02 September 2008
The growth of online media in recent years has stirred up the notion that traditional advertising will eventually become obsolete but global and regional industry leaders think differently.
"The Google business model has without doubt introduced a significant transformation into the overall advertising space, but it will not replace the traditional advertising model," said Lord Timothy Bell, Chairman of Chime Communications, during his recent visit to the UAE.
Lord Bell reassured the audience that the growth of online media will not overturn the advertising industry's status-quo in the long run. "Like television in the 1960s, online media will eventually become integrated as part of the wider offering of traditional advertising media," Lord Bell said. Traditional advertising expenditures in the US, the largest advertising market remained flat in 2007; a sharp contrast to the exponential growth in revenues accrued by new media companies such as Google.
He was addressing a gathering of media professionals during the 14th Annual Offsite of BPG Group, a Dubai-based integrated marketing communications firm, held in Abu Dhabi recently. BPG Group is a strategic partner of Chime Communications.
Lord Bell was a founding member of Saatchi & Saatchi and has been a key advisor to chairmen and chief executives of many of Britain's leading firms and organisations, and foreign heads of state and international business leaders and politicians.
Avi Bhojani, Group CEO of BPG Group, said: "BPG Group has undergone steady expansion since its inception 27 years ago. As an integrated marketing services company, our growth has been meteoric. BPG Group has grown at a compounded annual aggregated rate of more than 51 per cent year on year for the last five years. Our growth has largely been driven by our ability to understand the needs of the market and provide an integrated offering of multiple services through a seamless delivery system".
More than 220 BPG team members from across the GCC gathered for three days of learning and celebration. The event too saw some of the renowned names in the international and regional marketing communications industry offering participants the best of their experience and invigorating perspectives. Keynote speakers included Ranjan Kapur, Country Manager, WPP India, and Roy Haddad, Chairman and CEO JWT Mena Group.
The event also had workshop sessions for each strategic business unit; lecturers from the New York Film Academy delivered a presentation on TV production management. Mark Linder, Global Client Leader, WPP, offered the BPG Media team an insight into the world of mobile communications, which included live conferencing with experts in Europe. BPG Advertising obtained useful insights from their session with Subhash Kamat, Group CEO of Bates 141 in India.
BPG Group caters to a wide range of international and regional clients in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia through its wide network of offices and affiliates that are supported by a staff of more than 230 people from more than 31 nationalities. In addition to its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, BPG also has its own offices in Kuwait, Jeddah, Doha, Baghdad and Beirut.
The group is made up of specialist SBUs covering the disciplines of advertising, activation, public relations, branding and design, public advocacy, media asset management and healthcare marketing. The SBUs work together to deliver an integrated, through-the-line solution for BPG clients.
BPG has been involved in some of the biggest marketing communication initiatives undertaken in the Middle East, including the Dubai Shopping Festival.
The growth of online media in recent years has stirred up the notion that traditional advertising will eventually become obsolete but global and regional industry leaders think differently.
"The Google business model has without doubt introduced a significant transformation into the overall advertising space, but it will not replace the traditional advertising model," said Lord Timothy Bell, Chairman of Chime Communications, during his recent visit to the UAE.
Lord Bell reassured the audience that the growth of online media will not overturn the advertising industry's status-quo in the long run. "Like television in the 1960s, online media will eventually become integrated as part of the wider offering of traditional advertising media," Lord Bell said. Traditional advertising expenditures in the US, the largest advertising market remained flat in 2007; a sharp contrast to the exponential growth in revenues accrued by new media companies such as Google.
He was addressing a gathering of media professionals during the 14th Annual Offsite of BPG Group, a Dubai-based integrated marketing communications firm, held in Abu Dhabi recently. BPG Group is a strategic partner of Chime Communications.
Lord Bell was a founding member of Saatchi & Saatchi and has been a key advisor to chairmen and chief executives of many of Britain's leading firms and organisations, and foreign heads of state and international business leaders and politicians.
Avi Bhojani, Group CEO of BPG Group, said: "BPG Group has undergone steady expansion since its inception 27 years ago. As an integrated marketing services company, our growth has been meteoric. BPG Group has grown at a compounded annual aggregated rate of more than 51 per cent year on year for the last five years. Our growth has largely been driven by our ability to understand the needs of the market and provide an integrated offering of multiple services through a seamless delivery system".
More than 220 BPG team members from across the GCC gathered for three days of learning and celebration. The event too saw some of the renowned names in the international and regional marketing communications industry offering participants the best of their experience and invigorating perspectives. Keynote speakers included Ranjan Kapur, Country Manager, WPP India, and Roy Haddad, Chairman and CEO JWT Mena Group.
The event also had workshop sessions for each strategic business unit; lecturers from the New York Film Academy delivered a presentation on TV production management. Mark Linder, Global Client Leader, WPP, offered the BPG Media team an insight into the world of mobile communications, which included live conferencing with experts in Europe. BPG Advertising obtained useful insights from their session with Subhash Kamat, Group CEO of Bates 141 in India.
BPG Group caters to a wide range of international and regional clients in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia through its wide network of offices and affiliates that are supported by a staff of more than 230 people from more than 31 nationalities. In addition to its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, BPG also has its own offices in Kuwait, Jeddah, Doha, Baghdad and Beirut.
The group is made up of specialist SBUs covering the disciplines of advertising, activation, public relations, branding and design, public advocacy, media asset management and healthcare marketing. The SBUs work together to deliver an integrated, through-the-line solution for BPG clients.
BPG has been involved in some of the biggest marketing communication initiatives undertaken in the Middle East, including the Dubai Shopping Festival.
By Staff Writer
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
