Former OMD CEO Shadi Kandil to head up MCN Mediabrands
Middle East Communications Network has appointed Shadi Kandil as CEO of MCN Mediabrands across the MENAT region. He will oversee UM, Initiative, Magna, Platform 5 and Capella.
MCN said the appointment comes as a reinforcement of the group’s continuous commitment to offer “seamlessly integrated marketing solutions” to clients. In a statement, it added: “In a world of rapid change, MCN aspires to be the partner of choice for its clients as they navigate the challenges of tomorrow and achieve success on their journey to business transformation.”
“In delivering on this vision, the role of the MCN Mediabrands CEO becomes instrumental in leading the group’s media and related specialist agencies,” said Ghassan Harfouche, group CEO of MCN.
He continued: “Shadi brings a transformational approach to this new role, which we believe will bolster the MCN Mediabrands offering and contribute greater value to our clients’ businesses.
“Shadi is an inspiring leader, a quick thinker, and a team-playing do-er. We are convinced that this will be a big step for us in continuing to deliver impact for our clients and in better connecting with today’s everevolving consumer.”
Kandil said: “I’m honoured and thrilled to lead MCN Mediabrands across MENAT and to work with our talented and passionate team to advance our clients’ missions. We live in exciting times and this gives us greater incentive to effect change and build for the future.”
Kandil has more than 20 years of media industry experience. Begin- ning his career on the client side, he worked in media sales and market research to then join Omnicom Media Group in 2004, where he moved up the ranks to the role of CEO of OMD MENA.
In 2013, he relocated to Toronto, where he served as a director on the board of several successful start-ups, mainly in the fields of data and ana- lytics. While in Canada, he also took on a lead academic role at Centennial College and set-up a graduate certificate programme focused on digital marketing, omni-channel retailing and digital transformation.
He studied at the American University of Beirut and earned an executive MBA from London Business School.