DUBAI: McDonald’s Middle East Development Company has appointed
Burson-Marsteller affiliate Intermarkets PR to handle its corporate and
consumer PR throughout the region.
The development company manages McDonald’s business regionally,
operating its franchise system. The fast food chain has 25,000
restaurants worldwide, including 110 in the Middle East.
McDonald’s is already a global client of B-M’s, but Intermarkets had to
compete against the incumbent, advertising agency Fortune Promoseven,
for the work. Intermarkets, which has offices in nine Middle Eastern
locations, signed a contract with McDonald’s at the end of last
month.
Intermarkets regional chief operating officer Roger Fennings will
oversee the account, which begins officially in January.
Fennings said: ’We will be doing corporate communications, including
crisis management; regional communications to co-ordinate the messages,
activities and products McDonald’s are promoting and we have a local
remit to liaise with franchisees on local projects.’
Intermarkets’ other clients include Coca-Cola, oil company BP, car
manufacturer Nissan, and credit card company Visa International. The
agency has offices in Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, Yemen and Dubai.
