Campaign Middle East reports that advertising agencies DDB and Brandcom Middle East have announced the completion of merging their operations in the region following DDB Worldwide’s 80 per cent acquisition of Brandcom in 2007.  Najam Khawaja, formerly CEO of DDB, becomes executive chairman of the merged agency, while Ajay Shrikhande, previously CEO of Brandcom, becomes COO. Babu Subramaniam retains the title of MD of the Dubai office, while the creative department will be headed by Shehzad Yunus.

Campaign Middle East reports that independent communications group, Mojo, has been appointed as the full-service creative partner for Atlantis, The Palm, and will be responsible for all local, regional and international campaigns. According to Ravini Perera, senior vice-president marketing at Atlantis, the resort needs strong, well-integrated campaigns and fast turnaround, and Mojo can deliver that.

campaign Middle East reports that Leo Burnett has won Aldar’s advertising account, an Abu Dhabi-based property giant, after both Leo Burnett and FP7 have been shortlisted as part of Aldar’s advertising review. Leo Burnett stood out as being the most appropriate agency according to Aldar’s deputy director of marketing and media Sai Eid, and will be responsible for the new marketing strategy that aims at turning around losses of the recession.

Campaign Middle East reports that McDonald’s has recently moved its regional account out of FP7 after almost 17 years, and has handed it to Leo Burnett, which holds the McDonald’s account worldwide.

Emirates Airlines has put up its $260 mln advertising accounts up for tender in a significant shift in its communications strategy. Campaign Middle East reports that Publicis, Omnicom, WPP and Interpublic, plus Chime Communications received the initial invitation, with the pitch process expected to commence at the end of July.

By Martin Diessner, FlipCorp

The award ceremony at the 1st Campaign Media Planning Awards showcased only one bronze in the category ‘online’ and the jury decided that silver and gold were not worth to award to any of the