Start appoints Ken Frakes as new Digital Director

Frakes' responsibilities will include digital strategy, developing relationships with existing clients and building new business, as well as ensuring Start remains at the forefront of innovation and best practice in the digital arena.

Through close involvement with Start's Dubai office, Frakes will focus heavily on the Middle East market, to offer Start's brand of digital creativity and innovation to both new and existing clients.

Frakes' appointment further strengthens Start's ambitions for the UAE and Middle East region where current clients include mbc (mbc.net), DWTC, Nakheel and Dubai Airports.

The Start Dubai team, working closely with the senior leadership team at Start's London headquarters, will be overseeing development of Start's current business in the region as well as further developing ongoing opportunities in Abu Dhabi, Oman and Qatar.

On his new role, Ken , said:

"Start is pioneering an integrated brand and digital model and I am very much looking forward to working with them to push the boundaries even further. Start is in the unique position of being able to help brands create awareness, engage their customers and build compelling relationships online. The Middle East is a forward thinking, rapidly developing and immensely exciting region for us to be working in. I am really excited about furthering Start's work to date here in the UAE and Middle East."

Jen McAleer, Managing Director of Start, said, "Ken's appointment comes at a really exciting time for Start, both internationally and also more specifically for the Middle Eastern region. The team at Start Dubai is very much looking forward to working closely with Ken to ensure that Start Dubai remains at the cutting edge of digital innovation and thus provide a platform for further successes with both our existing clients and new business."

Ken Frakes has been at the forefront of digital innovation for more than 20 years and was nominated for a lifetime achievement award by Net Imperative. He joins Start from Radley Yeldar, the creative communications consultancy, where he was a board member responsible for the Digital and Moving Image service.

Prior to this, Ken was Managing Director of the NMA Top-12 digital marketing agency, twentysixlondon, that grew from the merger of AI London and partner agency Incepta in 2006. The agency worked with clients such as NatWest Bank, Waitrose, Samsung and BMI.

Frakes has also picked up a number of awards during his career, including the Precision Marketing Grand Prix for a Virgin Atlantic campaign while at Zinc, one of three agencies he co-founded, he also led the team to the Cannes Digital Grand Prix award for 'UnZip', the UK's first CD only magazine in partnership with IPC.