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

DUBAI – Intermarkets concluded its Dubai meeting late January in which the company’s executives laid down plans for staffing, training and the upgrading of their four Gulf offices.

Rarticipants with RAAD

The meeting was chaired by Ramzi Raad, executive vice president of the Intermarkets Group. Also in attendance were Nadim Sfeir, Saudi Arabia, Bassam Soboh Kuwait, Joseph Ghossoub, UAE, and Shankar Narayan, Bahrain.

In the meantime Intermarkets concluded a workshop in Kuwait between 20-25 January for executives from the client servicing and media departments of Intermarkets Kuwait. Those attending included Rana Shebeata, Mohammed Kassassier, Shaheen Kazi, Mohammed Jundi and Louay Abu-Nada.

Originally published in Arabada, April 1988

Leading American advertising industry journal Advertising Age has named Intermarkets as the leading agency in Kuwait.

Intermarkets Executives Sherif Koloian (left) and Ashraf Hassen

The findings were published in Advertising Age’s recent world-wide Agency Report, which identifies Intermarkets’ 1995 growth rate of 61.8% as far ahead of their closest contender at 49%.

Intermarkets Kuwait Managing Director Fady Mouannes said: “We are leading the field in Kuwait as a result of a continued team effort. Most important is that we continue this effort and maintain our lead.

We were the biggest spenders in advertising volume in local print media in both 1994 and 1995. And we have contributed to the success of our clients, notably for ITT Sheraton, for whom our creative work won awards in 1994 and 1995.”

Fady Mouannes

In the meantime, Intermarkets Advertising Egypt recently won two golden awards at the Cairo festival for Arab television and radio. The awards were for Best Commercial for Gobar Food Products and Best Production for Sabeel mineral water.

“The key to the agency’s success lies in the recruitment of creative and highly dynamic young individuals who are continually undergoing training in integrated marketing communications,” said Galal Zaki, president of Intermarkets Egypt.

Originally published in ArabAd, September 1996

For the second year running, the successful partnership Sheraton Kuwait Hotel and Towers and Intermarkets Advertising Agency gained international recognition for its advertising and public relations programme.

The Hotel was given two awards at the ITT Sheraton Africa & Middle East Divisional Conference in Dar Es Salaam in mid-February 1996. The awards were “Best Advertising Programme 1995″, “Best Overall Collateral 1995″ and the hotel was also runner-up in a third category, “Best Public Relations Activities.”

Both Sheraton Kuwait and Intermarkets, which handles all advertising and production work for the hotel, are delighted at receiving the awards. All creative work is the result of careful teamwork between agency and hotel, and is based on careful analysis of guests’ needs and responses, as well as the state of the market and Advertising/PR trends.
The conference was attended by Manuel Garcia, Vice President ITT Sheraton Corporation and Director of Marketing, Africa and Middle East Divisions. Representatives of more than 30 Sheraton hotels were also present.
“These awards are major achievements for both ourselves and Intermarkets,” said Fahd Abu Shaar, General Manager of Sheraton Kuwait. “To win such recognition two years in succession is a great honour, and will motivate us to perform even better in the future.
“There is no danger of our becoming complacent. Team work is the key to the success of all our endeavours and the advertising and public relations aspects of Top Awards our work are no exception.”

“Our major achievement lies not only in attaining the leading position in the market for ourselves and our client, but also in maintaining that position,” added Intermarkets Kuwait Managing Director Fady Mouannes.

“It’s great to see the fruits of both Sheraton Kuwait and Intermarkets labour achieve not only success, but also international recognition two years in succession. This continued encouragement will inspire both of us to achieve even greater goals.”

Originally published in ArabAd,  May 1996

The Intermarkets Advertising Management Group recently held its annual meeting at the Royal Abjar Hotel in Dubai. The meeting reviewed the achievements of the group for the past six months, during which accounts such as Rothmans of Pall Mall, the British Bank of the Middle East, Trisa, and Alberto Culver were won.

The group also reviewed 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 very much like Intermarkets Public Relations, Middle East affiliate of Burson-Marsteller, the world’s largest public relations consultancy.

The meeting finalised Intermarkets’ expansion strategy up to the year 2000, a strategy aimed at delivering the group’s goal “To be the best”.

Intermarkets started in Lebanon 35 years ago, and its Dubai office was set up 20 years ago. The agency also has offices offering integrated marketing services in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Syria.

Attending the meeting were Erwin Guerrovich, Intermarkets Group CEO; Ramzi Raad, executive vice president & managing director – Dubai; Joe Ayoub, managing director – Saudi Arabia; Fady Mouannes, managing director – Kuwait; Bassem Dajani, managing director – Jordan; Makram Zeenny, managing director – Syria; Galal Zaki, managing director – Egypt; Khalil Bitar, the Group’s senior vice president of finance; and Nadim Sfeir, vice president-Levant area and Saudi Arabia.

Originally published in ArabAd, May 1996

Following a review, Rothmans of Pall Mall (International) Limited confirmed that part of its regional account will move to Intermarkets, the associate company of Rothmans’ UK agency TBWA. However, the tobacco giant will also maintain close links with Publi-Graphics with whom they have worked for 20 years.
Publi-Graphics retain the sizeable sponsorship and public relations account for the Middle East division of Rothmans. The development of public relations has been of key importance since their entry into Formula One motor racing with the Rothmans Williams Renault team.
“We are very pleased that Rothmans have endorsed the success of our public relations operation for them and look forward to continuing this successful partnership,” said Samir Khammar, Regional Director of Publi-Graphics.”
He added, “As long-time colleagues and friends, we wish both Rothmans and Intermarkets well in their new association.”
Chris Tomkinson, Managing Director of Rothmans of Pall Mall International, Middle East Division said, “We look forward to Publi-Graphics continuing their valuable contribution in the sponsorship, public relations and associated areas – particularly in relation to the Rothmans Williams Renault Formula One Team which plays an extremely significant role in our business, both globally and in the markets of the Middle East.”
Originally published in ArabAd, 1995

“Trisa of Switzerland,” the internationally renowned manufacturer of tooth brushes and hairbrushes since 1887, announced the appointment of Intermarkets Advertising to handle its total communications programme in the Middle East.
The appointment was the outcome of a review that “Trisa” had conducted amongst a number of advertising agencies in Dubai, following which 6 ad agencies were shortlisted and the company attended presentations which were delivered by Impact/BBDO, Publi-Graphics, APS, MADCO, Memac and Intermarkets.
In his announcement fax, Jurg Schneider, Export Marketing Manager of Trisa, said that Intermarkets’ presentation had been very professional, the capabilities of the agency were interesting, and that Trisa had very much liked the Intermarkets Dubai team.
The Trisa appointment gives Intermarkets a reason to continue smiling after having won F. Hoffmann-La Roche’s Bepanthen, Rothmans of Pall Mall (International) and Dubai Marine International Club (DMIC) during the past two months.
Originally published in Arab Ad, 1995

Erwin Guerrovich

- All around the industry, the climate was towards glorious optimism as 1993 started. Forecasts were constantly referring to a minimum growth of 35% of the Lebanese advertising volume, within a context of further internal peace consolidation and economic growth.
It did not happen. In fact, our statistical unit estimates actual advertising expenditure in 1993 as lower than 1992. We mostly attribute this situation to the continuous impoverishment of the middle class with fixed revenues and to the media war.
On the agency side, as our Lebanon office was embarked in a major restructuration, we had not set our 1993 objectives to the tune of the optimistic outlook of the general industry. Our targeted growth for Lebanon of 10% over 1992 was reached. Overall, having met both our targets and internal planning, we are satisfied with 1993.
- With the situation in Lebanon, as it is, our office here did not have the same level of equipment and professional sophistication as in our other offices throughout the area. Our accomplishments included new management transferred from the Gulf, bringing along the expertise and disciplines now required in Lebanon, the staffing and installation of equipment in computer creativity as well as media, and the return to our enlarged offices in the Chalouhi Centre spanning 1,000 sq.m. on 3 floors.
1993 has also been for us the return of our head office to Beirut and especially, the resumption of our Lebanon office as a regional co-ordinating centre. In 1993 two of our international accounts were co-ordinated successfully out of Beirut and it is likely that this will be increased in 1994.
As a regional network, it is also worth mentioning the start in 1993 of the Saudia Airlines campaign on a world-wide basis.
Originally published in ArabAd, January, 1994

He always knocks on doors even if they are open.

He always smiles even if he’s aching.

Never had a door been closed at him.

Never had we felt that he’s aching.

Well… This is Mahmoud… The coffee maker at Intermarkets/Beirut.

Now he’s 64 and leaving us clear of conscious.

To tell you that we’re happy… would be lying. But we’re happy for him. We remember when he won the National Lottery; it was a fiesta for all of us.

A person like Mahmoud is seldom found. Kind-hearted, sim¬ple, does his job to perfection (Yes, yes,… This job requires the know-how).

We’re going to miss that man… and because we don’t want him to forget us, we all met on the 28th of March, 2000 to present him with a token he will cherish.

Originally published in ArabAd, April 2000

The meeting was attended by: J. Ayache, J. Ghossoub, R. Baad, E. Guerrovich, K. Bitar, Â. Soboh.

DUBAI – On the occasion of the visit to Dubai, of Intermarkets’ President, Erwin Guerrovich, a board meeting of the Gulf managers and general management was held at Intermarkets-UAE.

Originally published in ArabAd, February, 1989