It takes an exceptional team to launch a one-of-kind channel such as
Dandana TV. Here is all you need to know about the Dandana Team
dedicated staff.
Amr Altahwi
President/CEO
Andy Altahwi is the founder of Dandana Networks – including Dandana
TV, Dandana Radio and Dandana TV Productions. During his successful
career on Wall Street and launching his investment company, Mr.
Altahwi’s focus shifted towards a life-long dream as an immigrant
Arab-American. Amr
started working tirelessly on creating a new and unique platform to
open up the lines of communication between the Middle Eastern
immigrants and other worldly cultures. After launching the fastest
growing Middle Eastern music pack on the Dish Network Satellite,
Dandana TV’s success is reaching second and third generation
immigrants as well as Americans that want to learn more about the
Middle Eastern entertainment industry and the Arab-American social
aspect the network’s one-of-a-kind live talk shows and rich music
videos.
Dandana TV reaches thousands of viewers through the Dish Network
Satellite in the US and Rogers Cable in Canada.
As a leading businessman and prominent member of the American
Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, Mr. Altahwi has written
numerous articles in newspapers about investing in the U.S.
markets. He has also
appeared regularly on network TV discussing the
US
markets and the industry itself.
Mr. Altahwi is the lead investment banker on a number of high
profile IPO’s, listed on the NASDAQ Exchange.
Mr. Altahwi holds a law degree from Cairo
University
and PH.D in finance from
Chelsea
University in London.
Zeina Yazbek
Director of Operations
Zeina Yazbek joined Dandana TV in January 2006. Ms. Yazbek has been
in the media industry since the age of 9 when she debuted as a host
for ten years on three major Middle-Eastern networks for the
award-winning Noah’s Ark show. Zeina completed her studies in mass
media production from the
University
of Akron, the
home of WZIP-FM –
America’s top student-run radio
station where she served as the news director. While still in
college, Zeina was one of the first producers to help create the
school’s Telly Award Winning ZTV.
In 2004, Ms. Yazbek moved to
New York City to pursue her career with MTV
Networks as an associate/casting producer working on shows such as
Diary and True Life.
She also earned one year towards completing her International
Politics Masters Degree from Columbia University.
As the Director of Operations, Zeina works closely with the
administrative, marketing, sales and production teams to create
Dandana TV’s current lifestyle identity and further the network’s
expansion in the North American and global markets.
Asmahan Elkabbany
Advertisement Manager
Ms. Asmahan Elkabbany was appointed to Dandana TV in July 2007.
Previously, Asmahan has had over 22 years of international
experience in media sales and advertisement through
Egypt’s top newspaper – Al Ahram.
After graduating with an honorary certificate from the Egyptian
Press Association, Asmahan joined Al-Ahram in 1985 as the Manager
for the Advertisement Director’s Office. Asmahan’s professionalism
and eagerness to help the company advance helped increase
advertisement sales by a remarkable 30% in less than a year. Asmahan
also served as the Account Manager for Al-Ahram’s Advertising Agency
where she developed and oversaw sales strategies for worldwide
privately-owned businesses. In 1994, Ms. Elkabbany moved with her
family to the company’s Lebanon office
as an Advertisement Manager and local correspondent. In 2002,
Asmahan was promoted and appointed to the
New York City office as the Executive
Secretary where she worked closely with the UN. Ms. Elkabbany’s
international knowledge in the ad sales market is increasingly
making Dandana TV the sole outlet for the Arab-American consumer.
Serkan Arslan
Supervising Director/Technical Manager
Mr. Serkan Arslan joined the staff of Dandana TV in 2005.
Mr. Arslan is originally from
Turkey
where he made his media debut in broadcast radio in 1997 and was
then recruited to ATV as an editor. Shortly after, Mr. Arslan joined
Star TV as an Assistant Director/Editor on
Turkey’s first special effects
mystery show Teksoy on a Mission which launched the career of one of
the country’s top television hosts. Mr. Arslan’s technical savvy-ness
and forward vision earned a promotion as a director in one of the
country’s top ten on paparazzi and celebrity updates. Mr. Arslan,
made a switch to mainstream news in 2003 working closely with one of
the year’s biggest presidential candidates.
Joseph Awad
Director/Editor
Mr. Joseph Awad joined Dandana TV in 2008.
Joseph entered the media business in
Egypt
as a photographer but found his passion in television after
graduating from the Arabic Academy of Broadcast. Joesph’s media
career started in 1992 through his production company where he
worked with many networks on a local and international level as a
director/editor. Mr. Joseph Awad also became a prominent name in the
industry after producing some of the most nationally acclaimed
documentaries in
Egypt
such as New Alexandria: The Past and New History as well as other
information pieces on mentally challenged children with non-profit
organizations. Joseph also directed a number of commercials
including Exxon Mobil Egypt before
moving to the
United States
in 2005.