BACKGROUND

With his love and passion for art, design and photography, Firas got his career underway as a freelance graphic designer in Iraq 23 years ago. With one foot in the door and the other on the pedal, his career just took off at warp speed from there on. Flash forward twenty three years and he is one of most respected, awarded and nicest creative leaders in the advertising industry in the Middle East. He has created and inspired work that has won top honors multiple times at every major awards show: Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clio, LIA, NYF, Dubai Lynx. The list goes on.

In just a few years, Firas and his team put DDB Dubai squarely on the advertising map with big wins at every awards show: first Cannes Lion, D&AD, One Show, Clio, LIA and a Dubai Lynx Grand Prix. His curiosity and love for big bold ideas knows no bounds. And every day he tirelessly works with his colleagues and team to constantly push the boundaries. It’s no small wonder why he has been ranked one of the TOP 50 ECDs in the world and number 11th in the MENA in several Big Won rankings.

He has worked with well-known prestigious companies across all sectors: Saudi Tourism, Al Safi Danone, PepsiCo, Henkel, J&J, Porsche Middle East, Audi, Unilever, Nestlé, Emirates Airline, Dubai Parks, McDonald’s, Wendy's, Dominos, Pinar, Clorox, Dubai RTA, EMAAR, Al Dar, NAKHEEL, HSBC, Samsung, Kraft Foods, DTC, Diago, NOKIA, Power Horse, Nova water, Holsten, Saudi Hollandi Bank, Air Miles, Dubai Media City, Sahara Center, and Dubai Festival City, amongst others.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Key achievements in my current position at DDB Dubai

- In 2012 DDB Dubai ranked as the 18th most creative agency out of the 200+ offices globally within the DDB network and the 1st in the Middle East. We also won our first Cannes Lions, double gold One Show and LIA.

- 2013 DDB Dubai ranked as the 4th most awarded agency in the Middle East in Dubai Lynx 2013 and 3rd in UAE. In the same year, DDB Dubai was the 7th most creative agency in the Middle East based on the awards won in Cannes Lions, Dubai Lynx, MENA Cristal and EFFIES. We also picked our first Grand Prix at MENA Cristal. In “The Big Won Report” DDB Dubai ranked as the 5th most creative agency in the world in Radio.

- 2014 for the 2nd year in a row, DDB Dubai ranked as the 4th most awarded agency in the Middle East in Dubai Lynx and 3rd in UAE. In the same year, Firas was Ranked among the Top 50 ECDs worldwide and 11th among the Top ECD’s the MENA Region (Big Won Rankings). He was selected to be part of DDB European Creative Council. DDB Dubai picks the first Grand Prix at Dubai Lynx also won three CLIO’s for the first time ever.

- 2015 runner up MENA Advertising Agency of the Year by Campaign Middle East. And DDB Dubai, picks up the first ever D&AD wood Pencil.

- 2016 Awards won:

• Dubai Lynx, 6 Bronze

• LIA, 3 Golds, 2 Bronze, 1 Finalist

• CLIO, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze, 2 Shortlist

- In 2017 as the market was changing and clients started to demand quick turnaround, social content and cost-effective production. I took this opportunity leveraging my experience in photography www.firasmedrows.com and film production. I proposed a business plan to launch our own creative content and production arm “The Farm” www.thefarmstudio.me. Fast forward 5 years later, the farm has played a big role helping DDB Dubai grow their existing clients and acquire new businesses. Today, the farm has its own office and expanded their client portfolio beyond DDB Dubai.

Awards won:

• Dubai Lynx, 3 Gold, 1 Bronze, 6 Shortlist

• One Show, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze, 6 Merit, also Ranked as the 34th most awarded ECD globally

• D&AD, 2 Wood Pencil

• LIA, 1 Gold, 2 Bronze, 2 Finalist

• Cannes Lions, 1 Bronze, 6 Shortlist

- 2018 Award won:

• Dubai Lynx, 6 shortlist

- 2019 Award won:

• Dubai Lynx, 3 shortlists

• One Show, 2 Merit

• D&AD, 1 shortlist

• Campaign Middle East Magazine Best Print Campaign for McDonald’s

- 2023 Award won:

• Dubai Lynx, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze, 4 shortlist

• One Show, 4 Merit, 3 shortlist, also Ranked as the 4th most awarded Art Director in UAE and 7th in MEA

• D&AD wood Pencil

• Cannes Lions, 2 shortlist

PERSONAL DETAILS

Nationality: Jordanian - Date of birth: 1st December 1978 - Marital status: Married with two kids - Languages: Arabic and English

EDUCATION

University of Cambridge - CIE - UK - Cambridge International Diploma in Management at Higher Professional Level (PG1)