MCN, Part of IPG, Bolsters Leadership Team in MENAT; Appoints Lizzie Dewhurst as Chief Communications Officer

Thursday 22nd February 2024, Dubai, UAE:  MCN (Middle East Communications Network) – a leading marketing communications group in MENAT, part of the Interpublic Group – has appointed Lizzie Dewhurst as its Chief Communications Officer. The former Head of International Communications & PR at Publicis Groupe joins the leadership team, reporting to Ghassan Harfouche, Group CEO MCN MENAT, and President McCann Worldgroup APAC.

In the newly created role, Lizzie will be responsible for the brand profile, reputation management and marketing of MCN and its portfolio of agencies including McCann Worldgroup, IPG Mediabrands, FP7McCann, MullenLowe, UM, Magna, Initiative, KINESSO, MRM, McCann Health, Momentum, Craft, Weber Shandwick, Commonwealth//McCann, Jack Morton, Octagon and Current Global. MCN has circa 2,000 employees spanning 11 markets in MENAT.  Across its strong agency brands, MCN offers integrated marketing solutions that build enduring
brands and business growth for its clients. MCN’s unique and inclusive culture has been recognized by Great Places To Work (GPTW) consecutively for 2023 and 2024.

Lizzie joins MCN from Publicis Groupe where she was responsible for overseeing International corporate communications, media relations, executive profiles for agency and clients, crisis, and reputation management. While building an aligned and consistent brand cross-market for Publicis Groupe, Lizzie was integral to key achievements, including Ad Age’s Holding Company of the Year (2022), Adweek’s International Agency of the Year (2021), the launch of Working with Cancer, which was awarded a Health Grand Prix Lion (2023) and most recently, the launch of the Groupe’s AI strategy. Her leadership in PR for both agency and clients has generated high-profile coverage and helped secure major Cannes award wins for clients including Heineken and Powerade.

Having lived and worked in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, Lizzie draws on international experience, from previous roles where she led communications globally for Publicis Worldwide, Leo Burnett, and Saatchi + Saatchi, and worked within the global communications teams at TBWA\Worldwide and AKQA. Lizzie regularly judges PR Categories for industry award shows and has featured as a university guest lecturer. 

Here’s what they said

Ghassan Harfouche, Group CEO IPG/MCN MENAT and President McCann Worldgroup APAC commented,

“As a leading marketing and advertising networks in the region, MCN partners with clients to build enduring brands. Our rich and diverse heritage, combined with future-facing agencies and disciplines, ensures we deliver truly integrated and sustained brand value and growth for clients. I’m happy to welcome Lizzie, who brings broad multinational communications experience across agency, holding company and brands, and know that she will ensure added value for our agencies and clients.”

Lizzie Dewhurst, Chief Communications Officer at MCN, added,

“MCN’s prominent positioning and its strong workplace culture, combined with the significant growth trajectory and diversification of the region gave it an obvious appeal to me. I am excited to be joining a dynamic business in a fast-growing economy and look forward to bringing the company’s story to life, building profile, impact and growth for the business and its clients.”

ABOUT MCN

MCN is a leading advertising and marketing communications agency groups in MENAT, which partners with clients to build enduring brands. MCN’S agencies are global brands, spanning creative, media, digital, PR, brand experience and specialist marketing, within McCann Worldgroup and IPG Mediabrands, including FP7McCann, MullenLowe, UM, Magna, Initiative, KINESSO, MRM, McCann Health, Momentum, Craft, Weber Shandwick, Commonwealth//McCann, Jack Morton, Octagon and Current Global. MCN has circa 2,000 employees across 11 markets. MCN is committed to cultivating an inclusive environment where talents can thrive and flourish. This commitment has led to the company and its agency brands to be recognised as a Great Place to Work consecutively in 2023 and 2024.

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