experience at Citi. She joined the bank as a graduate in 2004 and has since worked across many geographies including Dublin, London and Sao Paulo, before being appointed as Senior Business and Relationship Manager for the MENA and Turkey region based in the UAE.In 2015, Al-Falasi was appointed as Head of the Global Subsidiaries Group (GSG) for the UAE and Iraq, a role that was expanded in 2018 to include regional responsibilities as Head of GSG in GCC and Iraq based in the UAE. Since the beginning of 2023, Shamsa has served as interim Citi Country Officer (CCO) and interim CEO of Citibank, N.A. UAE Onshore Branch. She will continue to serve as Interim CCO until a permanent appointment is made.Commenting on her new role, Shamsa said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to be the first Emirati woman to lead Citi’s UAE onshore businesses and operations and contribute to the overall franchise performance. We have a seasoned team in the country, and together we will continue to provide the highest standards of products and services to our clients."Ebru Pakcan, CEO of Citi’s Middle East and Africa Cluster said: "This is a landmark appointment which testifies to Shamsa’s talent and leadership skills. Citi UAE is the bank flagship franchise in the Middle East and Africa region offering a full spectrum of institutional banking and wealth management services, and with Shamsa’s elevation, I am sure the franchise will continue on a trajectory of growth and success.”The UAE serves as the regional hub for Citi’s Middle East & Africa Cluster covering 59 markets. Citi UAE offers a full spectrum of financial services including Corporate & Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Sales & Trading, Transactions Services, Private Banking and Commercial Banking. In addition, it serves as one of Citi’s four global Wealth Management centers and continues to be a major player in local consumer credit services.

Creative Dock, the largest independent corporate venture builder in Europe and MENA is proud to present Gabriela Teissing as its new CEO (Chief Executive Officer). Teissing takes up the position after Martin Pejsa, who remains part of the board in the newly established position of Executive Chairman. Gabriela has been part of the Creative Dock team since 2019, performing the position of Chief Finance Officer and then Chief Operations Officer.“Creative Dock has had a great year in 2022,” says Gabriela Teissing, the new CEO of Creative Dock. “Apart from successful acquisitions of companies in Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, we also grew in terms of revenue as well as in terms of onboarding new colleagues into our multicultural and international team. Our offices in Berlin, Zurich, Prague, and Riyadh employ more than 600 professionals. For this year, we are planning to grow our revenue by more than 50 percent. We will focus on the regions where we have had the strongest presence up to now, which is mostly the DACH region in Europe and the Middle Eastern countries. Apart from growth, our main objective is to constantly improve the services we provide to our clients. We continue to focus mostly on our traditionally strongest fintech sector, not only in the field of banking but also in various other spheres, such as telecommunications, as well as insurtech, where we often help insurance houses digitize their products and increase mobility, as well as with the implementation of other trends. We have been developing retail and its personalisation processes and taking an active part in technological projects in the manufacturing and construction segment. In terms of internal policy, we have been focusing on developing re-usable products which might allow us to provide our clients with quick service. We have actively been developing our Big Data team and have invested into researching the use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Apart from that, we have been developing our own methodologies through employing new processes and technologies. We continue to strive for onboarding specialists and strengthening our current organizational approach,” says Gabriela Teissing, adding: “We never lose sight of where we’ve come from, our roots which grow out of creativity, curiosity, technology, the entrepreneurial spirit and dedication.”Under the directorship of Teissing, Creative Dock will strive to create companies and products which can be enjoyed by millions of people around the globe, and which might help them in their everyday lives.“I am very excited to be able to lead Creative Dock, an independent leader in Europe and the Middle East in the category of building companies for big firms. So-called corporate venture building is still a young field and provides companies with an alternative to investing into venture capital (VC). According to BCG, the success rate of company venture building is two to three times higher than in the traditional venture capital or corporate venture capital (CVC) sectors,” says Gabriela Teissing.Creative Dock’s new CEO will be fully responsible for fulfilling the company’s strategic and financial objectives. As Chief Executive Officer, Teissing will report to the newly-founded Supervisory Board. In total, ten members of Creative Dock's top management will report to Teissing.Gabriela Teissing started her professional career as a managing partner in the Semma communications agency. Between 2011 and 2016, she worked as part of the French Havas Group, one of the world’s leading communications groups. Over the years, she has held various management-level posts, most recently as the Executive Director of the Hercules Transforming Production company.In 2016, she founded the Dazzle Pictures post-production studio, as well as Rebel & Glory, focusing on virtual reality and digital products.