Starcom MediaVest Group retains Saudi Telecommunications Company account

The high profile win will see SMG remain as STC's multichannel, full-service and integrated media agency. In line with this, the Group will continue to spearhead traditional media strategies for STC as well as deliver exceptional digital solutions for an ever-evolving telecommunications sector.

STC is one of the top advertisers in the MENA region and the leading telecommunications provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, SMG's position as the biggest media agency in the MENA region and in Saudi Arabia makes this collaboration especially befitting. Throughout the years, SMG and STC have maintained a highly successful partnership punctuated by a slew of industry accolades - including the Advertiser of the Year Award won at the Dubai Lynx 2009.

During the intense pitch process, SMG managed to, once again, set itself starkly apart from competition, unveiling opportunities driven by data and insights applied to consumer communication, and an unparalleled understanding of the STC brand. SMG's pioneering planning approach also shed light on its unyielding commitment to quality deliverables and sales success.

"This win serves as a true testament to our longstanding partnership - spanning 11 years - and our shared leadership vision," said John Antoniades, Chief Executive Officer of SMG MENA. "We are honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve and work in partnership with STC. In an industry where client turnover is common, we, at SMG, worked relentlessly to build a solid reputation, strong credentials and long-lasting relationships. This is rooted in a desire to deliver sustainable advantage from our leading scale, talent and capabilities. We look forward to a continued and prosperous alliance with STC."

Ramzi Ghanem, Managing Director, SMG KSA, also added: "From the very beginning, we ventured into our partnership with STC with a long-term and innovative approach, using our talent, cutting-edge technologies and data. It has been a truly rewarding and successful experience and one that can only be attributed to our talented team and their multifaceted capabilities. As we further expand our business, we hope to continue to deliver exceptional results."

The win kicks off the new year in full force following a stellar 2012 where SMG truly cemented its status as the leading media buying and planning network in the region in 2012. With annual monitored billings of $2.6bn and a 20% growth over 2011, not only did SMG successfully defend Almarai in the biggest pitch of 2012, they also managed to secure 14 new pieces of business which include coveted brands such as Emirates NBD, Novartis, Mango, Meydan, Savola, Lazurde, Tetley, Dubai Sports Council, Ministry Of Cabinet Affairs and Enterprise Qatar.