Bates Europe Chairman Toby Hoare makes maiden visit to Bates PanGulf in Dubai

For the past two years, Toby was Group Chief Executive of Bates UK and when appointed to his new role in February this year was determined to make the Middle East one of the first places he visited.

"Our Agency here in Dubai, that operates as our regional hub for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, is an ideal example of the way that Bates is moving across the world towards being a "360-degree" fully integrated communications company. An agency that offers our clients the widest range of services from advertising to public relations, direct marketing to interactive and website consultancy support," he said.

"This was my first visit to the region and I have been tremendously impressed by the vision and dynamism shown by the people that Bates has here on the ground that in turn reflects the giant strides that Dubai is taking on the world stage."

Bates PanGulf Chairman Mr Abdulla Majed Al Ghurair hosted the visit to Dubai.

He said: "I am delighted that Toby decided to make his maiden visit to Bates PanGulf so soon after his new appointment. It reflects the importance that Bates places on Dubai as a regional hub and tremendous business potential in the region."

As Group Chief Executive of Bates UK, Toby was responsible for re-engineering the Agency both internally and externally and achieving a number of major new business wins.

He was largely responsible for creating a new business ethos for Bates called the "Return on Imagination" - delivering creativity and solutions in a focused and imaginative manner that brought major returns for clients and their business.