ITP Live, the new digital division of ITP Media Group, has announced that 26 personalities have been signed to the social influencer agency.

With a combined audience of more than 5.6 million followers, the eclectic mix of individuals include designers, YouTube stars, business thought leaders, models, beauty ambassadors, fashionistas, an Olympian and a 15-year old sneaker aficionado.

ITP Live’s social influencer agency operates across the GCC and has already started working with brands including DTCM and P&G.

March will see ITP Live hold its first influencer event, and the agency’s website will launch as more talent is signed.

“Our announcement heralds a new dawn not just for social influencers but the GCC media industry as a whole said Ali Akawi, CEO of ITP Media Group.

“We are today laying the foundations for an entirely new industry that will reshape the media landscape. Not only do we firmly believe in the power and strength of influencers, but through our own print and digital brands, developed over the last 30 years, we are uniquely placed to help them realise their full potential. This is already reflected in the quality of influencers we have signed up.”

Akawi said the influencer marketing is now a global industry with professional operating standards and best practice guidelines, which he says ITP Live is bringing to the region in order to properly establish and develop the industry here.

“Influencer marketing is not a short term trend, so there needs to be a more structured approach, better understanding of positioning among the influencers, and more accurate reporting for brands.

 
“The industry will only be viable in the long term if we establish it correctly from the outset and that is what we are doing.”

Alia Fawad, director, ITP Live added: “We have been extremely selective when it comes to our initial signings as we wanted a wide range of content covered and individuals with proven levels of engagement. We have both influencers with high reach and those who are micro-influencers in their specific fields. Both are equally significant when it comes to communicating our clients’ messages to the right audience.”

In alphabetical order the 26 influencers signed are: Abdulla Al Abdulla, Afra AlMarri, Aishwarya Ajit, Ali Al Jassmii, Aljuhara Sajer, AlReem Saif, Andy Scott, Elnaz Golrokh, Gehna Advani, Hala Abdallah, Hamid Fadaei, John Marques, Khalid AlAmeri, Mariam Yeya, Max Bouchard, Michel Salgado, Nadine Du Toit, Naomi D’Souza, Nina Ali, Nina Zandnia, Omar Al Busaidy, Rashid Belhasa, Rosemin Manji, Searina Abdel Kader, Zeynab El-Helw and Zoe Bowker.