IAA Jordan holds its first annual gala dinner
Under the patronage of His Excellency Nasser Judeh, Minister of State for Media Affairs & Communications, the International Advertising Association – Jordan Chapter (IAA Jordan) held its first annual gala dinner on October 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event was attended by over 200 businesspeople, CEOs of advertising and marketing communications’ agencies, in addition to representatives working in both advertising and media sectors.
In addressing the audience during the opening session, IAA Jordan Chapter President Mustapha Tabba expressed “honor and a pleasure to be amongst an astonishing crowd of some of the most renowned and intellectual experts” from the local and regional advertising and marketing communications industry. Distinguished guests included His Excellency Judeh and the Canadian Ambassador to Jordan Her Excellency Margaret Huber, who came to support and celebrate with IAA Jordan. Tabba continued to describe the evening as “an IAA milestone; an evening dedicated to celebrating the advertising and marketing communications industry with our members, partners and friends.”
In his speech Tabba talked about the industry’s growth which is worth JD220 million rate card today compared to the mere JD30 million only a decade ago. Tabba also emphasized the Association’s growth from 15 members back in 2000 when the Association was registered, to 130 members this year with Jordan Chapter members being part of a global network of 4000 members in 56 Chapters across 76 countries.
Pointing out Jordan Chapter’s major achievements over the years, Tabba said: “IAA Jordan has been heavily involved in handling various beneficial and social events and activities such as organizing 3 world class conferences, hosting direct marketing guru Mr. Andy Owen, holding various training courses and arranging football tournaments. The social responsibility has also taken a big share in IAA’s activities, and in this line the Association has worked closely with different organizations and initiatives such as King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Zikra Initiative”.
Moreover, Tabba highlighted IAA’s global pioneering role in leading the first-ever advertising industry meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. This meeting was intended to drive support for a comprehensive UN communications initiative to help combat climate change, and was timed with the start of both the 63rd UN General Assembly and the fifth annual Advertising Week, held concurrently in New York City.
During his keynote speech, His Excellency Judeh expressed his gratitude to be invited to patron the event, praising the Association’s significant role in the advertising and marketing communications industry and stressing on the importance of the cooperation between different sectors in order to raise the bar of advertising and media industry to the highest levels.
The Gala Dinner was also an opportunity to celebrate the advertising and marketing communications industry by honoring Mohammad Khalifeh, one of the industry’s pioneers who established Jordan’s first agency in 1949. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by His Excellency Judeh to Sami Khalifeh, who accepted it on behalf of his father who was unable to attend due to health reasons. Khalifeh delivered a speech wherein he thanked the IAA for recognizing his father’s achievements and highlighted the major milestones in his father’s profession and that he was also Jordan’s first IAA member, joining the global Chapter in 1966.
IAA Jordan also honored one of its main partners; Al Rai newspaper, for its distinguished and continued support for the IAA and the industry. Fahed Al Fanek, Chairman of the Jordan Press Foundation, received the award from His Excellency Judeh and delivered a speech in which he stressed that Al Rai will carry on its endless support to the Association to contribute in developing the advertising and marketing communications industry in the Kingdom.
The Gala Dinner also hosted Mazen Hayek, MBC Group Director of Marketing, PR & Commercial, representing the region’s media giant. Hayek delivered a presentation about the Group’s journey of success and their plans. Hayek also spoke about the major challenges that might face both visual and audio media and Arab satellite channels in the near future.
“Mr. Hayek is a senior figure in the MBC Group, the Middle East’s number one broadcast network that continues to dominate and reinvent regional media. Stemming from this, we believed this will be a golden opportunity to invite him to our event to be a keynote speaker to introduce the audience to the secrets of MBC Group success and the methods and tools they utilize to stay on top,” said Tabba.
Tabba expressed how this gathering forms an effective platform to stay in touch with the practitioners and professionals in this field and said: “We thank each and everyone that contributes in developing media and marketing communications sectors whether they are individuals or companies. We would also like to thank Arab Bank, Al Rai newspaper, Saraya, Arab Orient Insurance Company and Ipsos for sponsoring this event and contributing in its success”.
