Communications and marketing in Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

Samedi 23 juin 2007 -- L’intérêt porté par les investisseurs arabes à l’Algérie s’est encore confirmé. Memac Ogilvy, leader mondial de la communication et du marketing, vient d’officialiser son entrée dans le marché algérien, jeudi dernier, lors d’une rencontre de son président avec les représentants de la presse nationale organisée à Alger.

«Pour la majorité de nos clients, l’Algérie a rejoint le groupe des marchés de la publicité les plus importants. Nous voulons donc vendre les produits de nos clients et être présents là où les futurs marchés se trouvent», a indiqué M. Edmond Moutran, président-directeur général du groupe Memac Ogilvy pour le Moyen-Orient et l’Afrique du Nord.

«Etudier les comportements des consommateurs algériens et adopter ensuite les meilleures méthodes de branding sont les priorités de notre agence d’Algérie», a-t-il ajouté. La filiale algérienne de ce groupe est dénommée Memac Ogilvy Algérie.

Elle est la huitième dans la région arabe, après le Bahreïn, les Emirats arabes unis, la Jordanie, l’Arabie saoudite, l’Egypte, le Koweït et la Tunisie, en attendant l’ouverture des filiales libyenne et marocaine l’année prochaine.

Son activité sera concentrée en majorité sur les relations publiques, l’activation hors médias des marques, l’interactivité et l’Internet. Elle compte déjà parmi ses clients Unilever, IBM, Kimberly Clark, Kraft Food, Gilette, DHL….

«L’intérêt porté au marché algérien témoigne de la réussite de l’Algérie à bâtir un climat d’affaires dans le domaine de la publicité. Nous espérons donc assurer d’importants contrats avec des clients locaux», a déclaré Mme Syrine Chérif Maaref, directrice régionale pour l’Afrique du Nord.

Pour ce qui est des achats média, le groupe Memac Ogilvy est déjà présent en Algérie depuis quatre ans, à travers l’agence Mindshare qu’il détient à hauteur de 50 %. Diplômé en commerce et marketing de l’université du Missouri aux Etats-Unis, M. Edmond Moutran prévoit des programmes de formation visant à motiver les futurs employés de sa filiale algérienne et à leur permettre d’atteindre leurs objectifs professionnels et personnels tout en avançant au sein de l’entreprise.

«Le perfectionnement et la fidélisation de nos compétences font partie des priorités stratégiques de Memac Ogilvy Algérie. Nous leur offrons un programme global de formation afin de faire régner dans l’entreprise une culture de fidélisation et de perfectionnement», a-t-il dit.

Le président du groupe Memac Ogilvy a indiqué également vouloir promouvoir les connaissances dans les sciences de la communication et du marketing dans le milieu universitaire algérien. Il annonce l’organisation chaque année d’un ou de plusieurs colloques auxquels les étudiants seront conviés et qui regroupent nombre de spécialistes et chercheurs de renommée internationale.

«Ces colloques seront l’occasion de faire le point sur les dernières avancées théoriques et méthodologiques dans les sciences de la communication et du marketing», a-t-il indiqué. Edmond Moutran, président de l’association des agences publicitaires du Moyen-Orient est un homme de grande expérience en matière de communication publicitaire.

Il a été nommé président du groupe Memac Ogilvy. Ce dernier compte plus de 1 000 employés et dépasse 350 millions de dollars de chiffres d’affaires.

Le marché algérien cible d’un groupe arabe de communication et marketing :
Memac Ogilvy ouvre une agence à Alger

[Al-khiyal]

July 12, 2007 -- Orient Planet PR and Marketing Communications, one of the Middle East’s fastest growing public relations and reputation management firms, has announced that it has set up presence in Algeria in a bid to further strengthen its entrenched region network of offices, affiliates, and partners. The move will allow Orient Planet access to greater geographical scope for its consolidated portfolio of services.

Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director of Orient Planet, said, “We are following a strategic expansion strategy with the explicit aim of improving reach, scope and coverage to offer our clients the competitive advantage of targeted message dissemination over a wide geographical region. Algeria is becoming an important regional market for products and services, and we are pleased at having established an affiliation network in the country,”

Orient Planet has entered Algerian markets through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Algeria based marketing services firm SABIN. The agreement will see the two companies collaborate over marketing and public relations campaigns for regional and international clients.

SABIN is the marketing arm of the Sabbah Invest Services conglomerate. The company is a pioneer in offering investment consultancy services to businesspeople and companies seeking access to Algerian markets. SABIN works towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Algeria from the Arab World and international concerns while making efforts to streamline investment, investor support and trade in Algerian markets.

Nazeem Sabbah, President of SABIN’s parent company Sabbah Investment Services, said, “We are delighted to sign this MoU with Orient Planet. Not only will this move allow us to expand our reach into Gulf markets and other Arab countries, but will offer countless opportunities to offer integrated services. SABIN is committed to providing quality marketing consultancy services, and has found a partner that shares our customer-centric ethos.”

With a 30 percent services sector contribution to overall GDP and a population of 33 million, of which 65 percent is under the age of 30, Algeria is a high potential market on the cusp of expansion. A growing media sector and an increasingly vibrant marketing services industry means that the country is assuming a greater role in the regional services sector.

“Algeria is rapidly revamping its economy by focusing on priority areas like banking and judicial reform, and is improving the investment environment by reducing government bureaucracy and liberalizing markets. The country is also embracing joint venture investment opportunities and signed an Association Agreement with the European Union in 2001. All these initiatives are translating into a robust marketing environment that is attracting large foreign investment inflows,” noted Abou Zaki.

Recently, Orient Planet joined Eurocom Worldwide, a leading global network of public relations consultancies offering services to technology concerns and high tech businesses, as Middle East representative. With this move, Orient Planet will leverage Eurocom Worldwide network's reach and resources to provide effective marketing and public relations campaigns for regional and international clients, while adding its in-depth understanding of Middle Eastern markets to Eurocom Worldwide's knowledge base.

Orient Planet PR and Marketing Communications is one of the Middle East’s fastest growing public relations and communications consultancies. With a client portfolio containing some of the foremost corporate brands in the Arab World, and a network of offices, branches and affiliates in most Middle Eastern countries, the company is aiming to expand its operations regionally and internationally.

Orient Planet sets up public relations presence in Algeria

[Al-khiyal]

October 18, 2007 -- Memac Ogilvy, the multinational advertising and communications giant recently opened its second office in North Africa. Surrounded by senior executives and clients, Memac Ogilvy CEO, Edmond Moutran made the trip to Algiers to personally attend this milestone development for the group that has been operating in the Middle East for over 20 years.

This move follows the successful launch of Memac Ogilvy’s first office in North Africa located in Tunisia and headed by Syrine Cherif Maaref. Moutran confirmed that the Tunis office will act as the headquarters for the region, and that further expansion efforts that extend into Libya and Morocco, were expected by 2008 in the province that has become a major priority for a multitude of multinational companies.

Memac Ogilvy CEO expressed his enthusiasm and faith in the newly established operation which in the past was conducted through affiliate offices and said: “We see great potential in this region and a crucial need to be present there, not only to respond to the progression of the advertising and communications industry that has doubled in the last four years, but also to be able to service our clients in emerging markets in the MENA.”

“Memac Ogilvy Algeria was created with the aim to achieve great results and we expect to double revenue within the next three years, as part of our group’s business module and corporate strategy,” added Moutran.

The office in Algiers currently has 12 highly experienced professionals who will support Memac Ogilvy regional clients in addition to a list of high-profile local clients that are yet to be announced.

Syrine Cherif Maaref, who is currently fronting Memac Ogilvy’s efforts in North Africa, explained that the company had established a solid base in Tunisia and Algeria from which it could offer clients the entire Memac Ogilvy portfolio of services that includes advertising, Customer Relationship Management, Interactive, PR, account planning and media buying through our sister companies MindShare and Media Insight. She then added: “Many regional clients, such as Unilever, IBM, Kimberly Clark, Kraft Food, Gillette and DHL, who have worked with Memac Ogilvy for decades, will benefit from this new platform and have already shown interest and support in North Africa.”

Memac Ogilvy earned its reputation through the multiple creative advertising campaigns it produced for large companies such as American Express, BAT, IBM, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly Clark, Kraft Food, Gilette and DHL, to name a few, and is considered one of the leading regional communications agencies. The group is also renowned for its 360° Brand Stewardship, a methodology that was created by Ogilvy and one that has helped position it in a leadership position on an international scale.

Memac Ogilvy also owns 50% of Mindshare and Media Insight; two of the largest media buying agencies in the region and have been operating in the Algerian market for over five years.

About Memac Ogilvy

Memac Ogilvy started its operation in Bahrain in 1984. The company is a joint venture between Middle East Marketing and Advertising Company (MEMAC) and Ogilvy Worldwide. Memac Ogilvy offers advertising, public relations, direct marketing, planning and creative services to its large portfolio of clients through 11 offices across the Middle East and North Africa region. This wide geographical coverage along with its group of over 350 professionals gives the company a unique insight into different segments of the Arab markets.

Memac Ogilvy solidifies its presence in the North Africa region

[Al-khiyal]

Impact BBDO expands into Algeria

January 8, 2008 -- Impact BBDO has become the latest creative agency to expand into Algeria.

The move sees Impact BBDO following in the footsteps of the likes of Memac Ogilvy (MO), which opened an office in Algiers last year with a 12-strong team.

MO owns 50% of Mindshare and Media Insight, which have been operating in the Algerian market for more than five years.

JWT and Orient Planet also both have a presence in Algeria.

As reported by GMR in November, more and more agencies are being attracted to the north African country.

Alain Khouri (pictured centre), chairman and CEO of the Impact BBDO Group, said: “Over the past couple of years, our region has witnessed sustained growth resulting in a positive effect on the communication industry.

“In parallel, the Impact BBDO Group has continued its geographic expansion and widened its discipline offering, providing effective and comprehensive marketing communication solutions to existing and new clients.”

The new Algeria office adds to Impact BBDO’s operations in Lebanon, UAE, KSA and Egypt.

In other news, the network has appointed Dani Richa (pictured left) and Pierre Azzam (pictured far right) as chief operating officers.

Both have been assigned regional roles effective immediately.

[Al-khiyal]

Le géant de la publicité Memac-Ogilvy ouvre un bureau à Alger

Mercredi 23 Janvier 2008 -- Le groupe international Memac Ogilvy vient d’ouvrir son deuxième bureau maghrébin. Après Tunis, c’est maintenant au tour d’Alger d’accueillir ce groupe spécialisé dans la publicité et la communication. But : profiter du doublement prévu du marché publicitaire en quatre ans sur la zone maghrébine.

Memac-Ogilvy Alger, outre le marché domestique, sera en charge du secteur moyen-oriental. Syrine Cherif Maaref, la directrice de la nouvelle entité explique que « différents clients tels que Unilever, IBM, Kimberly Clark, Kraft Food, Gilette et DHL ont déjà montré leur intérêt pour le Maghreb ». Memac-Ogilvy compte employer 12 personnes en Algérie.

[Al-khiyal]

Spécialisé dans les relations publiques :
PR Media Hill & Knowlton Associate ouvre ses portes à Alger

Lundi 03 Mars 2008 --Aux fins d’accompagner les entreprises algériennes, PR Media Hill & Knowlton Associate se lance à la conquête du marché algérien qui devient de plus en plus exigeant en termes de professionnalisme. Avec l’ouverture du marché, les entreprises algériennes tendent à développer de nouvelles méthodes de travail qui reposent essentiellement sur des stratégies de relations publiques dans un concept créatif pour faire face à la concurrence. Les entreprises étrangères, de leur côté, plus fortes en nombre et en termes d’investissements s’imposent de manière à montrer leur efficacité et sortir du lot. PR Media Hill & Knowlton Associate dans ce contexte propose d’apporter ce petit plus qui fait pourtant toute la différence tant recherchée par les entreprises.

“Les enjeux, les attentes et les statuts des acteurs économiques algériens ou internationaux installés en Algérie interpellent la communication au meilleur niveau”, soutient Saïda Otmane-Tolba-Ouali, jeune et dynamique responsable de cette agence qui fait partie du premier réseau international des relations publiques. Hill & Knowlton Associate fondée en 1927 par John Hill, promet d’apporter en Algérie une approche de conseil, une méthodologie approuvée, une grande réactivité, des actions concrètes et efficaces, des engagements et des résultats avec de la disponibilité et ce, en proposant des prestations diversifiées et spécifiques pour chaque besoin selon le type d’organisation et l’objet de la communication (entreprises, institutions, marque, produits, services et événements).

[Al-khiyal]

"Spécialisé dans les relations publiques"

Hill & Knowlton