Latest news with #AliRez
Campaign ME
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
Ad agency's employees go MIA in new RAKTDA tourism summer campaign
After months of work with their advertising partner Impact BBDO Dubai, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) were ready to shoot their new summer campaign, at various locations throughout the city. But when the stills production was scheduled to start, the only people who arrived were the RAKTDA marketing team. It would later come to light that the agency creatives were enjoying hiking, kayaking, relaxing spa days and soaking up the sun at the beaches and luxury hotel pools in Ras Al Khaimah, when they should've been doing their jobs. We reached out to Ali Rez, Impact BBDO Dubai's Chief Creative Officer, who responded with the following statement: 'I am currently out of the office, relaxing on some of the gorgeous beaches that Ras Al Khaimah has. A reply will therefore be delayed.' So, instead of cancelling the shoots and risking not meeting the media deadline, the tourism team decided to step up and take the shots themselves. Using their personal cameras, finance executive Marjorie Benito, R&D member Zoe Zuo, HR manager Sara Alzaabi, procurement manager Ian, IT expert Hari, and licensing executive Saeed went to various locations including the beach, a luxury hotel pool and the mountainside of Jebel Jais, and captured all the fun of RAK during summer. The results are the blurry, over-exposed and questionably-framed images of an unintentionally hilarious campaign aptly renamed 'RAK Summer. Unscripted.' And you can appreciate the amateur glory of all six images, on RAKTDA's social media, as OOH placed throughout the Dubai Mall and on numerous roadside billboards. 'This isn't your typical destination marketing campaign, because Ras Al Khaimah isn't your typical destination,' said Alka Winter, Vice President, Destination Marketing & Communications at RAKTDA. 'We wanted to do something creatively bold and refreshingly honest. RAK Summer Unscripted captures the spirit of the staycations we actually remember – the spontaneous ones that turn into stories. It's quirky, fun, and shows Ras Al Khaimah as a place you don't just visit but truly experience.' Things got even more interesting when it came to the making of their three, short-format films. Faced with absent directors and producers, and a looming deadline, RAKTDA had no other option but to reach out to visiting tourists and ask them to capture the various locations on camera. The wannabe cameramen and women obliged, using their phones to record each of the sites they visited. However, staying true to the spirit of the campaign, things did not go as planned. Look out for the series of dodgy launch films online and at a cinema near you. Just remember – there were average joes behind the camera, so laughing is discouraged. RAKTDA CEO Raki Phillips even moonlit as a voice talent in the radio spot, which is simply a voice note of him complaining about the copywriter not turning up at the studio recording. When asked about the tumultuous production, Raki Phillips had this to say 'We know that Ras Al Khaimak is packed with amazing places and fun activities that our visitors love to take the time to explore, but we had no idea that these so called 'professionals' would enjoy them so much, that they wouldn't turn up for work? The agency has a lot of explaining to do.' This journalist tried to get responses from the creatives in question, but very few could be gotten a hold of. Ghassan Kassabji, CEO of ImpactBBDO Dubai shared, 'We had a great time working on this campaign. Not every client is brave enough to turn the lens on the creative process itself and laugh along the way. RAKTDA gave us that freedom to let go, embrace the imperfections, and create something that truly mirrors the joy of an unscripted summer. That kind of trust is rare, and the result is a campaign that feels as spontaneous and unfiltered as the memories people actually make.' What sets RAKTDA's summer campaign apart is its embrace of the imperfect. Campaign visuals feature deliberately unpolished images paired with tongue-in-cheek captions. RAK Summer Unscripted also includes short film clips where mishaps range from bad selfies obscuring mountain views, to a couples' beach vlog where the phone tips over and there's no sign of the 'blue sky and beautiful water' mentioned on their excited and detailed commentary. The campaign is light-hearted, self-aware, and deeply relatable and its call to action says it all: 'Book your stay and let the story unfold — unscripted, unforgettable, and uniquely Ras Al Khaimah.' CREDITS: Client: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) Agency on vacation: Impact BBDO
Campaign ME
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
Impact BBDO's CCO Ali Rez appointed to The One Club International Board
The One Club for Creativity, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to support the global creative community, has appointed Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer at Impact BBDO in Dubai, to a three-year term on its prestigious International Board of Directors. The One Club for Creativity is home of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE) awards, ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club and competition, TDC Ascenders, Young Guns, Young Ones Student Awards, Next Creative Leaders, ONE School,ONE Creator Lab, Where Are All The Black People conference and career fair, Portfolio Night, Creative Week, and more. Board members are responsible for providing input and feedback on the club's ongoing global programming, supporting The One Show and ADC Annual Awards in their region, elevating the annual industry benchmark Global Creative Rankings, connecting the club with advertising and design universities and schools, and recommending outstanding candidates to serve as awards judges. Commenting on the board appointment, Rez said, 'I'm very honoured to be joining this fabulous group of thinkers at a very critical point in the global creative industry, and to bring an important perspective from the Middle East region.' Rez currently leads creative output for the Impact BBDO Group across the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan region, and this year became the Middle East's first Jury President at The One Show, specifically for the Interactive Online & Mobile discipline. One of the most awarded creative leaders in the Middle East, Rez has won more than 1,000 international accolades in his career spanning four continents over 20 years. He has been named Creative Person of the Year four times by Campaign magazine, and led Impact BBDO to 41 different No.1 Regional Agency accolades in the last four years for bringing business success and creative excellence to the Group, and positive impact to social causes. Also joining The One Club International Board is Damon Stapleton, Co-CCO at Droga5 ANZ, part of Accenture Song, based in Auckland.
Campaign ME
24-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Seven in a row: Impact BBDO wins MENA Network of the Year at Cannes Lions 2025
Following its success at Dubai Lynx Awards 2025, where it was crowned Agency of the Year for the seventh time, Impact BBDO has made history on the global stage, as well, winning the Regional Network of the Year for the Middle East and North Africa region for an unprecedented seventh time in a row. The agency network was awarded a Gold, two Silvers, and two Bronzes over the week at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Dani Richa, CEO and Chairman, Impact BBDO, said, 'Winning MENA Regional Network of the Year at Cannes Lions for the seventh consecutive time is truly a first. It's an achievement that brings both a sense of relief and immense pride. We owe this incredible milestone to our amazing clients and our dedicated team.' Leading the haul was the Gold Lion-winning campaign in the Creative Strategy category for AnNahar Newspaper titled The New President, the world's first instance where an AI-generated head of state was actively utilised in government cabinet sessions. Amongst the wins was also a historic first for Jordan: a Silver Lion in the Print and Publications category, a win shared with Impact BBDO for Capital Bank's campaign titled 'Notes on Notes.' The other campaigns that picked up metal included 'Child Wedding Cards' for UN Women, and a long-term Brand Platform entry for AnNahar Newspaper and its strategy of 'Active Journalism' which has been awarded three Grands Prix at Cannes Lions in five years. Ali Rez, Regional Chief Creative Officer at Impact BBDO, said, 'It's wonderful to see so much stellar creative work being recognised from the region – the Middle East is now firmly established as a creative powerhouse globally. We feel immensely proud to lead the region, and for that we are thankful to our incredible brand partners and superb teams who believe in creating the best work in the world.' Impact BBDO's win caps one of the strongest performances by MENA agencies at Cannes Lions, who collectively picked up a total of 32 Lions this year, a notable jump from 22 wins in 2024.
Campaign ME
18-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Here's a front row seat of what the industry is talking about at Cannes Lions 2025
Campaign Middle East reports live from Cannes Lions 2025, covering key conversations, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground insights from industry leaders shaping the future of advertising, media, and marketing. Across the week, our team is speaking with regional and global leaders, attending panel discussions, and spotlighting emerging trends —from purpose-driven creativity to AI-powered campaigns. Here are all the sharp insights, real-time reflections and unfiltered takes from the Croisette. Through Day 1 at Cannes Lions, Campaign Middle East interviewed: Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer at Impact BBDO Mike Khouri, CEO of Independent Agency of the Year-winning Tactical; Matt Manning, President, dentsu Sports International Aude Gandon, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Nestlé; Tor Myhren, VP of Marketing Communications, Apple helped set the tone for the week; reflecting on the heartfelt keynote presentation, Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer at Impact BBDO welcomed the focus on creativity, emotion, and storytelling in an increasingly tech-driven industry. He saw it as a strong reminder that human-centric narratives still hold power – even as AI takes center stage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Tactical's Founder and CEO Mike Khouri reflected on the ongoing push-and-pull between creativity and technology. He emphasised the importance of using tech as an enabler – not a replacement – for original thinking. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Speaking to Campaign Middle East, Matt Manning, President of Dentsu Sports International, discussed the company's latest announcement: officially launching its MENA headquarters in Saudi Arabia as part of its broader global expansion strategy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Aude Gandon, Global CMO at Nestlé, reflected on her key message from Cannes Lions 2025 which is that creativity is fundamental to driving growth and ROI. She emphasised that creativity is not just a brand-building tool, but a business accelerator. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Through Day 2 at Cannes Lions, Campaign Middle East interviewed: Melissa Hseih Nikolic Director – Product Management, YouTube Ads Reda Raad, Group CEO of TBWA\RAAD Melissa Hseih Nikolic, Director of Product Management at YouTube Ads highlighted the power of open calls and creator partnerships and explained how bringing brands alongside creators helps uncover authentic stories that truly resonate with audiences. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Reda Raad, Group CEO of TBWA\RAAD, reflected on the buzz around AI in the industry. While acknowledging its potential, he cautioned against over-reliance, warning that excessive use risks flattening culture and making creative work look increasingly similar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Follow our real-time coverage across Campaign Middle East's social media channels. Stay updated on the latest of what's happening at The Palais, the Rotonde, The Carlton Hotel and stay tuned for exciting events at the Campaign House Hilton Canopy.
Campaign ME
08-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Regional work earns global spotlight at 2025 ANDY Awards
The 2025 ANDY Awards, held at Sony Hall in New York, saw standout entries from the MENA region recognised alongside some of the world's top creative work. Impact BBDO took home Best in Show in the Social Good category for Child Wedding Cards, a campaign developed in partnership with UN Women. The work also received a Gold in the idea category. The agency further picked up three Gold for AnNahar Newspaper's The New President, including one in the Bravery category – marking the third consecutive year AnNahar has won in this classification. The New President was also named Best of Region for Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). FP7 McCann also secured a Gold in the Idea category for Selfless Shelves, developed for Puck. Commenting on the results, Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer, Impact BBDO, said: 'The ANDYs set one of the highest standards of excellence in the business. The competition is incredibly tough, and the winning list from around the world truly the best of the best. We are honoured to be featured amongst the winners.' Now in its 60th year in 2025, the ANDY Awards continues to highlight work that reflects bold thinking, innovation and creativity across global markets. While the focus remains on ideas rather than format, this year's jury placed strong emphasis on work that challenges conventions. Apart from the regional awards, Canadian agency Courage was named Best New Agency, Rethink repeated its win as Independent Agency of the Year, and production company Smuggler was recognised for its body of work. Network of the Year was a three-way tie between BBDO, DDB and Publicis Groupe.
