Leo Burnett Dubai has won the entire Ferrero Group's portfolio of brands in the GCC following a competitive multi-agency pitch.

Dubai, UAE, April 10,2017

The new partnership will see the agency assigned a holistic 360-degree scope of managing all through the line, social and digital aspects for the entire Ferrero portfolio of brands in the GCC.

Following a competitive pitch, Leo Burnett won the Ferrero account from Lowe and Grey.

Guido Ferralasco, Managing Director of Ferrero for the Gulf, said: “Ferrero is very pleased to have assigned Leo Burnett as our new Creative Agency. The selection was made based on a pitch where Leo Burnett showed strong competencies and a deep understanding of the local markets, demonstrating exceptionally creative and integrated ideas across all channels.”

He added: “When it comes to our ambition of growing our business across the Gulf and developing customized communications aimed at our local consumers, we are confident that our strategic partnership with Leo Burnett will play a significant role in achieving such objectives.”

Kamal Dimachkie, Executive Regional Managing Director at Leo Burnett Dubai, added: “We are thrilled to be joining forces with the Ferrero Group in the GCC and we look forward to the task of managing their portfolio across all communication channels. This is an exciting development, and we recognize that it is a huge responsibility. Throughout this assignment, we will work closely with our Leo Burnett Saudi Arabia team to deliver culturally relevant creative, that is grounded in today’s consumer aspirations and challenges.”

Ferrero began its story in the little town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, with a consolidated turnover of over 10 billion euros, Ferrero is amongst the market leaders in the confectionery sector and the third worldwide Group in the chocolate confectionery market.

The Ferrero Group currently employees 41,000 people across 53 countries; it has 22 production plants around the world, of which 3 are part of the Michele Ferrero Entrepreneurial Project in Africa and Asia. In addition, at the beginning of 2015, the Group set up the Ferrero Hazelnut Company (HCo) that includes 6 agricultural companies and 8 manufacturing plants. Ferrero products such as Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Raffaello, Tic Tac and the Kinder line, are present and sold in more than 170 countries; they have become part of the collective memory and customs of many countries, where they are truly loved generation after generation and often considered as cultural icons.

Furthermore, Ferrero has a social responsibility in its DNA. Product freshness and high quality, careful selection of the finest raw materials, sustainable agricultural practices and continuous research and innovation are some of the key elements of Ferrero’s success. Moreover, Ferrero continues to invest in local communities thanks to the Ferrero Foundation, the Michele Ferrero Entrepreneurial Project and the Kinder+Sport programme.

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About Leo Burnett MENA
Since its inception in 1981 as the first multinational agency in the region, the Leo Burnett Middle East and North Africa group of companies has always been progressive in its thinking and approach.

From a single brand agency, Leo Burnett has grown into a comprehensive integrated communication network. It is a full service agency, offering brand planning, account management, creative/design-print production, Below-The-Line (BTL), corporate communications, digital communications, direct marketing, database management, event management, interactive marketing/CRM, promotional marketing, retail marketing, market research, media planning and buying, public relations, product launches, outdoor advertising and sales promotion.

The group offers both specialization and holistic integration to answer the ever-changing needs of both clients and the marketplace.

The Leo Burnett Group MENA is headquartered in Dubai with offices in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Beirut, Amman, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Cairo and Casablanca, and an affiliation office in Algeria.

The Leo Burnett Group of Companies consists of Leo Burnett (Cross-Channel Brand Agency), Leo Burnett/Arc (Cross-Channel Activation Agency), SapientRazorfish (Digital Agency), Atelier (Luxury Agency), MSL (PR Consultancy).

A network team of close to 750 talented employees is committed to enhancing their clients' competitive advantage through an integrated, multidisciplinary communications approach that converts brand buyers into brand believers.

A restructuring in Publicis Groupe - the ‘Power of One’, launched in 2015 has seen all Publicis entities reunited under one roof and one management team. In this model, all agency brands share an operational backbone, combining the power and expertise of the Solution Hubs with the scale required to win. As a Connecting Company for the Connected Age, Publicis Groupe is driven by a common purpose, a powerful spirit, shared behaviors, great character and a relentless focus on clients.

© Press Release 2017