Mediaedge:cia (MEC), a global communications planning and implementation agency, aims to raise the bar in the Middle East's rapidly-growing online advertising market with the announcement of a dynamic new management team for its online division.

The new appointments will further strengthen MEC:Interaction, MEC's online media planning, buying and strategic consulting division.

MEC:Interaction is a full service digital and direct services division, offering planning, implementation, advanced analytics and creative production of all online media campaigns across the Middle East.

'MEC MENA already offers online services and we are now hoping to strengthen our online division as there is huge potential for growth in the Middle East,' commented Yves-Michel Gabay, International Business and Development Director.

'By bringing international standards and practices to the region, there is an opportunity to impress the market, and to actively increase engagement between brands and their customers.'

Andreanne Leclerc, will head up the team as MEC:Interaction Manager, and will be responsible for managing online media planning for all Mediaedge:CIA clients, providing strategic and creative online solutions, and maintaining and developing a portfolio of client relationships.

'My aim is to lead the team in generating a successful online campaign in the region. Our goal as a team is to further educate consumers about the benefits of online media, and to increase media spend,' said Leclerc.

Leclerc has eight years of experience as a Project Manager for Infopresse, a Canadian media company specialising in web, advertising and events. Previously she worked for GAP Canada in management, and is a graduate in Marketing Communications from HEC Montreal in Canada.

The second member of the team is Nawaz Shahzad. Shahzad joins the team as Interactive producer, and will be responsible for managing the development, production and delivery of high quality interactive services for all online campaigns. He will be responsible for managing the development and execution of simultaneous integrated online campaigns, as well as the applications, tools and destinations, including resources allocation, specifications and quality assurance.

Shahzad brings with him more than six years of experience in web marketing and online branding. Prior to joining MEC:Interaction, Shahzad was Senior Manager SEO Marketing at Nurture3, and was responsible for web publishing and search engine marketing across the UK and the UAE. Shahzad was also an Internet Marketing Consultant for EZWSINET, and worked for Sal Soft Technologies in the USA as Web Operational Manager.

Jihane Rassasse joins the team as Online Media Planner to actively seek online media solutions to achieve specific goals for clients, and to efficiently manage day-to-day online media activities for brands. Prior to joining MEC:Interaction, Rassasse worked as a Relationship Manager for Bayt.com in Dubai.

MEC:Interaction's services fall under four areas: Digital (including strategy, sponsorship, online planning and buying, viral marketing and mobile); Direct (strategy, DR planning and buying, data audits, modelling and optimization), Analytics (data capture and analysis, ROI modelling/forecasting, ad serving, research and segmentation) and Creative (web design and construction, advertising, micro sites, gaming, digital experiences and installations).

Mediaedge:cia MENA handles an impressive portfolio of blue-chip multinationals, in addition to leading regional and local companies. Some of its clients include: Canon, DHL, VISA, Sony Ericsson, Ford, Emaar, Citibank and Etisalat.