BPG GROUP
BPG Group, a major integrated marketing communications company in the Middle East, announced a strategic shift in the way it engages its clients at its 15th annual workshop held in Dubai recently. The thrust of the new strategy, developed to better address client needs in the changing economic climate, is to deliver integrated marketing communications solutions. Speakers included Toby Hoare, board member of BPG, CEO JWT Europe and CEO Team HSBC; John O’Keefe, WPP Worldwide creative director; Ken Mandel, VP & MD, Yahoo South East Asia; Paul Bell, chief executive, Bell Pottinger Sans Frontiers Group, and Ozgur Aksugur, Global COO, Blue Interactive, Singapore. Over 215 employees and associates from 15 different countries attended the three-day offsite workshop. Hoare emphasized the importance of investing in disciplines like digital, branding and public relations, which are growing much faster than the overall communications industry.”
NCBC
NCB Capital (NCBC) has announced the appointment of Hamed Mohammed Fayez as head of asset management. Fayez will be responsible for growing the range of local Saudi, regional and international asset management services that NCBC offers its clients, as well as expanding its money market and global fixed income businesses. Most recently, Fayez, a Saudi national, was the CEO of Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia, establishing the bank’s presence in the Kingdom and leading local product development and placement. He also previously held a senior role at that firm managing its investment management business in the Kingdom. NCBC CEO Ahmed Farid, said: “This important appointment reflects our strategy of strengthening our core local and regional asset management business while at the same time growing Saudi talent. He will help to further enhance our position as a provider of world-class asset management services.” Fayez said: “In joining one of the largest regional asset managers, I look forward to working closely with the talented team at NCBC.”
MERCEDES-BENZ
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been awarded the highest number of overall points for the third time running in the latest J.D. Power APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) study. Other winners in their segment were the Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster and, for the first time, the smart, which its buyers appreciate as the best car in the Sub-Compact Cars segment. “This result by the internationally renowned market research institute underlines the high level of Mercedes customers’ satisfaction with the quality and design of their new cars,” said Safi Kobeissi, GM, JACO. “The study reflects how satisfied car buyers were with their new cars after driving them for three months between December 2008 and February 2009. Around 81,000 new car buyers delivered their verdict on a large number of aspects in a detailed questionnaire.
SAUDI PETROCHEM
Saudi Petrochem 2009 — the 4th International Exhibition for the Chemicals and Chemical Technology Industry, will be held in Riyadh from Oct. 18-21. It will be orgaized concurrently with Saudi Print 2009 — the 9th International Pre-press and Printing Technology Exhibition, Saudi Plas 2009 — the 9th International Plastics Technology Show, and Saudi Pack 2009 — the 9th International Packing Machinery and Materials Show. Collectively branded as “Saudi PPPP 2009,” the concurrent events will be held at the new, state-of-the-art Riyadh International Exhibition Center aimed at leveraging the Kingdom’s status as the Middle East’s fastest-growing market for the petrochemical, printing, packaging and plastic industries, providing key players in the four sectors an integrated platform to establish a foothold in the lucrative Saudi market.
SIGMA PAINTS
Seminars were held in Riyadh recently by Sigma Paints to explain the first Nano Technology used in Sigma Guardian Nano paint and the benefits to the environment. By holding the seminars Sigma has paved the way for introduction of Nano Technology in the Kingdom through an understanding of the very practical applications and profound implications of their Nano Technology of the new Sigma Guardian Nano paints. Entitled “Painting a Bright Future for the Environment,” seminars were held for the building industry, developers and architects to highlight the advantages of the breakthrough technology of Nano particles that comprise their new range of paints. Keynote speaker was Mike Murphy, Sigma Paints DTS manager, who is widely regarded as an authority and foremost expert on paint technologies worldwide. Also present was Hossam Soliman, its general sales manager for the Kingdom. Sigma Guardian Nano was developed using a nanometric formulation to meet severe environmental challenges such as those found in the Kingdom.
SUZUKI CELERIO
Suzuki Saudia, the sole distributor of Suzuki vehicles in the Kingdom and part of Baramouf Group, claims that its Suzuki Celerio full-option five-door hatchback has gained a 60 percent share in the Kingdom’s compact car market, just a few months after it was introduced to the country. Since its local May 2009 rollout, the model has become popular among young drivers and small and limited-income families due to its low carbon dioxide emission, high fuel efficiency, style, comfort and user-friendliness. Suzuki Saudia recently hosted special technical training sessions for all Suzuki dealers within the GCC and North Africa to familiarize Suzuki’s Middle Eastern after-sales group with the Celerio’s theoretical and practical details. The compact car is the smallest of Suzuki’s world strategic models and is manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corp. subsidiary Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. “We made sure that our distributors and after-sales team were sufficiently prepared to assist customers ahead of the Celerio’s market entry,” said Maher Al-Nabawi, DGM, Suzuki Saudia.
CASIO
Casio has announced the release of its newest camera, the Exilim EX-FH20 features the ultra high-speed burst shooting and HD movie functions, which takes 40 shots per second and records high-speed movies at 1,000 fps. This remarkable new camera is capable of ultra high-speed burst shooting at 40 fps and can record high-speed movies at up to 1,000 fps. Its speed and ease of use truly puts this camera in a class of its own. In recognition of these unique characteristics, with the release of the new EX-FH20, Casio has launched the new high speed EXILIM series, which includes the camera and the EX-F1 launched in March 2008. Casio says it expects the revolutionary capabilities of its high-speed EXILIM cameras to generate entirely new applications for digital photography. Key product highlights include 9.1 effective megapixels and a high power, wide-angle zoom lens, as well as high speed anti-shake function and high-speed night scene setting.
NCIE
Competitive product pricing attracted visitors to National Consumer Industries Exhibition (NCIE), which ended in Jeddah last week. All types of products from Saudi-based factories were displayed throughout the event’s run. They included food products, home devices, plastics, metal tools, clothes, textiles, carpets, furniture, decoration and perfumes. “The increased appeal of Saudi products among other Gulf and Arab countries reflects the excellent quality and success of our products. We are proud of what the country’s industry has attained in terms of development, growth and experience,” said Monther Al-Harthi, chief executive, Al-Rabie Saudi Foods Co. Ltd., one of the exhibitors, which highlighted its products including juices, nectars and drinks, as well as its ‘ready-to-eat’ range of Awal Qatfa Arabic beans, the first solid food item packaged in Tetra Recart packaging in the Middle East, claimed to be the world’s first sterilized carton-based processing and packaging system designed for shelf-stable food products to ensure quality and hygiene.
GULF AIR/BISB
Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has signed a $70 million facility with Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB). This four-year medium-term facility will be used to partly finance eight A320 aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in Q4 2009 and Q1 2010 the carrier ordered last year. “We are glad to have partnered with BIsB, the first Islamic Bank in the country and one of the pioneering Islamic banks in the region,” said Talal Al-Zain, chairman of Gulf Air Board of Directors and chief executive of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company. Mohammed Ebrahim Mohammed, BIsB’s CEO, said: “Just like Gulf Air that has a long and established presence in the aviation sector, BIsB has also maintained a prominent presence in the Islamic banking sector by adopting innovative Islamic investment and financing products.”
ELAF GROUP
Elaf Group, a pioneer and leader in the Saudi Arabian travel, tourism and hospitality sectors and a subsidiary of the Saudi Economic Development Company, recently discussed the operational effects of the AH1N1 pandemic with its certified dealers in Egypt. Elaf’s President Ziad Bin Mahfouz, Marketing and Business Development Manager Ehab Eid, and Haj and Umrah Department Deputy Manager Tarek Sleem attended the meeting and authorized the release of SR510,000 for the deployment of a major marketing campaign aimed at cushioning the local business impact of the outbreak. Elaf Group conducted a special workshop to direct its Egyptian partners towards opportunities being opened despite challenging market conditions. The sessions focused on how to overcome the effects of the health scare, particularly by observing more stringent safety protocols for travelers. “This substantial investment into Egypt reflects our confidence in the country as a vibrant travel and tourism venue,” said Ziad Bin Mahfouz, President, Elaf Group.
