M: Communications Strengthens Gulf Operations

LONDON and DUBAI - M: Communications, the leading international financial communications firm, has appointed Nicholas Lunt as Managing Director for the Gulf Region. It has also transferred Robin Haddrill, an experienced consultant in its London office, to strengthen the firm’s regional offer.

Lunt brings over fifteen years experience of high-level expertise gained in the Middle East, South Asia, Western Europe and the former Soviet Union, most recently as communications adviser to the Prime Minister’s office in Iraq, NATO chief civilian spokesman in Kabul, various government Ministers in Afghanistan and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

Having held senior appointments with Weber Shandwick and Ogilvy, Lunt has led teams advising clients such as DHL Worldwide, Nike Europe, the International Space Station, Tata Motors, the Taj Group of hotels, Star TV, various European governments, the World Bank and the European Commission. Whilst at Weber Shandwick he was Creative Director of the team supporting Paris’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. His most recent assignment before joining M: Communications was the launch of Tata’s ‘Nano’ car.

He will be reporting to Stuart Leasor, the emerging market specialist, who recently rejoined M: Communications. With over 20 years of communications experience, Leasor has led major assignments across the region in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Haddrill transfers from M:’s London office where he worked on a range of clients, including Collins Stewart and Clipper Windpower. Since January he has been an integral part of the team advising Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s property development and management company, and recently advised international law firm, Gide Loyrette Nouel on the simultaneous launch of offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

M: Communications’ Dubai office received its DIFC licence in 2008 and will shortly be moving into new larger offices in the DIFC. It will also spearhead the regional marketing efforts of other Sage Holdings companies, namely Taylor-Rafferty, the leading investor relations company, Capital Precision, the capital markets intelligence specialist, DF King the leading proxy solicitation firm and Hallvarsson & Halvarsson, the top-ranked digital communications firm.

“We are delighted to have put in place such an experienced team to handle our operations in what is a key area for our rapidly expanding business,” commented Stuart Leasor. “We now offer a unique blend of market leading experience for the region that covers the full range of financial, corporate and governmental communications.”

Background to M: Communications & Sage Holdings LLC

M: was founded in September 2002 by Hugh Morrison and Nick Miles. Today it has revenues of over EUR14m, with 45 experienced communications professionals headquartered in London. Since formation, M: has handled deals worth over EUR600bn and EUR275bn of IPOs. In early 2008 M: became a cornerstone of Sage Holdings, LLC the leading global financial and stakeholder communications firm. www.mcomgroup.com

Sage Holdings companies also include Capital Precision, Taylor Rafferty, D.F.King, Broadgate Consultants and Hallvarsson & Halvarsson. Its 900 professionals serve over 1,000 clients from offices in New York, London, Munich, Stockholm, UAE and Hong Kong. Sage Clients represent 20% of companies listed on the major global indices including: the NYSE Top 50, NASDAQ 100, FTSE 100, FTSEURO 100, DAX 30, CAC 40, OMX 30 and the S&P 500. www.sageholdings.com

Contact:

Stuart Leasor +44-20-7153-1530 / +44-7703-537721

Nicholas Lunt +971-55-2700216 / +971-4-313-2324

Source: M: Communications

Contact: Stuart Leasor +44-20-7153-1530 / +44-7703-537721; Nicholas Lunt +971-55-2700216 / +971-4-313-2324