GlaxoSmithKline appoints Starcom MediaVest Group MENA

Some of the GlaxoSmithKline brands that Starcom MediaVest Group MENA will handle include Panadol, Sensodyne, Aquafresh and Horlicks.

Commenting on the business-focused approach that Starcom took in winning the account, Sameer Desai, Marketing Manager, GlaxoSmithKline, said,

"The presentation was very well rounded, with excellent consumer profiling, modeling and strategic planning. We also were impressed that the entire team contributed to the presentation - not just the top guys - showing that all team members understood our business and what Starcom could offer."

The win extends the scope of Starcom's relationship with GSK within the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, coming just four months after Starcom won the media planning and buying mandate for GSK in Russia and Eastern and Central Europe.

For his part, Philip Jabbour, SMG MENA Group Director, Marketing and Business Development, said that all members of the SMG team should take pride in their new client. "This is a major win for us as an endorsement of our position in the market and in terms of its significance and the quality and stature of the client. The depth of our presentation was made possible by the creative, strategic and well-researched inputs at all levels and from all departments."

"Showing its commitment to MENA, GlaxoSmithKline continues to invest in this region. By developing consumer-driven connections that captivate, we at Starcom endeavor to ensure that this investment delivers strong business returns," Jabbour added. Monitored numbers show that GSK has more than doubled its spending in the region over the last couple of years, and the attention to the region is expected to develop even further.