Wilson Milad Issa

In his role as EVP Beirut-based Wilson Milad Issa has had a major impact in solidifying Publicis Media’s position as the MENA region’s leading media buying and planning organization. In recent years, Issa has stimulated double-digit growth for the group year on year, transforming the Beirut office into a regional hub, which serves a plethora of the Levant’s multinational clients.

In addition to his Levant Role, Issa has been instrumental in contributing to the Groupe GDD initiative by establishing Beirut as a performance hub to service EMEA. The Beirut hub is already handling businesses in France, Germany and Russia.

Issa’s other key achievements are heading the Publicis Media operation across the Levant; setting up and subsequently overseeing the North Africa venture; opening the Iraq office; building a restructured operation with an adequate team well-suited to a diversified clientele; and becoming a member of the Publicis Media MENA board.

Issa boasts a 90 percent win rate in new business pitches and has developed and secured major multinational accounts – garnering a stream of accolades along the way at both the Dubai Lynx Awards and the MENA Cristal Awards.

With almost 18 years of experience in media, he has amassed different areas of expertise throughout his career, including specializations in operational and portfolio management, strategy planning, consumer and media research, departmental organization, product innovation, business development, Media negotiations, Performance Marketing and E-commerce.

Issa first began working for the group in 2003, serving as a media executive, and gradually climbed up the leadership ladder to be named EVP in 2016.

His résumé is punctuated by an array of brands ranging from General Motors to Diageo, MARS, Philip Morris, Bank Audi, Mondlez, P&G, Red Bull and Almaza. Issa holds a BA in Advertising & Marketing from Lebanon’s Notre Dame University.