DABO & CO announces key appointments to rapidly-growing team

PR, event management and digital communications capabilities bolstered by strategic hires

UAE, 15 January 2014: Strengthening its position as the region's leading independent integrated communications agency, DABO & CO has announced a series of key appointments to its growing multi-national team. The move will significantly add to the existing talent at the firm as it looks to meet the growing demand for sophisticated communications services in the market.  

Leading the series of strategic appointments, Alexandra Williams joins the agency as Digital Director and will play a key role in supporting the continued expansion of DABO & CO's integrated offering. She arrives from Grayling in the United Kingdom, where she was Associate Director and played a central role in making the firm the no1 ranked agency in the UK for digital PR by PR Week magazine in 2011 and 2012.

“Digital engagement is becoming increasingly important in the region and our clients are realising the value of investing in a truly integrated communications strategy that incorporates this platform, along with PR and events,” said Managing Partner Camilla d'Abo. “To this end, we are delighted to bring Alex on board and her expertise will be essential in enhancing our multi-faceted communications offering.”

Other key recruits strengthening the company across the PR, Events and operations divisions include:

• Iman Issa, who joins the team as Corporate Account Director overseeing the corporate team, having worked for over seven years at Hill + Knowlton Strategies. Issa is responsible for flagship accounts such as BMW Group, DHL and Marriott International.
• Dawn Barnable joins as Consumer Account Director. Barnable has worked as a leading communications practitioner for over 10 years in Canada, Japan, Australia and, most recently, in the UAE, where she was an Account Director at Edelman. She is overseeing key accounts such as Yas Waterworld, Ritz-Carlton, Dubai Cares and Jumeirah Restaurants.
• Further bolstering the PR team has been the recruitment of additional regional and international talent. Two hires have moved to Dubai from the UK; Natalie Johnson, who has extensive digital PR experience, joins as Account Manager, and Ellie Keane joins as Account Executive. Meanwhile Saudi national Maha Alhamed and fellow AUS graduate Mahitab Hosni have joined to provide greater regional insights and expertise. Also joining the growing Consumer division is Sherin Bodekji who joins the team as a Senior Account Executive, and brings with her three years of UAE agency experience and expertise in the NGO, B2B and aviation sectors.
• Building on DABO & CO's heritage of delivering customised events for international clients, Che Smith has been appointed as Account Manager, bringing the total number of staff in the Events Management division to 12. With more than six years of experience working in events for Deutsche Bank and Barclays Group, Che will further strengthen the events offering to existing finance clients including The Abraaj Group and HSBC. 
• Alexandra Hurstel, the agency's first dedicated HR Manager, brings five years' experience from Al Tayer, and will provide strategic guidance to the company. In her capacity she will manage the training and career development of the team, while playing a key role in ensuring that the company continues to recruit leading talent as it grows.  

With the recent wave of new hires DABO & CO has nearly doubled in headcount, increasing from a team of 26 to 53 over the last three years. Indicative of their success during this period has been the 16 major awards the agency has received for its innovative work on some of the world's leading brands including BMW Group, Canon and Marriott International.  

Camilla d'Abo added: “As we continue to evolve and enter another exciting phase of our development, we remain committed to ensuring we do not compromise on the quality of our services. We have focused on growing our team by maintaining a focus on adding to and further strengthening our existing talent. We are genuinely pleased to have been able to bring some of the region's leading practitioners to our team, as we continue to endeavour to provide the high quality of communication services our clients have come to expect from us.”