Michiel Hofstee Promoted to CEO of JWT Gulf Region

JWT announced today the key promotion of Michiel Hofstee to CEO for the Gulf region, effective immediately.  Leading the company’s operations in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar markets, Hofstee will retain his base in Dubai, the region’s operational hub and continue to report in to Vatche Keverian, JWT MENA’s CEO.

Michiel Hofstee brings more than 24 years experience within the advertising industry to the new position.  His entrepreneurial leadership skills have helped drive client’s business and growth across both Europe and Asia, through idea centric solutions. For the last 17 years, Hofstee has held agency leadership roles within JWT including serving on the Board of JWT Amsterdam and as Managing Director to JWT Shanghai before joining JWT Dubai as Managing Director in 2010.

Dubai is a key regional hub within the JWT MENA & global network.  Under Hofstee’s guidance it has grown in capabilities and scope for clients such as HSBC, Nokia, Nike and Atlantis.  During his tenure the Dubai team has won regional and international creative, effectiveness and agency awards including the recently acclaimed “LVL UP” campaign for Nike, which counts Dubai Lynx Gold and MENA Effie Gold accolades to its credit.   Hofstee was also responsible for the agency inaugurating a partnership with the American University in Dubai (AUD) in January of this year.  As guest lecturer on AUD’s Integrated Marketing Communications Development course, he brings hands-on experience regarding fundamental creative and strategic elements in successful communications to the region’s next generation of marketing and business professionals, in the lecture hall.

Commenting on the appointment, Vatche Keverian, JWT MENA CEO, said “Michiel is the absolute fit for this role.  Powered by this strong Gulf structure, we are pioneering a process of collaboration across our teams in the Gulf and the network at large, resulting in capital improvements on our collective performance and JWT’s regional impetus.  An old-timer at the agency but never an old schooler, Michiel is firmly focused on the future of where our industry and JWT are headed."