Intermarkets Advertising successfully held its second private airshow from the roof of its offices in Dubai. Over 200 clients and friends joined the Intermarkets team over the four days of the Duhai Airshow and enjoyed their own private view of the exciting air displays.

This year’s hospitality theme was traditionally Arab with a Bedouin lent. Intermarkets served their guests the traditional cuisine including a buffet of cold delicacies, a Shawarma stand and Sheesha.

Ramzi Raad, Executive Vice President of the Intermarkets Group was on hand to greet guests as they arrived, alongside the Agency’s team from the Dubai office. Visiting from Beirut, Erwin Guerrovich, the Group’s Chairman, and Khalil Bitar, Senior Vice President – Finance and Administration, also joined in welcoming the guests.

Originally published in ArabAd, 1998

Table of honour from left: Erwin Guerrovich of Intermarkets; Mustapha Assad, Publi-Graphics; May Kahale, Information Advisor at the Presidential Palace; Deputy Joseph Moghaizel; Jean-Claude Boulos, Inter-Regies and Walid Azzi Publisher of ArabAd

The Lebanese Chapter of the IAA has been host late last month to a luncheon at the Beirut Riviera Hotel during which MP Joseph Moghaizel dwelt in detail on the introduction of the new audio-visual law.

The luncheon which was attended by IAA members and their guests in the industry witnessed a lively discussion on the subject which at times reached a heated level.

Speakers pointed out that the law contained many loopholes and asserted the difficulty of implementing some of the articles included in the law.

Originally published in ArabAd

Mr Robert Leaf, Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khaled Al Saud with Mr Erwin Guerrovich

A new communications agency, Ailamia Intermarkets, has been launched in Saudi Arabia.

The company is a 51/49 joint venture between Ailamia, a Saudi company owned equally by the King Faisal Foundation, ARA Group International; Syahya, the national company for tourism, and the Saudi Hotels and Resorts Group and Intermarkets Public Relations. The company will offer clients public relations, marketing, research, promotion and direct marketing.

Ailamia Intermarkets is an exclusive affiliate of Burson-Marsteller, who took an active role in establishing the joint venture. The Chief Operating Officer is Mike Verligans (38), a former UK Government Information Officer with added experience in banking and the PR Consultancy business.

Originally published in ArabAd, January 1997

The Intermarkets Advertising Management Group recently held their annual meeting at the Royal Abjar Hotel in Dubai. The meeting reviewed the group’s achievements during the past six months, which saw the winning of such prestigious accounts as Rothmans of Pall Mall, the British Bank of the Middle East, Trisa and Alberto Culver, in addition to a number of other local accounts in the respective offices of the Intermarkets network.

The Group also reviewed the final plans for the introduction of direct/integrated marketing services via the joint venture company Tequila Middle East, which will operate as a sister company much like the highly successful Intermarkets Public Relations, the Middle East affiliate of Burson-Marsteller, the world’s largest public relations consultancy. The meeting finalized Intermarkets’ expansion strategy up to the year 2000, a strategy aimed at fulfilling the group’s goal “To Be The Best”.

Intermarkets is one of the longest established advertising agencies in the Middle East. Started in Lebanon 35 years ago, Intermarkets set up its Dubai office 20 years ago. The agency also boasts fully-fledged offices offering integrated marketing services in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Syria.

Attending the meeting were Messrs. Erwin Guenovich, Intermarkets Group CEO; Ramzi Raad, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of Intermarkets Dubai; Joe Ayoub, Managing Director of Intermarkets Lebanon; Jihad Abbouchi. Managing Director of Intermarkets Saudi Arabia; Fady Mouannes, Managing Director of Intermarkets Kuwait; Bassem Dajani, Managing Director of Intermarkets Jordan; Makram Zeenny, Managing Director of Intermarkets Syria; Galal Zaki, Managing Director of Intermarkets Egypt; Khalil Bitar, the Group’s Senior Vice-President Finance; and Nadim Sfeir, Vice-President Levant Area and Saudi Arabia.

Originally published in Monday Morning, March 1994

Ramzi R. Raad, IAA vice-president, area director for Middle East & Africa, executive vice-president of the Intermarkets Group

The Lebanese communication industry has been unique in its struggle to develop and expand, despite all the destruction that was inflicted on the country, and its other business sectors over the past 16 years. Accordingly I hasten to salute your forum on “Gateways to Reconstruction”, its organizers and distinguished participants, your gathering today is a further demonstration on the leadership of Lebanon’s Chapter of the International Advertising Association.

Rebuilding for us as communicators, entails the encouragement of our members that are abroad to actively return to their homeland. Of more importance however, is the need for all participants at this Forum to cooperate in order to ensure that the self-regulation, the disciplines and the professional upgrading tools that we have introduced to the Arab advertising industry, are revived and adapted in Lebanon, where all of these were started.

I sincerely regret not being able to join you at this Forum, however I wish you and Lebanon great success. I seize this opportunity to remind you that while all of you are meeting to develop more Big Ideas for the reconstruction of Lebanon; other members and graduates of the Lebanon Chapter remain to be very active overseas — at this specific moment — rebuilding the image of Lebanon through their voluntary work and dedication to the International Advertising Association and what it stands for. (Ramzi RAAD)

Originally published in GATEWAYS to Reconstruction, September 1991

Picture shows from left John Mani, Dubai; David Forsdike, Kuwait; James McCredie, Jeddah; Raad and Abdo Saleh, Dubai; Sitish Debnath, Muscat; and Galal Zaki, president, Intermarkets Egypt

Creative directors from Intermarkets Advertising met in Dubai recently to discuss regional creative strategies for the forthcoming year.

During the 3-day meeting at Intermarket’s Dubai offices, the team discussed creative trends in advertising, programmes for creative staff training, the update and acquisition of design and graphic technology, standardisation of inter-office communications, and exchanged ideas and information.

The meeting also reviewed campaigns currently under development by Intermarkets’ regional offices as well as relevant international case histories.

Ramzi Raad, Intermarkets’ executive vice president, said: “This has been a very stimulating three days from which all the participants return to their offices loaded with inspiration that will help them carry our creative message into the next decade.”

Originally published in ArabAd, January 1994

From left: Ramzi Raad - Executive vice president intermarkets group, Nigel Page - regional sales manager - Middle East, British Airways, Sandra Owen - sales executive, British Airways, Joseph Ghossoub - general manager, Intermarkets UAE & Oman, Chris Cum-mings - BP Middle East, Hassan Laham - AI Jallaf Modern Establishment, Edward Lim - Singapore Airlines, Elle Kai - Media International Services, Najib Haddad - ODECO

DUBAI – Intermarkets U.A.E. invited clients, media and friends to an open house to celebrate new year and the recent announcement that for the 12th consecutive year, it has achieved the highest annual turnover with both, Dubai and Abu Dhabi television stations.

Since its opening in Dubai, on February 1st, 1975, Intermarkets U.A.E. has maintained this number one position with the two television stations. During the party, messages of greetings were received from the Intermarkets offices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, North Yemen, Egypt, Lebanon and England.

Intermarkets’ Kuwait and Jordan confirmed in their messages that they – too – have achieved the number one position with their local TV stations, in 1987.

The celebration also marked the move of Intermarkets U.A.E. to their new premises on the Dubai-Sharjah road.

Originally published in ArabAd, May 1988

COCA COLA International has appointed Intermarkets Jerusalem as its advertising agency in Jordan, a new market for the American soft drink. “The agreement came as a result of negotiations between the two parties concerned,” said Bassem Dajani, general manager of Intermarkets Jerusalem.

Representatives of the international soft drink company contacted a number of Jordanian advertising agencies including Intermarkets Jerusalem. Dajani’s ad agency was chosen after a tough selection process in which the competing agencies had to present Coca Cola with a pre-conceived ad campaign lasting for 12 years.

“Coca Cola should reach 99% of Jordanians in all ways: radio stations, TV, press, billboards, and others,” said Dajani. Initially only Coke sold in cans will be available in Jordan, though there are plans to introduce the Cola bottle later on, affirmed Dajani. Furthermore, the introduction of Coke in Jordan will be followed by other Coca Cola International brands, names such as Sprite, Fanta as well as Diet Coca Cola.

Originally published in ArabAd, December 1993

Sur notre photo: MM. Erwin Guerrovich, CEO du groupe, Ramzi Raad, vice-président, directeur général d'Intermarkets-Dubai; les directeurs généraux Joe Ayoub (Liban), Jihad Abbouchi (Arabie Séoudite), Fady Mouannès (Koweit), Bassem Dajani (Jordanie), Makram Zeenny (Syrie), Galal Zaki (Egypte); ainsi que Khalil Bitar, vice-président pour les finances, et Nadim Sfeir, vice-président pour le Proche-Orient et l'Arabie Séoudite.

La direction régionale du Groupe Intermarkets a tenu récemment à Dubai, sa réunion annuelle. Ont été passées en revue, les réalisations de l’année écoulée, dont l’acquisition de nouveaux budgets régionaux, prestigieux, tels que Rothmans of Pall Mall, the British Bank of the Middle East, Trisa et Alberto Culver ainsi que de plusieurs autres bugets locaux, remportés par les différents bureaux du groupe.

Il a été également procédé à l’étude des plans pour l’introduction de services de direct/integrated marketing, via une joint venture avec Tequila UK. Tequila Middle East opérera sur le même schéma que Intermarkets Public Relations, affilié au Moyen-Orient avec Burson Marsteller, le numéro un mondial des relations publiques.

Les participants se sont également penchés sur la stratégie d’expansion du groupe pour l’an 2000, une stratégie visant à atteindre le but ultime, “devenir les meilleur”.

Intermarkets est l’une des plus anciennes agences de publicité du Moyen-Orient. Fondée au Liban il y a 35 ans, Intermarkets s’est établie à Dubai en 1976, pour rayonner dans toute la région, offrant des services intégrés dans tous ses bureaux; en Arabie Séoudite, Koweit, Egypte, Jordanie, Yémen et Syrie.

Originally published in L’Orient-Le Jour, April 1996

Intermarkets a tenu son 27ème séminaire annuel de gestion à Beyrouth, avec la participation des directeurs du Liban, Jordanie, Egypte, Arabie Saoudite, Emirats Arabes Unis, Koweit et Oman. Durant le séminaire, la direction générale a annoncé l’ouverture de ses bureaux en Syrie.

En étendant son réseau régional, fonction des nouvelles données économiques et des besoins de ses clients, Intermarkets continue dans sa tradition de pionnier libanais et arabe de la publicité moyen-orientale depuis 1960. Le dîner de clôture du séminaire a été rehaussé par la présence du ministre de l’Information et de Mme Michel Samaha.

Originally published in Commerce, March 1994