Next generation marketing en route to region

The 2-day conference, organised by Gulf Marketing Review (GMR), is themed Generation Next, the Future of Marketing in the Middle East and takes place at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, December 5-6.

The forum brings together a panel of international and regional experts to discuss the key developments and trends that will shape the way companies market their products and services in the future.

Keynote speakers include Scott Galloway and Professor Malcolm McDonald. Elected to the World Economic Forum's "Global Leaders of Tomorrow", Galloway is an associate professor at The Stern School of Business (NYU), where he lectures in brand strategy to MBA students.

McDonald is chairman of six multinational companies and was previously a Professor of Marketing and deputy director of the UK's Cranfield School of Management.

Regional experts include Abdullah Al Jehani, Acting DSG for Marketing and Media, Supreme Commission for Tourism and Fahd Hamidaddin, Director General, Saudi Investment Authority, both from Saudi Arabia.

Other speakers include trendwatching.com founder Reinier Evers, who will share new ways to cooperate and communicate with consumers, as well as how to improve trend spotting skills as a marketer. In addition, Mike Longhurst, senior vice president for Business Development at McCann Erickson EMEA will talk about building of sustainable brands.

Topics also include a survey on young Arab insights from YouGovSiraj, a more detailed analysis of the changing habits of the Saudi shopper, and marketing segmentation of young consumers.

Ideas on how to harness new ways of communicating with consumers will underpin the event with FlipMedia's CEO Martin Diessner discussing real time marketing via internet.

"The quality and calibre of this year's expert catapults this event to the top of the 2006 regional marketing calendar," says GMR publisher, Barry Gray.

"At this landmark event, marketing decision-makers will discover new ways to build and sustain brand loyalty; hear how to maximise ROI in new media; learn how to segment customers to increase profitability; find out who is shopping where and what will be the best route to market; gain insights into the changing lifestyles and behaviour of Arab consumers.

In addition, a showcase of some of the best advertising campaigns and marketing communications from across the region will be on display.

Sponsors include Canon, Cadillac, BBC World, Al Arabiya, Synovate, The Economist, Cadillac, Starcom Media Group and PHD. The official payment card is American Express.