GroupM, WPP’s leading global media management investment operation, named a new chief executive officer to lead operations and drive growth in the Middle East and North Africa. As CEO, Filip Jabbour, a media agency executive with extensive media communications experience, will be responsible for developing GroupM’s strategy and accelerating the growth of its media agencies Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom, and BPG Maxus across the region.
Through its media agencies, GroupM is the market leader in the Middle East and North Africa with billings of $2.7 billion and 28.6% market share (source: RECMA, 2013). Jabbour’s appointment adds to WPP’s ongoing investment in the MENA region and reflects the company’s commitment to best serve clients marketing in MENA. Jabbour will launch operations to leverage GroupM’s scale and accelerate development of media agency offerings with focus on developments in digital, technology, and data management, as well as partnerships with media, entertainment and sports rights owners to create additional value and drive advantages for clients.
Most recently, Jabbour was Executive Vice President, Managing Director at Spark in the US, and Global Business Development Director for Starcom MediaVest Group, where he spearheaded strategy with clients and drove new business internationally. Jabbour held leadership roles at Starcom since 2005, including being MENA CEO where he drove successful business across the region.
Based in Dubai, Jabbour starts in June and reports to Dominic Grainger, Chief Executive Officer, GroupM Europe, Middle East & North Africa. On the announcement, Grainger remarked, “MENA is a diverse and dynamic region, with fantastic growth opportunities for our clients. Filip’s track record with blue chip clients, developing communications offers for the future and building relationships make him well suited to further develop and lead our regional operations. His experience, along with his strategic thinking and interest in developing an innovative future-facing business, make him an ideal cultural fit for GroupM and just the right leader to collaborate closely with our agencies to drive additional benefits and growth for our clients in the region.”
“The opportunity to join the world’s leading media investment management group to lead development in the exciting and fast-growing MENA market is thrilling,” said Jabbour. “GroupM agencies operating in MENA are distinguished by their winning track records, and I am keen to help accelerate their pace by harnessing the absolute best digital, technology, data and content solutions available. I’m looking forward to integrating learning from work in the US and across global markets, with specific experiences developed by being part of the MENA region that has shaped my career for 18 years.”