Israeli advertising business sets up MediaCity HQ

SANABIL Digital, the online advertising and social media business of the Israel-based Mazzawi Advertising Group, has set up headquarters in MediaCityUK.

It will be in the Blue Tower in Media City, employing up to 60 people in the Manchester office.

The group, which works with international and local brands in Israel, the Middle East and niche markets, is entering more markets to support existing clients in more territories.

Fadoul Mazzawi, president of Sanabil Digital and founder of Mazzawi Group, said that the company selected the UK as the right place to build the business from due to the vibrant media and advertising sectors; the concentration of brands and NGOs; and the helpful time zone.

Sanabil will also open a second office in London to work with media agencies, brands and NGOs.

Mazzawi said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for us. We have earned the trust of our clients over many years, so felt that the time is right to spread our wings internationally. This is the first step in a larger plan to help our clients achieve great things especially when we are bringing a unique startup to the UK.

“Israel is a school of hard knocks for any young company, but especially for an Arab business, so I think it has prepared us well for the challenges ahead. The UK is already creating some really interesting conversations for us, proving it was the right place to build our business from.”

The company is now recruiting in the UK for a variety of positions across its service lines. Tech development will remain undertaken in-house with Sanabil’s 80 employee back offices in Nazareth and the Tel Aviv area, but the company plans for the UK business to function autonomously.

The company’s clients include Strauss Group; Activia Danone, Actimel, Doritos, Reckitt Benckiser; Shcoll, Strepsils, Nurofen, Schestowitz; Giorgio Armani, Mercedes Benz Perfume, Mont Blanc, Boucheron and Barilla.