About the speaker - Devasish Auddy

Marketing Head, MENA (HMD - The Home of Nokia Phones)

Collaborative and highly qualified, Dev brings valued experience to every project engagement. His record of accomplishment spans multiple media channels featuring his extensive expertise in strategic marketing and international campaigns. Through a combination of researched decision making, an ability to remedy operational gaps, and a keen understanding of how people – whether employees, clients, or partners – impact operations, he offers a track record of revenue growth, brand development and recognition, and right-fit marketing initiatives that grow with organizations.

How consumers have undergone a huge change in this Covid world

How Nokia has made sure that the innovate in marketing and stay relevant.

How it's more Omnichannel buying behavior that's driving marketing messaging.

How it's important to be less specs driven marketing and more personalized marketing

Consumers can research from anywhere and buy from anywhere.

About the speaker

•Ritesh Mohan is a passionate retail professional with over 20 years in the Retail sector, handling some of the biggest brands in beauty, fashion and fragrances retail & FMCG sector.

•He has been instrumental in the growth of some of the regional brands as well in the Middle East region.

•He specializes in Retail management, Product development, and Brand Management, Retail Operations, Sales Management, and Franchising.

• He uses his wisdom of over 22 years to help retail start-up entrepreneurs to scale their businesses in terms of immediate sales traction.

•Ritesh is an avid reader, prolific writer, and manages his website Home - Retail Ritesh by sharing his insights every week.

•His articles have been published in Khaleej Times, Retail Middle east, Retail people magazines.

•He is popularly known as retailritesh amongst retail fraternity.

What to expect in this episode?

- Is the Omnichannel strategy the best?

- How do you evolve?

- Which market segments will get affected and what they should do

- How is the marketing mix going to change in the new normal?

About the speaker

Omar Rostom (https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarrostom/) is a seasoned 15-year E-commerce and digital marketing professional with experience in organizations like Microsoft, Nokia, Starcom before joining HP where today he is part of the worldwide center of expertise for Digital Partner Enablement for the Middle East & East Africa.

In his current role, he leads e-commerce marketing and business development; overseeing performance marketing, traffic optimization, and content management for both commercial and consumer businesses across print and PC categories.

He also works closely with  Middle East retailers to deliver marketing programs and solutions that enhance their omnichannel capabilities and technologies.

Some key takeaways

The 4 quadrants, that he looks into are the right assortment of products, pricing, experience, and marketing engine. That's how the story comes together. Be open to making mistakes and learning from them. Define why you want to do e-commerce. Listen on for more.

Amitabh Bose, CEO, WOOP Middle East

Uttara Subramanian, Partner, WOOP Middle East

Rise of the nano influencers

About the speakers

Uttara has a Consumer Insights & Strategy background, with over 17 years of experience across the Middle East and Asia, in some really diverse markets like India, UAE, KSA, China, & SEA. She has worked with MNCs like General Mills, Henkel, Pepsico, TNS, and NFPC in Regional roles. She has been part of various Product Innovations and launches in Foods & Beverages.  Her colleagues call her the consumer barometer and she is known to voice "the bitter brand truth"  in case it doesn't solve a consumer Job.

A self-professed foodie, Movie Buff & Avid reader, she is also an amateur gardener, a Wife, Mom to 2 boys …….and a WOOP-er!!

Amitabh comes with 20+ years in various marketing and commercial leadership roles in start-ups, MNC's, and large family-owned companies across emerging markets (India, UAE, Saudi, Egypt ). Out of this, 15+ years in the MEA region. He has worked in organizations like Henkel, Masafi, and Kantar. He has also helped launched Bisleri in UAE. He comes with a multi-category experience: Home & Personal Care, Food & beverages & Tobacco.

Amitabh & his team run WOOP, short for women of opinion, a community of women and we will talk more about it during this conversation.

He comes with a wealth of experience in successful business turnarounds. In fact, his turnaround success in Henkel Arabia was mentioned as a global marketing success in Kotler's 14th edition.

Broad Topics

Trends in the changing behavior in consumers - 

How the influencers have impacted the industry

How is nano influencers impacting market

Story of WOOP

Its time to evaluate how things will change going forward after Covid times. Some key takeaways

Rework on CTA

DOnt sell hard

If business looks good post Covid, re-look at the messaging. More more tips, listen on.

Some key take aways from understanding digital marketing in UK, India and Middle East during Covid times.  

1) Don't be an opportunist and keep selling as before. Show empathy. 

2) Communicate - over communicate if need be. 

3) Be socially responsible as a brand. 

4) Be ready to pivot. The world is changing. 

5) Keep your ears to the ground to understand the changing behaviour 

6) Consumers are window shopping - Keep all marketing assets updated.