Oxford Business Group (OBG), a leading global publishing, research and consultancy firm, has appointed new country directors.

Suzanne Claiden will head Bahrain while Michelle Solomon will join the Abu Dhabi team.

Claiden, with a strong background in researching and producing country intelligence reports, has compiled and directed projects in 17 countries across four continents over the past ten years.

She will manage the research team preparing the material for The Report: Bahrain 2009, the next edition of OBG’s annual business guide.

Solomon was responsible for OBG’s expansion to Abu Dhabi and acted as the first OBG country director for Abu Dhabi in 2005, when she oversaw and directed the group’s activities and publications on the country, established a network of research contacts, and forged partnerships with government bodies and multi-national companies.

Solomon, who recently led the OBG team in Saudi Arabia as country director for two years, will oversee all aspects of OBG’s upcoming The Report: Abu Dhabi 2009, which will provide a wide ranging and in depth analysis of the political and business landscape, and is considered the leading publication covering foreign direct investment in the emirate.

She joined OBG’s Gulf division in 2004 and developed the company’s presence in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service