Global socially-led creative agency We Are Social has announced the promotion of Aurelien Fonteneau to Managing Director of its Dubai office, reinforcing its leadership team as the agency continues to expand across the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
In his new position, Fonteneau will lead efforts to grow the agency’s regional client portfolio while helping brands embrace social-first marketing strategies. He will also draw on We Are Social’s global expertise and network to deliver internationally informed creative solutions tailored to regional audiences.
Speaking on the appointment, Jim Coleman, EMEA CEO at We Are Social, said, “Aurelien is an extremely talented and respected leader who I’ve been fortunate to work with for most of his career. His progression from Account Executive to Managing Director is well deserved.”
Coleman added, “In Dubai, we have a team that delivers bold, social-first thinking, and Aurelien will be building on this to deliver a first-class creative and strategic offering to our clients. I’m looking forward to working with him to drive growth in MEA.”
The promotion comes during a period of strong growth for the agency. Last year, the Dubai operation transitioned from the Socialize brand to We Are Social as part of a broader global alignment strategy.
The agency has recently added major clients including Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Mubadala, complementing an existing portfolio featuring brands such as Sony, Sephora, and Babyshop.
We Are Social has also earned industry recognition, including a Gold award for Creative Effectiveness at the MENA Digital Awards for its campaign with Pringles. Additionally, the agency became the first advertising agency in the region to sign the National Pledge for Gender Balance.
Fonteneau has been part of the We Are Social network since 2010, spending the majority of his career across the agency’s London and Dubai offices. Over the years, he progressed from Account Executive to Group Account Director, managing work for global brands including Adidas, Jaguar, and Danone.
As Managing Director, he will oversee a team of 60 employees in Dubai and report directly to EMEA CEO Jim Coleman.
Reflecting on his appointment, Fonteneau said, “Having been part of the We Are Social family since 2010, taking on the role of Managing Director feels like an incredibly rewarding next step. I’ve seen the agency grow from a disruptive newcomer to a global powerhouse, and I am now focused on accelerating that momentum in MEA.”
He added, “We’ve already seen a shift across the region; brands no longer see social as a checkbox, but as the heart of their marketing strategy. There is an incredible appetite for creative social expertise that delivers real results, and that is exactly where We Are Social – with our unrivalled network and extensive capabilities – adds value that no others can.”
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