IAA UAE Chapter elects new board

The world's largest IAA chapter of 270 members chose its 13 board members, with 5 re-elections and 8 new ones, and elected Lance De Masi from American University in Dubai as the Chapter's Vice-President, Ghassan Harfouche from MEMS as Treasurer and Faris Abouhamad from Resonance Interone Middle East as Secretary General, joining Sami Raffoul from PARC in the Chapter's executive committee, elected by the board itself.

Marwan Rizk, IAA's Area Director, said, 'We are pleased to welcome our newly elected board members, and we do believe that their experience will serve as a complement to the vast experience of our re-elected members. We have a top-notch board that will continue to help drive the advertising world in the region towards achieving its goal of improving the industry practices, standards, and developing the human resources, through delivering on well focussed strategies.'

Within the same lines, Sami Raffoul, President, IAA UAE Chapter commented: 'The input of the board members is invaluable in ensuring that IAA is able to adapt world-leading expertise and innovative advertising ethos to the unique conditions of local markets. We look forward to execute our vision with fresh and exquisite approaches.'

Along with the executive committee, the directors of the board are Barry Gray (Gray Business Communications), Rajeev Khanna (Gulf News), Eric Hanna (Grey Advertising), Mohamed Almulla (Dubai Media City), Lars Nielsen (AME Info), Kamal Dimachkie (Leo Burnett), Nassib Boueri (Wunderman), Elie Khouri (OMD) and Marwan Kai (MIS Gulf). Tanvir Khanji (INCA Tanvir), the out-going IAA UAE Chapter President, will continue to serve the board as its Advisor, ensuring smooth transition and activities' continuity.

The UAE Chapter board elections occurs every two years, with an exceptional one year extension to the previous board, following through the IAA World Congress which took place in first half of 2006.