As the leading exponent of the marketing communications industry in the region, the UAE Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) is to host a high level panel of industry figureheads at this year’s Media and Marketing show (MMS).
The inimitable gathering of the region’s leading agency CEOs is set to tackle head-on the very issues – both perennial and those specific to the on-going economic downturn – that are fundamental to the future development of the industry.
According to Nassib Boueri, vice-president of the IAA UAE Chapter, it is appropriate that as the ultimate industry advocate, the IAA has succeeded in bringing together this caliber of industry leaders. “To say that this meeting of minds will be pivotal is not an over exaggeration,” says Boueri. “The industry has experienced substantial change over the last 18 months and it is time to objectively assess the fallout and look for some insightful and constructive solutions that will help the industry to recover its footing and, hopefully, to realign itself for future growth.”
The IAA UAE Chapter considers an essential component of this growth to be the engagement and development of young talent within the industry, and as Boueri adds, “This open forum will offer the opportunity to gauge opinions from a cross section of the industry and hear what our future young professionals have to say.”
Not since the beginning of the economic downturn have such influential industry opinion leaders come together for a frank debate that is certain to offer an insightful evaluation of where the industry stands and to consider in some detail where it is headed, according to the minds of the very people who will take it there. Those individuals are: Raja Fares Trad, CEO Leo Burnett Group MENA, Joseph Ghossoub, chairman & CEO MENACOM Group, Ramzi Raad, CEO TBWA RAAD, Alain Khouri, chairman & CEO Impact/BBDO, Edmond Moutran, chairman & CEO Memac Ogilvy and Roy Haddad, chairman & CEO JWT.
The panel session, entitled ‘Issues in a Recessionary Environment’, will be moderated by Dr. Lance de Masi, president of The American University in Dubai and IAA UAE Chapter president. With Dr. de Masi posing the questions, the panelists and audience will surely enjoy some illuminating debate.
Board executive of the IAA UAE Chapter Events Committee Marwan Kai, explains that providing a platform for thought leadership engagement, exemplified by this event, is one of the key pillars of the IAA’s agenda of work for the next twelve months. “The IAA UAE Chapter is seeking to engage with the industry and the broader business community in various forums: from talent development through our educational series; at our regular networking events; through high profile speaker luncheons; and in ongoing issue, specific discussions with key industry partners,” says Kai.
The IAA UAE Chapter panel session ’Issues in a Recessionary Environment’, takes place from 11am-12.30pm Thursday, November 5 , 2009, at the MMS.
The IAA UAE Chapter is a strategic partner of MMS 2009, which will be held from November 3-5, in Zabeel Hall, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
