Intermarkets, has announced an affiliation with the London-based FISH consultancy, specialists in Internet web-site design and promotion.

Considered pioneers in multi-media and the fast expanding medium of the Internet, FISH designs and builds award winning web-sites for a number of top blue-chip clients using a unique blend of creativity, marketing know-how and sophisticated technology.

Recent successes include nominations for the prestigious YELL Best Site Design Awards in the UK, for work on the Blockbuster Entertainment and The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) web-sites, the latter having been recently launched by HRH Prince Philip at St. James’ Palace, London.

Bringing a totally new perspective and approach to the new media through ‘Internet marketing’ techniques, FISH provides a unique service to assist clients in successfully developing and exploiting all new opportunities in this ever-changing field of electronic communications.

“Given the rapid growth of the Internet and the far reaching potential of this new medium, we believe that the time is ripe for forging links with a specialist consultancy such as FISH,” explained Ramzi Raad, Chief Operating Officer, Intermarkets.

“FISH view the Internet as the fifth and fastest growing medium, and expect it to exceed well over 200 million users by the turn of the century,” he continued. “They are experts in this field and our new affiliation will enable Intermarkets’ new and existing client base to benefit from their state-of-the- art Internet services.”

Being relative newcomers to the Internet phenomenon, the Middle East is seen as one of the biggest potential markets as much of the anticipated growth is expected to come from businesses going on-line. In the UK alone, growth is expected to generate billions of pounds in commercial transactions.

Services available from FISH include the design and building of interactive web-sites, CD-ROM press packs, promotional screen savers, user friendly touch screen kiosks for effective point-of-sale, and collation of data for direct marketing purposes which includes on-line warehouse fulfilment services.

Originally published in ArabAd, September 1997

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

Fady Mouannes

Leading American advertising industry journal “Advertising Age” has named Intermarkets as the leading agency in Kuwait for the second consecutive year.

The findings are published in the journal’s recent worldwide Agency Report which identifies Intermarkets’ 1996 growth rate of  20.5%.

Intermarkets Kuwait Managing Director Fady Mouannes commented, “We are extremely proud to lead the field in Kuwait once again, which is a great accolade to a professional team effort and a tribute to all our clients.

“We were the biggest spenders in advertising volume in most of the local print media for 3 consecutive years 94, 95, 96. We continue to grow the operation and look forward to an even more successful 1997.”

Originally published in ArabAd, June 1997

Roger Fennings

Roger Fennings, Managing Director of Intermarkets Public Relations has announced a number of staff promotions and new appointments.

Bashar Al Kadhi

In current staff promotions, Bashar Al Kadhi is named Senior Account Director.

Fakher Daghestani

Fakher Daghestani is promoted to Account Manager.

Sue Nigoghossian

In new appointments, Melanie Gill joins Intermarkets Public Relations as Account Director. She joins the company from Total communications. Sue Nigoghossian is appointed as Account Executive. She was formerly with IPR.

In an earlier appointment, Nelly Abd-El Hamid joins Intermarkets as PR assistant.

Since its foundation five years ago as part of the Intermarkets group, Intermarkets Public Relations, names among its clients BP, Coca-Cola, Motorola, Nissan, Polaroid, TAG Heuer, Visa International and 3M.

Intermarkets Public Relations is the exclusive Middle eastern affiliate of Burson-Marsteller, one of the world’s leading international public relations consultancies.

Originally published in ArabAd, July 1997

Intermarkets Advertising, Jeddah held their annual summer barbecue recently. The Jeddah team got together with some of their clients and friends from the media.

It was a day of fun, good food and a pleasurable atmosphere.

No 1 gang

Managing director, Jihad Abboushi and business all the way

Hani Aljamal and a friend

Originally published in ArabAd, September 1997

Intermarkets Advertising has featured among the medallists for the third year running at the 1996-97 Cairo Radio and Television Festival, with a Bronze Award in the Best Television Commercial category.

Intermarkets Saudi Arabia was awarded Bronze for its Saudi Arabian Airlines commercial “Little Girl”, continuing an impressive history of successes which began the first year that advertising commercials were included in the Cairo Festival.

Over 650 entries were received from 18 countries for a range of special awards in categories ranging from ‘Best Actor’ and “Best actress’, to ‘Children’s’ and ‘Educational programmes’.

Commenting on the awards, Jihad Abbouchi, Managing Director of Intermarkets Saudi Arabia said: “We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of our clients Saudi Arabian Airlines, it is particularly rewarding when you consider the extremely high level of competition we were up against. We have a very creative and highly motivated team in Jeddah, and this accolade is just reward for all their hard efforts.”

Originally published in ArabAd, October, 1997