CNN INTERNATIONAL CEMENTS COMMITMENT TO AFRICA WITH SENIOR APPOINTMENT

Reme Al-Saiegh

Reme Al-Saiegh promoted to Sales Director to lead global communications solutions for growing portfolio of clients across the continent

CNN International has promoted Reme Al-Saiegh to the position of Sales Director for Africa and the Middle East region, based out of CNN's international headquarters in London. As part of her new role, she is responsible for overseeing CNN's sales teams across Africa, the Middle East and the UK as well as a network of representatives throughout the region.

Reme, who has been at CNN for more than five years, started as a Sales Executive and was promoted through the ranks to Account Manager and Account Director before being appointed to her new role. She has championed the CNN brand across a number of the network's fastest growing regions and been instrumental in securing long term commercial partnerships for the channel, including brokering a number of sponsorships around Africa-themed programming.

Rani R. Raad, SVP CNN International Ad Sales says: “Reme is a natural leader with a remarkable track record. She has built a network of close partners across the regions and successfully developed her markets by continuously generating new and innovate ideas and consistently delivering results to her clients. Under Reme's management, Africa and the Middle East regions have seen tremendous growth. Africa continues to be a key market for CNN and I can think of no more suitable person to lead our sales teams in such markets as Reme.”

Reme's promotion underscores CNN's increased commitment to Africa as the network broadens its Africa-themed content with programmes that go beyond the headlines to bring global audiences the best of the continent. Under Reme's leadership, and adding to Zenith Bank's longstanding Inside Africa sponsorship, the sales team recently partnered with a roster of major clients sponsoring brand new African-focused programming on the network such as Nigerian Bank PHB's exclusive sponsorship of 'African Voices', CNN International's new weekly half-hour interview programme. Intercontinental Bank Nigeria also extended its five year ad partnership with CNN with its sponsorship of the 'Africa Inc' segment within CNN's flagship prime time business programme 'Quest Means Business'.

“Africa continues to be the continent to watch in world business. CNN's increased activity with African clients is indicative of strong growth in the market and a readiness amongst advertisers to communicate their message by engaging international audiences through web advertising, TV spot campaigns, sponsored programming and other multi-platform initiatives”, commented Rani R Raad, SVP Advertising Sales, CNN International.

Commercial highlights also include the award-winning user generated advertising solution 'My South Africa', launched in July 2008 for South Africa Tourism and in December 2008, the Kenya Tourist Board's first global multimedia advertising campaign, produced by CNN's commercial production unit Turner Commercial Productions (TCP).

CNN maintains its local partnerships with key industry events such as IMF Tanzania, and Indaba, South Africa. It also continues its longstanding commitment to African journalism with the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.

“At CNN, we take great pride in the partnerships we have, both new ones and those we've nurtured over the years. We look forward to continuing to work with our African clients to provide great communications solutions that move the needle for their business”, concluded Raad.

CNN International advertising sales deliver innovative and creative media solutions that go beyond the norms of standard advertising to deliver results. The team strives to build long-term strategic partnerships with all clients, addressing individual commercial needs and offering turn-key solutions to support client marketing strategies through extensive resources including the Tourism Advertising Solutions & Knowledge Group (TASK), CNN Ad Sales' in-house creative unit Turner Commercial Productions (TCP) our dedicated PR and Marketing team.

For more information on commercial partnerships with CNN, please e-mail Sales Director Reme Al-Saiegh at [email protected].