The Memac Ogilvy Group and CB’a Design Solutions have joined forces as equal partners to launch a new international design solutions company, called CB’a Memac, across the MENA Region; it was announced today, Wednesday 28 May 2008.
CB’a Memac has chosen Dubai for its Regional Headquarters and revealed plans to open ten offices across MENA over the next five years.
This new company has been formed by Memac Ogilvy; the leading MENA diversified marketing services group, and CB’a, the world-renowned design solutions company based in Paris, with branches all over Europe.
Both companies are part of WPP.
Memac Ogilvy began life in the Gulf twenty five years ago and now has offices spread across the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA).
Edmond Moutran, Memac Ogilvy’s Chairman and Chief Executive explained:
“The Memac Ogilvy Group is experiencing rapid and record expansion across the region. This is for the whole range of our integrated, or 360 degrees, creative marketing services, which are provided for all types of clients to reach all audiences.
Our disciplines now cover advertising, direct marketing, customer relationship management, digital influence, public relations and most recently activation.”
“Now is the time to add proven world class design solutions to our MENA offerings. The aesthetic international creative style of CB’a and unique French flair has taken them to the highest levels of reputation in Europe. This will now join together with our key MENA knowledge and capabilities to create a leading brand consultancy across the region” he added.
CB’a Design Solutions is a specialist in Brand Identity with its main expertise being: Packaging, Corporate Identity, Retail Architecture and Digital Design. Today, their network comprises of 9 offices throughout Europe, which are leading projects around the world. CB’a has an impressive portfolio of clients including: Nestlé, Unilever, L’Oréal, Emaar, Bank Al Maghrib, Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière, Carrefour and Alstom.
CB’a’s creative work was presented at the new company launch, including many other examples of award-winning activities. The new CB’a Memac company brochure was also revealed in Dubai for the first time, illustrating creative examples with the backdrop of the inspiring Louvre.
Louis Collinet, founder and CEO of CB’a, added: “Since its foundation in 1982, CB’a has always remained true to its origins: Creativity and France. The combination of these two has ensured that the unique CB’a French creative flair has achieved recognition and continues to attract new clients around the world.”
“Thanks to the vision, creative insight, dedication and strong leadership of Eddie Moutran, Memac Ogilvy has established themselves as the leader in 360 degrees communication solutions in MENA and starting today, combined with the CB’a French creative flair, together we will create new opportunities and achieve new successes.”
CB’a Memac chose Dubai for its headquarters because the Emirate has now become one of the world’s leading cities for retailing and branding activity. It was the venue of the first “International Design Forum” in 2007 and has a Design Museum under construction.
Government statistics confirm that Dubai is the number one duty free retail brand tourist destination in the world.
Also, according to a recent 2008 Report “How Global is the Business of Retail” by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the UAE is ranked as the most international retail market outside of Europe, ahead of China, Russia, Singapore and the US.
Ayman Hammed commented: “CB’a Memac is a true product of its founders and their visions. It will combine Memac’s regional insights with CB’a’s creative flair to produce superior solutions for its clients. The time has come for firms in the region to have an alternative to what is on offer in this market. We will provide world class solutions that meet local needs and help our partners unlock their untapped potential. No place is more suitable for this task than Dubai.”
