Simon Bowthorpe, managing director of UM Qatar, has been promoted to managing director UM Qatar and Kuwait and FP7/KWI.

In his new role Bowthorpe will continue to oversee the UM media operation in Qatar as well as take on responsibility for both the creative and media businesses in Kuwait. His key area of focus will be driving the digital transformation of the operation in Kuwait by improving the integration of strategy and social media into the agency’s overall product offering, said a statement.

“The increasing importance of the region in the global economy is demonstrated by UM Mena’s commitment to building strong, digitally integrated offices to ensure that our clients are able to optimise their investments and grow their businesses. My time in Qatar has given me extensive experience in developing UM’s product offering, as well as improving our creative potential.

“I’m confident that both our current clients and future prospects will be impressed as we further expand the capabilities of our office in the Kuwaiti market,” he said.

Bowthorpe  has been with the group since May 2013, when he joined as general manager of UM Qatar, before being promoted to managing director of both UM and FP7 Qatar in December of the same year. Due to the rapid growth of UM’s digital offering in the Qatar market, he passed on the management of FP7 Qatar to concentrate on managing UM Qatar at the end of 2015.

With over 25 years’ experience in the industry, he has been leading creative, media, digital and events agencies since his first managing director role in 1994, said the statement.  -TradeArabia News Service