Bogdan Maranu

Spark Foundry is a global media agency brand within Publicis Media, and offices within Publicis One, both of which are critical divisions of Publicis Groupe.

Manage a team to steer the operative business and strategic development of the Spark Foundry (Publicis). Work as a media lead for the following clients, Citibank (for the past five years), Carrefour (part of Majid Al Futtaim Group), Novartis and Ooredoo Oman (all three accounts for the past two years), managing their paid media efforts across UAE and other GCC markets.

• Develop strategies and provide information regarding detailed plans. Provide support in achieving companies' missions.
• Establish and implement strategic plans for Spark Foundry (Publicis), Dubai.
• Generate new business by using the effective methodology, surpass revenue objectives, achieving key measurable results by ensuring the proper execution, and providing valuable support in managing functions.
• Develop and coordinate the communication strategy for clients, identify the best consumer touch points to place their ads on, for maximum impact and high return against their advertising dollars.
• Spearhead the five direct reports, overseeing their career growth and ensuring they deliver against the objectives set as part of their yearly development plan - provide the right training and webinars to elevate their digital and presentation skills.
• Successfully established weekly COE (Center of Excellence) status meetings/calls, where various teams reporting, present to the others, case studies, best practices, new solutions available in the market, to expose each group and keep them up to date with new developments the media industry has to offer.
• Discuss social and digital strategies with clients and drive escalation of knowledge in the team, continually learning the latest platforms, tools, technology, etc. Coordinate with Publicis Regional office in Singapore.
• Ensure Citibank's regional direction is implemented locally, and in the process, the local business targets are met.

Clients, brands & verticals: Storck ME (chocolate & candy), brands: Merci, Toffifee, Werther's Original, IMG World of Adventure (parks & resorts), Citibank (banking & finance)
Successfully propelled Spark entity within Publicis and grew the business alongside a small team of highly skilled professionals managed by Publicis's Head of Trading. Led the media planning and developed the strategic direction for three main accounts, Stock ME, IMG World of Adventure and Citibank.
• Worked with Storck ME’s Global auditors on every campaign launched across GCC and ensure their high standards of TV planning excellence are met. Developed media planning formats for TV that are currently utilized on a larger scale across Publicis.
• Launched the biggest global indoor entertainment park, IMG World of Adventure. In Dubai, the launch was supported by the most influential and most impactful outdoor location ever in the GCC region, which was placed on SZR for most of 2016.
• Managed the media activities across UAE and Bahrain of the banking powerhouse, Citibank. It was the start of a relationship that has expanded and evolved for the past five years, November 2015.
• Managed Citibank’s entire portfolio of activities, covering credit cards, personal loans and wealth management.

Clients, brands & verticals: Glaxo Smith Klein (pharma), brands: Panadol, Panadol Cold & Flu, Horlicks, Eno, Nicorette, Sensodyne,
Paradontax, Pronamel Mars Inc. (chocolate & candy), brands: Galaxy, Snickers, Twix, M&Ms, Maltesers
* Worked with companies to improve business strategy and overcome existing challenges.
* Successfully led the media planning across all GCC markets, for Glaxo Smith Klein (Pharma) from Apr'12 to Dec'13 and Mars Inc.
(Chocolate & Confectionary) from Jan'14 to May'15
* Exceeded expectations on yearly evaluation and was given the opportunity to work directly with the Client Managing Director
on developing the Media2Grow internal planning tool.
* Scanned media marketplace to keep up-to-date on the latest media trends.
* Monitored online and offline campaigns and report on results.
* Negotiated with media channels to close competitive deals.
* Appropriately managed the organization's media budget.
* Approached businesses to offer valuable solutions along with providing suggestions on service improvements.

Clients & verticals: Auto Italia Group (automotive), Samsung Electronics (mobile phones, electronics & white goods)
* Pivotal in steering the media planning activities across Auto Italia Group (Fiat, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, SsangYong) and Samsung
Electronics.
* Superintended supplier's meeting to identify new opportunities for partnership and solutions that can improve the campaign's
performance. Served as a sole point of contact between agency and client's marketing team.
* Successfully improved and enhanced a shaky relationship with Fiat client and experience for the first time the work on a global
account, Samsung Electronics; communicated weekly with the regional hub based in Vienna for reporting and market-specific
initiatives.
* Participated in regional seminars in Vienna (2010) and Belgrade (2011).
* Successfully launched the first Samsung LED TV and the first Samsung Galaxy S smartphone on the Romanian market.

Clients & verticals: Kia Motors (automotive), UPC Telecom (telecommunication), Tohani Wines (alcoholic beverages).

• Successfully developed skills as a TV "people meter" planner and all-around offline media specialist.
• Created media plans, activated campaigns, monitored competitive activities and sent daily alerts across various accounts.