After 18 years promoting creativity at Leo Burnett MENA, Marc Chalhoub is leaving to pursue full-time his longstanding passion for directing TV commercials
Dubai, UAE - After contributing to the creative efforts of Leo Burnett Middle East and North Africa for 18 years, Marc Chalhoub, executive regional creative director, is leaving to pursue full time his longstanding passion for directing TV commercials.
Replacing him is Malek Ghorayeb, who has 18 years of communications experience, including more than 14 years with Leo Burnett. He will head the nearly 80-person creative team from the agency's regional MENA office in Dubai.
Speaking about Chalhoub's departure, Raja Trad, CEO of the Leo Burnett Group of Companies, MENA, said, "After nearly two decades of dedicated service and creative leadership on a variety of businesses, Marc is leaving to explore another facet of his creativity. Throughout his time with the agency, Marc has played a major role in developing creative strategies; conceiving, shaping and crafting executions, and elevating the agency's creative product."
"It is no surprise, but a true consolation that Marc is leaving his home at Leo Burnett to take this new step. We are delighted that we will have the opportunity to work with him on the other side of the creative fence," Trad added.
Ghorayeb has been in advertising since 1987 and joined Leo Burnett in 1991 in Beirut as a copywriter/associate creative director on several local and regional accounts.
"Malek is a passionate creative with a great interest in people's behavior and a deep understanding of the Saudi market in particular and the Arabian Peninsula and MENA markets in general. In his new position, he will continue contributing to the Leo Burnett communications product by leading creative teams across the region in developing big ideas and fresh executions that build brands through integrated communications campaigns," Trad said.
Ghorayeb most recently was executive regional creative director on Procter & Gamble MENA and before that spent eight years in Saudi Arabia, where he led the Leo Burnett Saudi Arabia creative department and headed the creative team for Procter & Gamble's regional assignments across MENA. He also established in 2000 the creative department for Leo Burnett's office in Riyadh. He comes to his new position with a number of creative awards from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Canada under his belt.
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About Leo Burnett MENA
The Leo Burnett Group of Companies, Middle East and North Africa, whose origin dates back to 1974, has always been progressive in its thinking and approach. From a single brand agency, Leo Burnett as a group has grown to encompass a comprehensive range of communications solutions, including advertising, media, public relations, digital and CRM. The group offers both specialization and holistic integration to answer the ever-changing needs of both clients and the marketplace.
About Leo Burnett Worldwide
Founded in Chicago in 1935 with eight employees and three clients, Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc. today operates a global network of over 200 operating units including a variety of specialty marketing services and 94 full-service advertising agencies in 82 countries. Leo Burnett creates ideas that inspire enduring belief for many of the world's most valuable brands and successful marketers, including McDonald's, Disney, Procter & Gamble, Marlboro, Altoids, Heinz, Kellogg and Nintendo.
The world's eighth largest agency network (as ranked by Advertising Age in April 2005), Leo Burnett Worldwide (www.leoburnett.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Publicis Groupe (www.publicis.com)
For more information please contact:
Ward Pincus
Manning Selvage & Lee public relations
Tel: 971 4 367 6163
Fax: 971 4 367 2615
E-mail: ward.pincus@dubai.mslpr.com
© Press Release 2005
