PROMAX&BDA in Europe changes name to include Middle East and African territories

The new name signals an expansion and focus into the Middle East and African territories, where PROMAX&BDA intends to launch specific and localized conferences in Dubai and Cape Town in 2005.

"The entertainment business is going through a revolution and evolution at the same time and it's becoming extremely competitive in every corner of the world," said Alzner. "The Arabic speaking world is a vibrant and growing market and the need for promotional marketing instruction has never been greater. Meanwhile, PROMAX&BDA has not had any exposure in Africa and we are looking forward to introducing marketing concepts and promotional techniques to the branding community in this region of the world. As an organization, we need to travel to these countries, particularly where travel budgets are limited, but the demand for promotional and design knowledge is high, to teach and show our members about effective techniques. By adding these territories to our outreach, it only made sense that the name of the organization should also be changed to reflect our global standing, outreach and expansion."

Alzner is in the planning stages on the Dubai conference (which will be known as PROMAX&BDA Arabia - http://www.promax.tv/arabia.asp) and the Cape Town workshop and will be announcing the dates shortly. The Dubai event will be modeled after the European conferences. It will be two days of intensive and instructional sessions highlighted by a keynote address from a well-known figure from the world of branding and marketing. Alzner also plans to launch the first ever award competition for the Middle East and there will be also be a number of networking and social events.

The Cape Town event will be a one day workshop and will be modeled after the PROMO 101 concept, where intensive workshops are held with the objective of motivating and inspiring the promo team, teaching the best practices to engage and attract the viewer as well as encouraging innovation and revealing the secret to managing effective promo time. Alzner, who successfully produced and presented such an event in Moscow last year, recently teamed with the organization's Asia chapter where they conducted PROMO 101 workshops for the first time in Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila and Hong Kong in the fall of 2004.

To support the expansion, Alzner has also expanded the London-based staff. Richard Oban joins PROMAX&BDA EMEA as Head of Sales. In his new role, Oban will generate and secure sponsorships for the conferences and one-day events. Oban comes to PROMAX&BDA EMEA from Commonwealth Business Council, which is financed by African investors with the purpose of establishing media assets in the country. Based in London, Oban managed a team of sales agents in four African countries and was responsible for generating advertising revenue for an African investor magazine, Africa-investor.com and Africa investor awards. Oban began his career with BskyB in 1995 as a Senior Manager and later became Head of Distribution & Affiliate Sales for Discovery Channel Europe.

Also new to the PROMAX&BDA EMEA team is Venetia Berry, who joins the organization as an Event Producer. In her new role, Berry will handle the logistics and details of setting up the conferences and one-day events at the various locales in Europe, The Middle East and Africa. Since 1996, Berry has worked as a producer for such broadcast design companies as Kemistry, XTV @ One Post and Red Pepper Film Company. Most recently, Berry has been a freelance producer based in London since January 2004.

Established in 1955, PROMAX&BDA is the world's premier body for promotion and marketing professionals working in electronic and broadcast media. BDA is the world's leading association of broadcast and multimedia designers. With a membership of over 4000 companies and individuals drawn from more than 65 countries, and with conferences taking place in Europe, USA, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and the UK, PROMAX&BDA is a truly international organization uniting the individuals who will pioneer tomorrow's electronic and broadcast media.