JWT Appoints Francois Kanaan to Managing Director in Kuwait

JWT announced today the appointment of Francois Kanaan to the role of Managing Director of the agency’s operation in Kuwait.  Kanaan will be based in Kuwait City, responsible for all commercial aspects of JWT Kuwait’s next phase in brand building relationships across strategic partnerships and clients.  He will report in directly to Michiel Hofstee, CEO JWT Gulf.  

Prior to taking up the new position, Kanaan helped establish the successful launch of JWT Abu Dhabi and played an instrumental role in raising the agency’s profile through winning major clients.  Between 1998 and 2001, Kanaan also held a senior position at JWT in Saudi Arabia.  Between 2003 and 2006 Kanaan was Managing Director of DDB in Kuwait, growing the business to be recognized as ‘Agency of the Year’ in Kuwait, 2006, winning 18 of the 30 creative accolades awarded at the IAA Creative Ceremony that year.

Commenting on the appointment, Michiel Hofstee said “A true collaborator who works in the best interests of the brands he services, Francois’ pioneering spirit is evident in the results delivered.  Together we will continue to invest in our integrated offering and strengthen our capabilities in the market and I am convinced we will further improve our product.” 

This is the first appointment Michiel Hofstee has made since assuming his expanded Gulf CEO role in March 2014.   In February, the agency also announced the appointment of Kuwaiti national, Anes Al-Rayes, to Executive Creative Director, JWT Kuwait.

At the same time the agency announced the departure of Karim Bitar, who has left JWT Kuwait to pursue other opportunities after more than three decades in the advertising industry.