Starcom MediaVest Group has appointed John Antoniades as its new CEO for the Middle East and North Africa.
Antoniades will take up his new position on 1 September and has been tasked with growing the group organically and extending market leadership in the region. He will fill the position left vacant by the departure of Filip Jabbour, who quit the region in May to take on the role of EVP, global business development director at Starcom MediaVest Group’s (SMG) US headquarters.
Currently based in London, Antoniades will report to Matt Blackborn, president, emerging markets, as well as Alex Saber, chairman of VivaKi’s MENA region. He will be based in SMG’s regional headquarters in Dubai.
“John’s breadth of experience makes him an ideal candidate for this role,” said Blackborn. “He offers a unique blend of local and multi-national client experience that will only help propel our business forward and drive our focus.”
Antoniades most recently served as director of multinational client operations EMEA. In this role he led the consolidation of Honda in EMEA and was asked to head its regional account operations. In addition, he earned a place on the London board and SMG’s global management group and is a key member of the network’s global product committee.
“MENA is one of the fastest growing markets in the world and is critical to SMG and our clients’ success,” said Antoniades. “I am honored by this new opportunity and look forward to building upon the amazing work the existing leadership team has already achieved through leveraging our ‘center of excellence’ capabilities.”