WPP companies unveil new Middle East agency

WPP-owned companies Buchanan Communications and JWT PR have joined forces to launch a new specialist creative advertising and design agency based in the Middle East.

Buchanan Middle East (BME), the brainchild of JWT Middle East and North Africa (MENA) chairman and chief executive Roy Haddad, has been launched in response to the demand for expertise in initial public offerings (IPOs) in MENA countries.

The agency, which currently employs 26 people, will provide consumer and financial PR services to clients including Sony Ericsson, HSBC, Visa International and KPMG among others.

The bulk of the new business is being driven by IPO-related activity, with recent business wins including Aldar Properties, Canaccord Capital, AIG and Virgin Megastore.

The agency will headed by Amjed Shaker, who joins the agency from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, where he was general manager for corporate communications. He will work alongside BME managing director Mohamed Ghozeil who moves across from his role as director of planning and communications at Leo Burnett Saudi Arabia.