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CAIRO, EGYPT // It was Hesham Ellabban's dream ever since he started as a writer at  SAATCHI & SAATCHI in 1998 to put Egypt on the global Advertising scene. One year into his first job, a greeting card he created for SAATCHI  was selected for a special christmas showcase in Cannes Lions. It was Egypt's first ever appearance on the international arena. He went on to win with SAATCHI, JWT, and finally Leo Burnett, in several award shows including Cannes, Clio, and Dubai Lynx.

Then came the revolution in 2011, and freedom called!  Hesham founded KAIRO in 2012, an independent communication Agency with big dreams. Since its inception KAIRO was in the top three independent agencies of the MENA region at the Dubai Lynx award show.

KAIRO then became finalist in the 2015 Cannes Lions in the film category, an achievement that happened only twice before in the history of Egypt, one of which Hesham was behind. 

In 2016 KAIRO started the year with momentum, winning Gold in film at Dubai Lynx, and winning business from Unilever that includes Lipton and Lifebuoy.