Ketchum Raad Middle East, a full-service communications firm in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, has appointed Ashraf Shakah as its managing director, based in Dubai.

Shakah brings more than 18 years of local market experience and is recognised for his knowledge of the region’s business, social, cultural and geopolitical dynamics, having also worked across a range of industries.

Jon Higgins, senior partner and chief executive officer, International, said: "Ashraf's considerable experience in the region aligns very well with our client needs and our plans for continued growth.”

Reda Raad, group CEO at TBWA \RAAD, said: “Ashraf brings heavyweight experience and the well-rounded perspective of someone who has worked client-side, agency-side and in-house. We were impressed with both the strength of his leadership skills and the subtlety of his new business thinking.”

Ketchum Raad Middle East was established in 2010 as a joint venture between Ketchum, a leading global communications firm, and TBWA\RAAD, a leading advertising agency network in the Mena region.

It delivers integrated PR and marketing offerings in 13 cities across 11 countries in the region, including offices in the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and affiliates in Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. - TradeArabia News Service