Agency lands $12 million EDB global campaign creative account
M&C Saatchi has returned to the region and has set up a regional hub in Bahrain.
The move coincides with, but is not a direct result of, the agency winning the $12 million creative global ad campaign for Bahrain's Economic Development Board (EDB) according to the regional head Richard Chalk.
M&C Saatchi opened in Dubai some 15 years ago. Subsequently RSVP Marketing and Communications headed by Mohammed Abudl Hadi became its regional affiliate. According to ameinfo December 2004, however, the relationship was terminated pending a possible court case.
Chalk told GMR its work with Dubai-based Oqyana Real Estate owned by Investment Dar in Kuwait was also another reason for the opening.
"We are basing our business on work we already have," he said. "We want to be close to our clients. We chose Bahrain because we believe it's an extremely good place to open our regional hub."
The 'Business friendly Bahrain' campaign - running in the GCC, Asia and Europe - launched just before Bahrain's F1 Grand Prix to highlight the Kingdom as a business-friendly, cost-competitive centre with a highly skilled workforce.
London-based Weber Shandwick will handle the PR working in coordination with FP7 Bahrain while Zenith Optimedia was named media planner. UK based IPSO Mori will evaluate the three year campaign which totals $15 million.
© Gulf Marketing Review 2008
