ICOM, one of the world's largest global networks of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies, announced the appointment of Hazem Hussein to its board of directors to serve as Regional Director for ICOM's Middle East & North Africa region (MENA). Hussein is chairman, CEO & chief creative officer of ICOM agency member Cairo-based Advantage Marketing & Advertising.
Hussein joins 11 other directors representing independent agencies from around the globe who are responsible for assisting in developing and leading regional new business initiatives, in recruiting new member agencies, and in organizing regional meetings. He succeeds Ali Asgar Mir, founder and managing director, IKON Advertising & Marketing - Dubai, who recently stepped down as ICOM's first Middle East regional director.
"Hazem has all the qualities we look for to lead this important region, where we want to focus on growth," said ICOM Board Chairman Bob Morrison, also chairman-ceo, Morrison, Atlanta, Ga., USA. "He is dynamic, strongly entrepreneurial, and has a solid vision of our industry and the challenges brands are facing today. We will look to his expertise demonstrated by his own business successes to provide strategic counsel on where and how to grow ICOM's business in the region."
With a population of approximately 440 million people and accounting for about 4.5 percent of the world's GDP, the region offers great opportunity for ICOM. Hussein said he wants to greatly expand the awareness of ICOM by recruiting agencies in more countries and facilitating multi-country cooperation on regional pitches.
Since founding Advantage in 2001, Hussein and other members of the senior management group have led the agency to become the fastest growing in Egypt, along the way capturing prestigious industry awards and now ranking among the top 10 agencies in the country with clients ranging from Fortune 100 multinationals to regional and local companies.
Hussein began his career on the client side, where he established a solid record of building new brands, revitalizing mature ones domestically and internationally, creating global award-winning campaigns, and building a proven record of increasing revenues and profitability for brands of major multinationals including Procter & Gamble, Henkel, and Clorox.