Publicis takes Emirates media

Dubai - Emirates has consolidated its US$350million global media planning and buying business with Publicis Groupe Media, spanning 80 countries worldwide.

It is still unclear how the business will be shared between Publicis Media's two agencies, ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest, but Marketing understands Starcom will manage the business in Hong Kong and Greater China.

A number of agencies including OMD and Interpublic were believed to have pitched for the business along with Carat, part of Aegis Media.

An Emirates statement said media billing hovered at around US$350million.

Philip Jabbour will lead the Emirates business as client managing director and report into Matt Blackborn, Starcom's global client services director.

"Emirates Group is the fastest growing airline in the world and a powerful force in Dubai and throughout our region, not to mention the world," said Jabbour.