THG
Joseph Ghossoub, president and CEO, The Holding Group (THG), has been honored with the first Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year Award at the first Dubai International Advertising Festival (DIAF)earlier this week. Presented by the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, the DIAF incorporates the Dubai Lynx Awards — the Middle East and North Africa Advertising Awards for creative excellence. Ghossoub received the award from Terry Savage, chairman, Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, in Dubai. Receiving the Award, Ghossoub urged the communications industry in the region to think of new ways to meet the challenges of the shifting socio-economic realities. “Ours is an industry in constant transition and the pace of change is gaining momentum with every year,” he said. Ghossoub dedicated his award to the ‘abundance of energy, enthusiasm and creativity of the young talent’ in the industry.
ACCESS
The US Consulate General in Jeddah awarded scholarships to 15 male students and 15 female students to pursue English language studies. Cultural Affairs Officer Diana Kramer and Information Officer Gerry Kaufman met with the girls’ and boys’ classes, respectively, to congratulate them on their scholarships. They presented each student with an award certificate from the consulate general and noted that the scholarship opportunity was brought to them by the American people through the Department of State as part of the continued US commitment to mutual understanding and friendship with the people of Saudi Arabia. The ACCESS English scholarship program provides two years of free English language instruction to outstanding 14-18 year olds through a local partnership with the English language institute Direct English. Students from the Jeddah area were openly invited to apply, and were selected based on their school records and age.
DEUTSCHE BANK
Deutsche Bank Global Prime Finance has secured the number one position as the leading global provider of prime brokerage. In the worldwide industry benchmark survey, conducted by the US magazine Global Custodian, Deutsche Bank was voted as the number one prime brokerage provider, up from number two last year. The bank was also rated as the number one global provider in North America and number one bank in Europe. Deutsche Bank received the most “Top Ratings” in the survey, with awards in various categories and was also awarded the most “Best in Class” awards of all survey participants. Deutsche Bank also received all “Best in Class” awards in the Capital Introduction category. The survey, which spanned four continents and polled close to 2,800 hedge fund managers saw Deutsche Bank voted as best in class in every category by North American, Japanese, European and Asian hedge fund managers.
EMPA
EMPA, one of the largest IT distribution companies operating in the MENA region, has recently been awarded the 2007 Philips best distributor award following its successful distribution strategy for Philips LCD monitors across the Middle East. The award, handed out in Istanbul recognized EMPA’s stepped-up efforts to provide optimum market exposure to the Philips brand. EMPA also announced that its successful partnership with Philips has been further boosted with the recent signing of a new MoU, which extends the partnership to cover Pakistan and the whole of the Middle East and Africa region. “It is an honor to be recognized by Philips as its best distributor in the region. This award reflects the successful strategy that we have implemented and the hard work and dedication being exerted by the whole EMPA organization and our network of partners. This distinction will also serve as an inspiration for us to maintain our commitment to service excellence,” said Shahood Khan, director sales and marketing, EMPA.
OLYMPUS/SPS
Olympus Imaging Corporation & Samir Photographic Supplies (SPS) launched the “E-3” professional digital camera, the new flagship of Olympus E-System digital SLR cameras for professionals and serious amateurs at a launch event in Jeddah on Saturday. The new camera is full of advanced technical features such as, high-speed performance thanks to the world’s fastest AF with 11-point-full twin cross censoring, high-speed sequential shooting at five frames/sec, and high-speed shutter up to 1/8000 sec. It boasts an ultrahigh image quality thanks to a built-in image stabilization mechanism with a compensation range up to 5 EV steps, an advanced 10.1-megapixel High-Speed Live MOS Sensor, and the “TruePic III” image-processing engine. It enables expanded shooting possibilities thanks to ‘Free-Angle Live View’ that uses a dual-axis flexible-angle Hyper Crystal LCD monitor with free horizontal/vertical swiveling. High reliability is yet another feature, said Omar Al-Hindi, the marketing director of SPS.
ZAIN
Zain in Jordan, part of the Zain group, a leading mobile telecommunications provider in the Middle East and Africa, has rolled out its mobile roaming services on aircraft. Following Zain in Jordan’s lead, nine more operators within the Zain Group will soon be providing the same services on aircraft including Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. With the new service, Zain will become a market leader and among the first few mobile operators in the world to introduce such services to its customers. The new technology, installed by AeroMobile, was successfully tried by Zain customers, during the world’s first commercial flight to take place with the new innovative technology. The voyage took place recently between Dubai and Casablanca on Emirates Airlines. “With mobile phones becoming an important part of life, we are delighted to offer our customers the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family and colleagues during flights,” said Zain’s CEO Dr. Saad Al-Barrak.
SHUAA
SHUAA Asset Management, a division of Dubai-based SHUAA Capital, a major financial services institution in the region, has announced that the Arab Islamic Gateway Fund - the Islamic version of its flagship Arab Gateway Fund - was awarded Best MENA Fund 2007 by Failaka Islamic Fund Awards at its third annual award ceremony. Established in 1996, Failaka Advisors was the first research organization to monitor advances in the field of Islamic investment funds. The Arab Islamic Gateway Fund was launched in October 2006 and has returned over 47 percent during 2007. The investment objective of the Arab Islamic Gateway Fund is to achieve capital appreciation primarily through investments in equities listed on Arab stock markets as per the Shariah principles interpreted by the Shariah Advisers of the fund - London-based Dar Al Istithmar. The Arab Islamic Gateway Fund is open to all GCC, regional and international institutional investors. “We are honored that the Arab Islamic Gateway Fund was awarded Best MENA Equity Fund 2007,” Haissam Arabi, MD, SHUAA Asset Management, said.
Emaar
Emaar, The Economic City (Emaar EC), the Tadawul-listed company developing King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), recently launched the sale of residences within a new integrated residential community in Bay La Sun Village. The new cluster features apartments and duplex apartments that offer boulevard and waterfront views. Located on the Bay La Sun Village Boulevard, the new community is an exclusive gated neighborhood that ushers in a metropolitan lifestyle. Residents can enjoy a range of lifestyle amenities including easy access to the promenade and the Boulevard featuring an extensive array of boutique outlets and restaurants. “The launch of the new residential units in King Abdullah Economic City is in line with the overall city development plan to offer opportunities for people to live and work in a unique and modern environment. Bay La Sun Village is the first integrated residential community within KAEC, and is setting a new trend in defining modern lifestyles in the Kingdom,” Nidal Jamjoom, executive director for commercial affairs, Emaar EC, said.
