Özge Zoralioğlu, CMO of Yum! Brands / KFC MENAPak & Turkey, appointed jury chair. First judges named.

WARC, the global authority on advertising and media effectiveness, is today launching the WARC Prize for MENA Strategy 2019, a search for the best strategic marketing thinking that has driven results in the Middle East and North Africa.

Now in its third year, the Prize is free to enter and is open to agencies, brand owners and specialists in any marketing discipline.

As well as Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades, the Grand Prix for the best overall paper will receive USD$7,000, while three Special Awards will be presented with USD$1,000 each in recognition of specific areas of excellence:

The Research Excellence Award for the best use of research in the development of strategic ideas.

The Brand Rebel Award for the best example of a campaign departing from category norms.

The Local Hero Award for the best example of a challenger brand from the MENA region using smart marketing strategy to take on bigger competitors.

Lucy Aitken, Managing Editor, Case Studies, WARC, says: "The aim of the WARC Prize for MENA Strategy is to showcase the region's most successful marketing strategies, highlighting breakthrough ideas that solve clients' problems and provide a base for future growth."

The 2019 awards will be chaired by Özge Zoralioğlu, Chief Marketing Officer, Yum! Brands / KFC MENAPak and Turkey.

Zoralioğlu says: "When there are so many profound conversations about marketing effectiveness, the WARC Prize for MENA Strategy distinctively highlights and empowers the very best in strategic thinking that is driving sales overnight while building brands over time."

An eminent judging panel of strategy experts and senior marketers will join Özge Zoralioğlu to judge the submissions.

The first judges to be appointed, bringing regional expertise, are:

Özge Zoralioğlu - Chief Marketing Officer, Yum! Brands / KFC MENAPak & Turkey -- Chair of the Judges

Remie Abdo - Head of Strategy, TBWA\RAAD Dubai

Donya Abdulhadi - Director of Strategy, Weber Shandwick MENA

Ahmed Al Sahhaf - General Manager of Marketing Communication, STC

Matthew Butterworth - Managing Director, MullenLowe MENA

Laura Chaibi - Head of Market Intelligence & Syndicate Digital Data, MBC

Ali Cheikhali - Creative Strategist, Google ZOO

Tarek El Kady - Senior Marketing Director, McDonald's Middle East & Africa

Aakriti Goel - Strategic Planning Director, Middle East & Africa, Cheil MEA

Noor Hassanein - Strategy Director, Impact BBDO

Mario Morby - Head of Planning, FP7

Jeremy Paul - MENA Regional Strategy Director, Magna Global

Dana Sarkis - Head of Marketing Science & Growth Strategies, Hearts & Science

Asma Shabab - Consultant, Digital Strategy and Experience, IBM iX

Ziad Skaff - Managing Director, Hall & Partners MENA