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 National Commercial Bank won the Golden Sword Award for the best print ad in all the advertising categories, at the Sword Press Award ceremony.

NCB also won a Silver Sword Award for the best print ad in the Financial Institutions & General Services category. Intermarkets Advertising visited NCB chairman Sheikh Mohamed Bin Salem Bin Mahfouz on this occasion to present both the awards.

NCB chairman thanked Intermarkets and the NCB Marketing Teams for their experience in implementing a strategic advertising plan. He also thanked the Saudi Research and Publishing Co for their support to the advertising industry through organising the Sword Award Press Competition.

Originally published in SAUDI GAZETTE, May 1996

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

Erwin Guerrovich

Intermarkets’ President Erwin Guerrovich replied:

Our 1987 major objectives were:
a – A targetted modest growth of 50%, owing to the area situation.
b – A re-structuration of our regional operations to answer both client’s new geographical requirements, and own servicing/financial efficiency.
c – Drive on selected local new business acquisitions to further develop our local base in some markets.
Overall, we are satisfied with 1987 as objectives have been met with growth, evaluated at end 1987, to be of 80% consolidated.
However, in individual countries conditions are stepping up in differences (clients priorities, individual markets’ true potentials) which had a bearing on individual offices’ performances. For instance, Saudi Arabia has recorded major growth, while Bahrain recorded decreased performance owing to the market being hit by Saudi commercial television, opening of the causeway and a loss of interest by many clients in Bahrain as a regional centre.
Most of the markets have started levelling off and have adjusted to new conditions. But as we predicted in 1984, the well-managed trading companies and industries have benefited, carving for themselves increasing market shares to the detriment of vulnerable competitors.
Our company looks forward to various new business gains that start in 1988 and the full effort of our regional re-structuration pinpoints towards an objective of 11 per cent consolidated growth.
Our outlook is optimistic. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Yemen are growth areas. Developments in the Gulf conflict may hinder evolution.
Originally published in ArabAd in January, 1988

Intermarkets managers after the meeting

Intermarkets has just held its 27th annual management regional meeting in Beirut. Attending were managers of Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman.

During the meeting, the general management announced the opening of offices in Syria.
“By extending its network while taking current economic factors and client’s needs into account. Intermarkets continues in its pioneering tradition in Middle East advertising since 1960,” the management announced.
(ArabAd, 1994)

INTERMARKETS held its regional conference between Oct. 3-5 in Kuwait at the Sheraton.
The main topics of discussion during the three-day conference included current issues and prospectives of Intermarkets activities. Kuwait was chosen as host country for the Conference this year, as the year 1989 marked the 20th year Anniversary of Intermarkets Kuwait.

Intermarkets Kuwait was established in 1969, with it the birth of the first professional advertising and marketing agency was witnessed. Since that time Intermarkets succeeded in building up its Middle East network.
Reception party that followed the conference was held at Kuwait Sheraton on Oct. 14 and was attended by friends and clients of the company, representatives of Intermarkets management and Intermarkets managers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan Bahrain, Egypt and Europe (London).
(Kuwait Times, 1989)

Intermarkets advertising Kuwait managers with friends and clients

INTERMARKETS held its regional conference from October 3 to 5 in Kuwait at the Sheraton Hotel.

The main topics of discussion during the three day conference included current issues and prospectives of Intermarkets activities. Kuwait was chosen as host country for the conference this year, as the year 1989 marked the 20th year anniversary of Intermarkets Kuwait. Intermarkets Kuwait was established in 1969, with it the birth of the first professional advertising and marketing agency was witnessed. Since that time Intermarkets succeeded in building up its Middle East network.

Reception party, that followed the conference, was held at Kuwait Sheraton on October 4 and was attended by friends and clients of the company, representatives of Intermarkets management and Intermarkets managers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt and Europe (London).

ArabAd 1989