Dubai, April 16 2008: The first ever MARKETING 08 event is set to open its doors to all the marketing-enthusiasts, from the passionate lovers to the most senior and experienced professional marketers, here in Dubai at the Al Murooj Rotana hotel on April 20th.

The event is off to a flying start and there is an exceptional line-up of topic discussions to be presented and moderated by 30+ key industry experts. From the creators of Leaders in Dubai, MARKETING 08 is the first event of its kind in the region encompassing the most recent hot topics of this rapidly evolving industry.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Alan Kelly, Divisional Director of Leaders Presents, the creators of MARKETING 08, said: "The three days has already created quite a stir in the marketing arena. The number of registered guests has sky-rocketed with applications still coming in by the minute. We highly encourage all avid lovers of the industry to apply right now as places are filling up fast. We cannot wait for MARKETING 08 to start and neither can our guest speakers!"

"In fact if you are a fan of Malcolm Gladwell, also known to us as a Marketing Guru, why not book the entire event to receive an exclusive invitation to a private networking VIP function with him. I believe it is every marketer's dream".

Malcolm Gladwell, author of two New York Times #1 bestsellers, 'The Tipping Point' and 'Blink', said that he had "accepted the invitation to speak at the event due to the great need to talk about marketing because of the tremendous growth and diversity of the region." Adding to which he mentioned that he would use examples from art and literature to describe the challenges facing marketers in his presentation "Bringing Creativity to Your Business in Experimental Times". Mr. Gladwell will provoke discussions and further thinking, and bring perspectives from outside the Middle East by incorporating the power of thought, first impressions, rapid cognition and economic influences.

The UAE is fast becoming the top destination in the region with a forecasted and record breaking number of visitors flocking to the country this year for both leisure and business purposes. Needless to say, events in Dubai attract delegates and trade visitors from around the world amongst them conference-goers and exhibitioners. MARKETING 08 is another, yet exceptionally unique attraction this year providing an engaging, innovation-generated and open approach to marketing. The event titled "Creativity in Experimental Times" will feature social networking sites, consumer generated media (CGM), revenue opportunities, digital marketing, green marketing initiatives, SMS and mobile internet marketing amongst others in the form of keynote presentations, interactive sessions, panel session debates and a choice of three tailor-made afternoon breakout sessions.

The first in the series, MARKETING 08, is endorsed by the leading international professional marketing body the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). Key speakers include the renowned author of two New York Times #1 bestsellers, 'The Tipping Point' and 'Blink', Malcolm Gladwell, IBM's Vice President-Marketing Northeast Europe, Katharyn White, Former Private Secretary to HRH The Princess of Wales, Patrick Jephson, Former International Chairman of CIM, Paul Gostick, OgilvyOne Middle East's Former CEO, James Duthie and Anthony Lawrence, Group Director of Marketing for the Jumeirah Group.

-Ends-

About Marketing 08
Marketing 08 will be different from all regional marketing conferences that came before it, not just focusing on the traditional marketing stalwarts of media and advertising but reflecting the extremely broad nature of professional marketing today, delving into key areas of both regional and international marketing. Marketing 08 is the beginning of a new platform for real debate and dialogue amongst marketing professionals and business leaders from across the Middle East. It will undoubtedly be the beginning of a new standard in marketing conferences in the new age of marketing. 

From the creators of Leaders in Dubai, Marketing 08 brings you practical and creative solutions, not just theory, in an intimate, relaxed environment. Hear up-to-date international and regional marketing trends, and fact based practical ideas to solve the specific marketing challenges that you face today. Plus, exchange ideas and past successful campaigns with your peers in facilitated networking sessions.

Website: www.leaderspresents.com/marketing

About Leaders
Leaders Presents is a new division designed to provide the IIR delegate a new level of conference experience. Born from the success of the Annual Leaders in Dubai Business Forum, Leaders events stand out from the rest with superior levels of speakers, up to date topics and an all round level of excellence within the execution of the events. The flagship event- Leaders in Dubai is a meeting of over 1,500 of the regions most eminent business leaders from across all industries who come together to network, learn and debate on the future of business and share experiences from some of the most popular business, economic and political leaders across the globe. Leaders Presents have launched a number of other highly successful events recently including the acclaimed Management Innovation Forum which launched in 2007 and was met with rave reviews, and the Middle East Business Achievement Awards; honouring regional business leaders for their excellence and contribution to business. 2008 now sees the launch of a variety of new Leaders Presents event- all of which promise to evoke thought and creativity and give real value to the delegates who attend.

Speakers- current and past at Leaders Presents events include Colin Powell, Jack Welch, Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Kofi Annan, Michael Porter, Her Majesty Queen Noor, Tom Peters, Malcolm Gladwell and Thomas Friedman.

Website: www.leaderspresents.com

About CIM
The Chartered Institute of Marketing is the leading international professional marketing body with some 50,000 members worldwide. First established in 1911 it defines the marketing standards that operate in the UK and is the global champion of best marketing practice. The Institute exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners, enabling them to deliver exceptional results for their organisations. It does this by providing membership, qualifications and training to marketing professionals around the world.

Website: www.cim.co.uk

About the Speakers
For the complete speaker's biographies, please visit: www.leaderspresents.com/marketing

Speakers mentioned in this press release:

Malcolm Gladwell has an incomparable gift for generating value by interpreting groundbreaking research in psychology, sociology and neurology and applying it to business. In 2005, Time Magazine named Malcolm one of the 100 Most Influential People. He is the author of two New York Times #1 bestsellers, 'The Tipping Point' and 'Blink'. Malcolm's first book embedded the concept of 'The Tipping Point' in our everyday vocabulary and gave organisations new tools for understanding how and why change happens, and how to create positive epidemics of ideas and behaviour. In 'Blink' he analyses first impressions - the judgments we make unconsciously and instinctively - and he explores how we can master this important aspect of successful decision-making. He is currently a staff writer for the New Yorker magazine and previously, he was a reporter for the Washington Post.

Katharyn White brings twenty years of international sales and marketing experience to her current mission as Vice President, Marketing, IBM Northeast Europe. Katharyn leads IBM marketing and strategy for hardware, software, and services portfolios.  She is also a member of IBM's global senior leadership team, the integration and values team and the Chair of the Northeast Europe Climate Change Steering Board. Katharyn led the integration and transition of IBM's innovative partnership with Lenovo, which acquired IBM's personal computing business. Katharyn was previously Vice President for IBM Market Intelligence, Industry and Solutions Marketing, and prior to that she led Distribution Channels Marketing for IBM Europe Middle East Africa. Katharyn's first assignment in Europe was Vice President, Marketing for IBM's PC Division. Before that she was Vice President, Worldwide Sales, focusing on delivering PC solutions across the IBM portfolio, and Sales Director working on global accounts. Prior to joining IBM in 1996, Katharyn held positions in product management, marketing and manufacturing for DuPont. She began her career in sales and marketing positions at Hewlett Packard. Katharyn is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University (Mechanical Engineering and Material Science) and holds a Masters in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Patrick Jephson was born and raised in Ireland. He has a Master's Degree in Political Science from Cambridge University. After ten years as an officer in the Royal Navy he was selected to join the Royal Household, serving for eight years as Equerry and as the first and only Private Secretary (Chief of Staff) to Diana, Princess of Wales. He was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for personal service to the Sovereign. His work for Princess Diana involved daily working contact with British and foreign officials at all levels up to and including head of state. He also organised Diana's international visits and journeyed with her to destinations such as the USA, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.  Some of these experiences are recalled in his book Portraits of a Princess: Travels with Diana. Patrick also managed the Princess's relations with a wide range of British institutions including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, Parliament, the City of London, police and security services, the news media and the film and entertainment industries. In addition he controlled the Princess's links with the voluntary sector and wrote the majority of her speeches, messages, forewords and public correspondence. He then spent eighteen months as a senior consultant at Lowe Bell Communications before writing, on Princess Diana's death, his account of life in royal service. His first book Shadows of A Princess (a New York Times and Sunday Times of London bestseller) was reviewed as "the most indelible and authentic portrait of the people's princess." As writer and presenter of television documentaries, a contributor to current affairs programmes worldwide and a discriminating writer on royal affairs, he has a unique ability to decode the messages hidden in official communiqués and in tabloid gossip. 

Paul Gostick B.Sc.(Hons), DipM, FCIM, FRSA, MCMI and Former International Chairman, The Chartered Institute of Marketing is an a experienced business and marketing professional with significant management and channel experience gained with major US and European high technology multinationals and in not-for-profit organisations. Paul was elected International Chairman of The Chartered Institute of Marketing in May 2004 with responsibility for leading, setting and maintaining the strategic direction of the world's largest professional body for marketing. He has worked in high technology industries for 29 years, holds an Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering, the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, and is a Chartered Marketer. Paul has broad experience of marketing and management in IT and high technology across many vertical markets - finance, telecommunications, retail, manufacturing, energy and public sector. He specialises in services, B2B marketing and branding. He is an accomplished presenter and has spoken at conferences on various business topics in the UK, USA, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Middle East and Africa. Paul gained the Institute's Diploma in Marketing 1989 and became a full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 1990 and was elected Fellow in 1999. He is also a member of the Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. As a keen supporter of Continuing Professional Development he was amongst the first marketers in the world to achieve individual Chartered Status in October 1998. Paul has worked for a number of multinationals - Sun Microsystems, Digital, Tektronix, Bull HN and Brown Broveri Kent in various Technical, Marketing and Managerial positions. 

Nick Wiggin has recently joined Ansible as Managing Director EMEA. He brings his 15 years of media experience, with the last 7 years focussed on mobile media, to help advertiser and agency clients maximise the impact of mobile advertising through the Ansible Full Service business. He set up his own mobile specialist company, WhoHow, in early 2003, successfully cultivating strong international relationships with agency groups and mobile operators. Last year Nick helped launch a mobile ad serving business in Asia and the Middle East, cultivating relationships with Etisalat, Du and a number of local UAE based advertising agencies and media companies. WhoHow was instrumental in the launch, acquisition and strategic development of mobile businesses for clients such as WPP, Aeigis, Mitsui and Endemol. Before setting up his own company Nick worked in South East Asia and Europe for the media agency OMD where he was directly responsible for multi-market projects and staff in 3 regional offices. Nick was Chairman of the Mobile Marketing Association for two terms from 2005 to 2007, responsible for developing the mobile advertising standards initiative and re-writing the 'Code of Conduct'. He has a passion for helping the mobile industry overcome hurdles such as metrics and standards to make mobile advertising happen, hence following his MMA role with a strategic advisory position on mobile advertising at the GSM Association.

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© Press Release 2008