Strategies out of the downturn to be the focus of 2nd OMD Predicts event

To achieve this, it has brought together a line-up of international experts to help chart a course to growth, with insightful knowledge and forecasts about the regional economy, consumer expectations and communications trends.

Held on Thursday June 11, at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, the seminar is scheduled to welcome more than 200 senior business and marketing executives, as well as communications planning specialists and industry stakeholders. The OMD Predicts event series is unique in the region as it anticipates upcoming trends to better prepare its audience of industry professionals.

Following on from the previous OMD Predicts event in 2007, where the issue was managing growth and change, this edition is held at the most poignant of times. Under the theme of 'Riding the wave', it is designed to identify opportunities for growth among the uncertainty, capitalizing on change to operate a business transformation.

The speaker line-up comprises EIU editor/economist Mohammed Shakheel, Aubrey Ghose, founder and CEO of ais>Brandlab, Charles Wright, Director and brand specialist at Wolf Ollins and OMD futures executive director Jean-Paul Edwards.

"At OMD, we believe our investment in knowledge and creativity brings results for all the parties in our industry. The OMD Predicts series, combined with the OMD Creative Masterclass series, has proven to be a key differentiator for our clients and ourselves,"

commented Elie Khouri, Regional Managing Director of Omnicom Media Group.

"OMD Predicts is a timely initiative," explained Shadi Kandil, General Manager of OMD Dubai. "Instead of wallowing in the prevalent doom and gloom, OMD is instead acting proactively in focusing on the future to manage the present. We remain resolutely focused on providing our clients, our teams and the industry at large with the best knowledge and know-how to capitalize on opportunities to grow."

The by-invitation event is sponsored by CNN, Yahoo and The Economist, who find in the event an opportunity to demonstrate their focus on assisting advertisers maximize their visibility and presence with their target audiences.