PHD has launched its latest operation in the Lebanese capital in response to growing client requests. Beirut joins a regional network that includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. The Omnicom Media Group-owned agency is expected to expand further throughout the Middle East in the coming months.
PHD, recently named the 2016 Media Network of the Year by Adweek, Campaign and the Cristal Awards, will bring its expertise and innovative working methods to Lebanon, the market that introduced advertising to the region. The agency has grown substantially since its opening in Dubai a decade ago, both in terms of clients and service offering. Its approach to data and digital has attracted many blue chip advertisers, such as Unilever, Arla Foods, and Ferrero, to name but a few.
In order to manage these clients’ interests in Lebanon and the Levant region, industry veteran Maroun Hassoun has been appointed as general manager of PHD’s Beirut operation. He previously served as investment director for the Levant region at MCN. Hassoun will report to Elda Choucair, CEO of PHD MENA, and lead his team from an office located in the Mar Mikhael district of the Lebanese capital.
“PHD’s growth story and award-winning performance are the result of its strong innovative thinking and challenger attitude. They have served us and our clients very well and we’re now looking forward to injecting this fresh perspective into the Lebanese market, where our clients expect us to be,” commented Elda Choucair. “Lebanon is where the Middle East’s media and advertising industry was born and still is the source of much of its professional talent. Maroun is a prime example of this. He has the skills, expertise and attitude we need to take PHD and its clients to great heights in this demanding market.”
“Having spent my entire career in the marketing industry, I can say that I have watched the rise of PHD with awe. Over the last 10 years, it has never stopped pushing the boundaries, thanks to its unique culture, to exceed expectations,” added Maroun Hassoun. “I feel an equal sense of responsibility in maintaining and developing this mindset, and excitement about the opportunity to tangibly make a difference in a market I know so well. This isn’t just a new chapter; this is truly a new beginning.”