Fox International Channels (FIC), the world's leading producer and distributor of branded entertainment, selected three of the Leo Burnett Group of companies' MENA agencies to handle its regional communications including the launch of Fox Movies - the movie channel from the movie makers - which started broadcasting in May.

Speaking on the triple appointment, Rohit D'Silva General Manger of FIC Middle East FZ LLC commented; "All three of Leo Burnett's agencies exhibited a profound sense of enthusiasm, dynamism and passion for the Fox brand, while demonstrating the many ways that our brand messages could be creatively communicated across the region.

"Overall, we were inspired by the innovation that the Leo Burnett Group of companies stands for, and the fact that together they offer seamlessly integrated communications across their entire brand portfolio," he added.

The celebrated Fox Movies channel, the first to be launched by FIC, offers viewers world-class movie entertainment brought to the region through a partnership between the successful local group, Rotana Media Services (RMS) and the internationally well-known Fox International Channels (FIC).

Kamal Dimachkie, Managing Director of Leo Burnett Dubai and Kuwait speaking on behalf of the Leo Burnett Group of companies said; "We are passionate brand builders and are thrilled to offer our unique blend of capabilities - that will generate and deliver maximum impact for the brand - all from under one roof. Alongside our Group-wide practice of innovation, our collective creative ability to build brands will affirm Fox Movies' position as the region's leading movie channel and a brand name synonymous with the best in entertainment."

Fox Movies is the region's latest free-to-air channel, available on Nilesat N101 11.766 GHz Horizontal and Arabsat BADR03 11.843 GHz Horizontal, providing discerning Hollywood viewers across the Middle East world-class, non-stop movie entertainment.

The new channel offers the region's movie lovers an innovative range of viewer-choice components and interactive viewing experiences. Viewers also have access to the Fox Movies website www.foxmovietv.com, where movie lovers can enjoy a fun forum to gather information on movies, participate in contests, and browse upcoming Fox Movies listings.

FIC complements the Group's broad base of clients in the MENA region, which span a number of different industries.

The Leo Burnett Group MENA planning meeting for 2008 involving management from the Levant, GCC and North Africa took place recently.

Held under the leadership of Farid Chehab, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Leo Burnett Group - Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa and Raja Trad, Chief Executive Officer, Leo Burnett Group - Mediterranean.

The meeting, which was attended by Managing and Creative Directors, Finance and HR Managers from all disciplines, including brand agency Leo Burnett, marketing services, interactive and CRM agency Arc, and public relations agency Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L); offered participants the opportunity to collectively review the Group's progress and practices throughout 2007, to discuss and decide upon the most efficient means for development, growth and improving services to clients during 2008.

Within the framework of planning for 2008, the ensuing discussions enabled managers to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Group's development.

Furthermore, opportunities for closer collaboration across the disciplines for optimizing the Group's services to clients were explored. Case studies were presented to the participants, in an interactive demonstration of how the Group can utilize its core strengths - of wide geographic reach and multi-discipline practices - to hit the ground running in an increasingly digital age.

Raja Trad said; 'Our annual forum uniting all disciplines has been a feature of the Leo Burnett Group's calendar for the past 10 plus years, since our expansion to encompass the entire spectrum of communications solutions. It is a chance to weigh up the successes and challenges of the past year, and provides an important medium for planning the continuing success and prosperity of our clients, partners and the Group.'

The meeting concluded with the development of a point by point action plan for the upcoming year. 'We are entering an increasingly dynamic period where communications can involve anything from traditional advertising to more subtle media messaging,' Trad commented.

'A plan on geographical expansion and diversifying activities has been agreed upon, as has a consensus on the challenges that face our Group - and the best method of addressing them - been reached. Of these the development of people and nurturing talent are the most pertinent.'

CCO Farid Chehab said; 'Our vision as a group is to move forward by developing our strengths, promoting closer cooperation for penetrating deeper into a greater number of media, and further exploring innovative and original channels for communication. Throughout the course of the next year, the total communications services and improvements in delivering results to clients, whether online or offline will be innumerable.'