• Founder and CEO of region’s leading PR agency, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, Sunil John, recognised by industry peers
• Middle East Public Relations Association Fellowship is the highest grade of membership awarded for outstanding contribution to the public relations industry in the Middle East

Sunil John, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller and President – Middle East of Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW), has been recognised by industry peers with a Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Fellowship.

John received his Fellowship from Ray Eglington, MEPRA Chair, during the fourth annual MEPRA Leadership Majlis held in Abu Dhabi which brought together almost 200 industry professionals from more than 40 organisations. The Fellowship is awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the PR industry in the Middle East and for commitment to adhering to the highest professional standards.

Eglington said: “Sunil has been at the heart of PR in the Middle East for more than two decades. His agency, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, recently appeared in the PR Week league table as the largest agency in the Middle East. He is a founding member of MEPRA and has received huge international recognition – he was the first person in the Middle East to receive the Outstanding Individual Achievement SABRE Award (EMEA) and was awarded with the MEPRA Chairman’s Award in 2016.”

Eglington continued: “Sunil is also responsible for a defining piece of thought leadership in the region – the Arab Youth Survey, which launched its tenth edition last week and further demonstrates Sunil’s impact on the industry and his commitment to better understanding our market.”

During his acceptance speech Sunil recounted the story that led him to be a founding member of MEPRA back in 2001 and congratulated everybody in attendance for their active participation in MEPRA.

“MEPRA was born out of my agency ASDA’A in 2001 – it was one of the first things we did. My colleagues and I recognized the requirement for an agency body who could bring about high industry standards. We started MEPRA with 12 other public relations agency members and held our first meeting in Dubai Press Club in Deira.”

Today, MEPRA boasts over 1,000 members which include agencies, companies with in-house communication roles and individual industry professionals.

John was recognized alongside Sconaid McGeachin, SVP EMEA & CEO Africa, H+K Strategies, based on a unanimous vote from MEPRA Board members.

In addition to announcing the two inaugural MEPRA fellowships, the MEPRA Leadership Majlis welcomed speakers and panellists from the National Media Council, Facebook, Arthur W. Page Society, CARMA, Marriott International, PR Week UK, Etihad Aviation Group, Mubadala, The Corporate Office, United Eastern Medical Services, and Hanover ME.

Under the theme ‘Power Forward’, the conference covered topics such as CEO Activism, countering fake news in the UAE, how brands define communication and how public relations can be the most powerful marketing discipline in the future.

About the Arab Youth Survey
The ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, launched in 2008, is the largest survey of its kind of the Middle East’s largest demographic – its youth. It provides governments, the private sector and civil society with insights into the hopes, concerns and aspirations of Arab youth. For the 10th annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2018, PSB Research, an international polling firm, conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with Arab national men and women aged 18-24 between January 21 and February 20, 2017, in the six Gulf Cooperation Council states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE), North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia) the Levant (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestinian Territories) and Yemen. The margin of error is +/-1.65%. In-depth results from the Survey, including a white paper in Arabic and English, are available on www.arabyouthsurvey.com

About Burson Cohn & Wolfe
Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) is one of the world’s largest, full-service, global communications agencies with deep expertise in digital and integrated communications, across all industry sectors. The agency combines expertise in digitally driven, creative content and integrated communications – across the consumer, healthcare and technology sectors – with deep strength in public affairs, corporate reputation, crisis, and research and analytics. Burson Cohn & Wolfe is a network of more than 4,000 employees across 42 countries.

About ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
Established in 2000, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller is the region’s leading public relations consultancy and an integral part of top three global firm – Burson Cohn & Wolfe. With 10 wholly-owned offices and seven affiliates across 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, the agency provides services to governments, multinational businesses, regional corporate clients and institutions. The firm operates five specialist communication practices – Consumer & Healthcare, Corporate, Financial, Enterprise & Technology and Public Affairs. A digital, design and marketing subsidiary – Proof IC – and a full-service research insights agency – PSB Research Middle East – complete the offering.
www.asdaabm.com www.arabyouthsurvey.com

About MEPRA
The Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) is the leading industry body for the public relations and communications industry in the Middle East. MEPRA has more than 1,000 members, which include consultancies, corporates with in-house public relations functions, and individual industry professionals. The organisation was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. MEPRA drives growth and sets standards of excellence in regional public relations. It is the unique voice for the industry and aims to nurture the development of public relations professionals.
For more information visit www.mepra.org

For further information please contact:

Celeidh Cook
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
T: 971 4 4507600
E: celeidh.cook@bm.com
www.arabyouthsurvey.com