Latest news with #Jordan-based
Campaign ME
22-07-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Royal Jordanian post goes viral with play on Coldplay concert CEO-HR scandal
Royal Jordanian Airlines has decided to go beyond 'joining the conversation' to 'own the conversation', after the CEO-HR scandal took the social media meme world by storm. The controversy – involving the married CEO of Astronomer Andy Byron inadvertently caught cosying up with his Head of HR Kristin Cabot on the jumbotron 'kiss camera' at the Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts – resulted in software startup company Astronomer sharing a LinkedIn post that 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' In collaboration with Jordan-based creative agency Adpro& Group, the Royal Jordanian Airlines turned this global controversy into a standout creative moment. The idea was simple: Astronomer was suddenly looking for a new CEO. So, Royal Jordanian decided to help. But instead of adding another meme to the pile, it offered something more useful — a super sale fare from Amman to the United States for anyone interested in applying for the job. The post read: 'There's a CEO vacancy in the USA. Fly to Apply. Amman – New York starting at JD 499.' And it closed with a cheeky final line: 'Our Wings… Your Cold Play.' With zero production budget and zero media spend, the post took off. In less than 24 hours, it reached more than 700,000 people organically, generated 7,500 shares across platforms, and became the brand's highest-performing organic post in more than five years. The audience reaction was instant and overwhelmingly positive. With 96 percent positive sentiment across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, Royal Jordanian was praised for its speed, with and cultural relevance. 'Whoever runs the marketing team in RJ needs a raise.' 'You beat Ryanair this time with the creativity. Well played.' 'Whoever is behind this — genius. Deserves a medal.' 'Not gonna lie, RJ's marketing game is strong.' 'What an ad. Best marketing shot I've ever seen.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Royal Jordanian (@royaljordanian) Commenting on the creative approach to the trend, Karim Makhlouf, Chief Marketing Officer, Royal Jordanian Airlines, said, 'This moment shows how important agility is in today's digital landscape. When a brand can respond quickly, with the right tone and cultural awareness, it becomes part of the conversation rather than just observing it. We're proud of how the team turned a trending moment into a smart, relevant piece of content that resonated across the region.' The post quickly gained traction beyond the general public. It was picked up and shared by prominent public figures, influencers, and media personalities, amplifying its reach even further and reinforcing its viral status. Rizek Jildeh, Head of Strategy, Adpro& Group, said, 'The simplicity of the idea, the execution, and the impact it generated all prove that scale and reach don't always require a budget. With the right social listening and cultural awareness, a timely, well-placed idea can drive massive share of voice — even with minimal, or in this case, zero spend.' Mohammad Al-Nazer, Senior Art Director, Adpro& Group, added, 'This was one of those opportunities that was just too obvious to ignore. It was right there, we had to jump on it. Creatively, it needed to feel raw and real. Nothing overly polished. The goal was to strike the perfect balance between a meme and a branded piece of content.' Adpro& has been Royal Jordanian's creative agency of record since January 2024, leading on creative, brand and communication strategy. Media is managed through Adpro& OMD. The agency has supported Royal Jordanian's transformation journey, and aims to continue helping to shape the airline's voice for a new era. CREDITS: Client: Royal Jordanian Airlines Creative agency: Adpro& Group
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Korea rushes to construct AI data centers
SEOUL, June 17 (UPI) -- South Korea's IGIS Asset Management, the country's leading real estate investment firm, plans to invest $1.3 billion to build two AI data centers in Busan, about 280 miles southeast of Seoul. To that end, IGIS Asset Management signed a memorandum of understanding with the Busan Metropolitan City government on Tuesday. The construction of the 40- and 80-megawatt data centers is expected to begin in late 2026, with operations scheduled to start in late 2029. The MOU signing ceremony came just a day after nearby Ulsan city disclosed a $5.1 billion joint investment by Korea's SK Group and Amazon Web Services, the world's top cloud provider. The two partners aim to establish a 41 MW facility by 2027 and expand it to 103 MW by 2029 in Ulsan, which is situated 30 miles north of Busan. "This landmark investment will serve as a catalyst for Busan's advancement into a national hub for artificial intelligence-based infrastructure," Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said in the ceremony. More data center projects are currently underway in the area. Earlier this year, for instance, Stock Farm Road announced that the investor group would channel at least $10 billion to install one of the world's largest AI data centers in South Korea by 2028. Stock Farm Road was co-founded by Brian Koo, the grandson of LG Group founder Koo In-hwoi, and Amin Badr-El-Din, CEO of Jordan-based BADR Investments. "The data center is one of the major infrastructures for the AI industry. South Korea is working hard on that," Professor Yoon Seok-bin of Sogang University told UPI. "Once the infrastructure is complete, the country would be attractive for foreign companies to provide advanced services in the Asia-Pacific region," he said. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
17-06-2025
- Business
- UPI
Korea rushes to construct AI data centers
South Korea's IGIS Asset Management plans to invest $1.3 billion to build two AI data centers in Busan. Photo by Yonhap South Korea/EPA-EFE SEOUL, June 17 (UPI) -- South Korea's IGIS Asset Management, the country's leading real estate investment firm, plans to invest $1.3 billion to build two AI data centers in Busan, about 280 miles southeast of Seoul. To that end, IGIS Asset Management signed a memorandum of understanding with the Busan Metropolitan City government on Tuesday. The construction of the 40- and 80-megawatt data centers is expected to begin in late 2026, with operations scheduled to start in late 2029. The MOU signing ceremony came just a day after nearby Ulsan city disclosed a $5.1 billion joint investment by Korea's SK Group and Amazon Web Services, the world's top cloud provider. The two partners aim to establish a 41 MW facility by 2027 and expand it to 103 MW by 2029 in Ulsan, which is situated 30 miles north of Busan. "This landmark investment will serve as a catalyst for Busan's advancement into a national hub for artificial intelligence-based infrastructure," Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said in the ceremony. More data center projects are currently underway in the area. Earlier this year, for instance, Stock Farm Road announced that the investor group would channel at least $10 billion to install one of the world's largest AI data centers in South Korea by 2028. Stock Farm Road was co-founded by Brian Koo, the grandson of LG Group founder Koo In-hwoi, and Amin Badr-El-Din, CEO of Jordan-based BADR Investments. "The data center is one of the major infrastructures for the AI industry. South Korea is working hard on that," Professor Yoon Seok-bin of Sogang University told UPI. "Once the infrastructure is complete, the country would be attractive for foreign companies to provide advanced services in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Almarai to buy bottled-water producer Pure Beverages
Saudi Arabian food and beverage group Almarai has agreed to acquire local bottled-water business Pure Beverages Industry Company for SR1.04 ($277m). In a stock-exchange filing yesterday (15 June), Almarai said the deal is in line with its 'growth strategy to expand its beverage portfolio and enhance its consumer offerings'. Almarai, which sells dairy and juice products under its namesake brand, added it is 'confident that this acquisition will create value for its shareholders'. Headquartered in Riyadh, Pure Beverages Industry Company owns the Ival and Oska brands, with factories in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. According to its website, Pure Beverages Industry Company was set up by Saudi conglomerate Ajlan & Bros. Group in 1979. Almarai plans to finance the acquisition through its internal cash flows, with the completion of the transaction subject to contractual conditions and regulatory approvals in Saudi Arabia. The deal follows Almarai's recent unsuccessful attempt earlier this year to acquire Jordan-based Hammoudeh Food Industries. In March, Almarai said the deal could not proceed 'due to factors beyond the company's control, as the seller was unable to meet certain conditions required to complete the transaction'. Almarai added it is 'open to exploring future expansion opportunities, recognising the strategic importance of strengthening regional operations and expanding geographically to serve consumers in various markets'. The group operates in dairy, poultry, bakery, infant-nutrition, and juice sectors. In 2024, Almarai generated revenue of SR20.98bn, up from SR19.58bn in 2023. Operating profit stood at just under SR3bn, versus SR2.69bn a year earlier. Net profit was SR2.31bn, against SR2.05 the year previous. According to GlobalData, Just Drinks' parent, the size of Saudi Arabia's packaged water market in volume terms was 3.88bn litres last year. The data and analytics group forecasts growth of 3.9% this year to 4.03bn litres. In March, Berain Water, another Saudi bottled-water business, attracted a new investor. Hassana Investment Company acquired a 40% stake in Berain from Rajhi-Invest. Berain has three production plants in Jeddah and Riyadh, and markets bottled water in multiple size options. "Almarai to buy bottled-water producer Pure Beverages" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Campaign ME
02-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Airport International Group, Extime JCDecaux Airport to revamp advertising experience
Jordan-based Airport International Group has signed a partnership agreement with airport advertising company Extime JCDecaux Airport to enhance the OOH advertising experience at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) in Amman, Jordan. The collaboration will see a full-scale update of the airport's media infrastructure, including new, larger digital screens and creative solutions in high-traffic areas, designed to improve visibility for advertisers and streamline the passenger journey. Extime JCDecaux Airport builds on JCDecaux's global expertise from airport media operations in more than 150 international hubs. At QAIA, the company will deploy a secure, ISO 27001-certified digital broadcasting system connecting all screens across the airport, enabling real-time synchronisation, seamless content delivery and centralised monitoring. The upgrade also includes large-format Skytouch portrait displays fitted with LED lighting and redesigned lightboxes with energy-efficient panels, located at the exterior of the airport. These additions aim to increase advertising impact while reducing energy consumption and operational costs. Inside the terminal, more prominent digital screens will be installed in high-traffic areas, creating new media opportunities for brands looking to reach travellers in Jordan's busiest airport. 'For us, every element of the airport journey – visual, operational and emotional – reflects our brand promise 'Feels Like Home'. As the first point of contact for millions arriving in Jordan, QAIA plays a vital role in shaping perceptions from the moment passengers arrive. Through our collaboration with Extime JCDecaux Airport, we are introducing a world-class visual environment that seamlessly combines innovation, sustainability and impactful brand storytelling. These enhancements are not only designed to create value for advertisers, but more importantly, to enrich the passenger experience at every touchpoint – making it more welcoming, engaging and aligned with the top-tier standards of Jordan's prime gateway to the world,' said, Airport International Group CEO, Nicolas Deviller. Isabelle Fourmentin, Managing Director of Extime JCDecaux Airport, added: 'Our plan is to develop an eco-friendly advertising platform based on innovative, high-performance media solutions for advertisers, enhancing both brand advertising experiences and passenger journey.'
