WARC is today launching the WARC Prize for MENA Strategy 2020, a search for the best strategic thinking from the region’s marketing industry that has driven results in the Middle East and North Africa.

Now in its fourth year, this case study competition is free to enter, has a $10,000 prize fund and is open to agencies, brand owners and specialists in any marketing discipline. Full details on how to enter are available on the Prize website.

The 2020 awards will be chaired by Tarek El Kady, Senior Marketing Director, McDonald’s Middle East & Africa.

“In an unrelenting, fast-paced landscape, where change is the new norm, creativity alone doesn’t cut it,” he says.

“Today, brands must harness the power of data without losing sight of consumer centricity. The jury will seek work that encapsulates and embraces the change the industry is witnessing.”

The first judges have already been appointed to the jury: joining him on the judging panel from the client side are Daniele Calderoni, Regional Brand, Media and Portfolio Acceleration Director, MENA, Mars, Mitin Chakraborty, Head of Marketing, Babyshop, Omar Saheb, Regional Head of Marketing, MENA, Samsung, and Natalie Choufani, Market Intelligence Manager at MBC.

From the agency side, judges include Elias W. Bassil, Head of Strategy, MENA, Geometry, Aakriti Goel, Strategic Planning Director, Middle East & Africa, Cheil MEA, Salma Hamouda, Executive Director, Wunderman Thompson Cairo, Faysal Abdul Malak, General Manager, Wunderman Dubai and Ziad Skaff, Managing Director, Hall & Partners MENA.

Full biographies are available here. Additional judges will be announced shortly.

Alongside the Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades, the Grand Prix for the best overall paper will receive USD$7,000, while three Special Awards will be presented with USD$1,000 each in recognition of specific areas of excellence:

• The Research Excellence Award for the best use of research in the development of strategic ideas.

• The Brand Rebel Award for the best example of a campaign departing from category norms.

• The Local Hero Award for the best example of a challenger brand from the MENA region using smart marketing strategy to take on bigger competitors.

The deadline for entries is 15 April 2020

Sourced from WARC