Dr. Vijay Manikoth: Three Decades of Gulf Advertising Leadership, Now Shaping Media at BRISEC CCI

Some careers move in a straight line. Dr. Vijay Manikoth's has moved in widening circles — starting in Bahrain's advertising world in the 1990s, passing through two decades at one of the Gulf's best-known newspapers, branching into his own advertising business, and arriving, thirty-five years later, at a media leadership role with a chamber of commerce built to connect G20 economies. At an age when many professionals are winding down, he recently picked up long-distance running and finished a half marathon.

Three decades in the Gulf's advertising world

Dr. Manikoth's Gulf career began in Bahrain, where he worked as General Manager for EPIC Advertising Agency. From there, he joined Khaleej Times (KT) — first at its Abu Dhabi office as Area Manager, before being promoted to Branch Manager in Bahrain. He then moved to KT's Dubai head office as Market Manager, and over the following years rose to Vice President – Advertising and eventually Director – International Advertising, a role he held for a significant part of his 20 years with the publication.

It was in that last role that his advertising work and his old interest in journalism began to overlap. As Director – International Advertising, he was instrumental in publishing special magazine supplements on various countries for Khaleej Times, working closely with embassies on each edition — an experience he credits with sharpening both his commercial instincts and his understanding of how editorial content gets made. Across his 35 years in the region, he has been based in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in turn, and his work has taken him to countries including the USA, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Lebanon, among others.

Building Winning Edge

After two decades at Khaleej Times, Dr. Manikoth made the shift from employee to entrepreneur, founding Winning Edge Advertising FZE out of Dubai Media City Freezone. The business has since grown into the Winning Edge Group of Companies, built, in his own words, around the idea that a business relationship should always be a win-win — a deliberate nod to his own name. Alongside running Winning Edge, he also served as Group Managing Editor of PROBIZ Magazine, published by the Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) in Dubai, keeping a foot in editorial work even while leading his own advertising company.

A new chapter at BRISEC CCI

In 2026, Dr. Manikoth took on a new responsibility, announcing his appointment as President – Media & Public Engagement Vertical at the BRISEC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRISEC CCI), a platform positioned around connecting businesses, investors and policymakers across G20 economies. The appointment came under the organisation's Chairman, Dr. Harvansh Chawla, and the news was subsequently covered by Khaleej Times, the very newspaper where Dr. Manikoth had spent two decades of his career.

I look forward to advancing BRISEC CCI's vision by strengthening its public presence, deepening stakeholder engagement, and amplifying the impact of its initiatives through strategic media and communication.

In the role, he describes his focus as building bridges — between industry, communities, policymakers and global partners — through what he calls impactful collaborative partnerships and innovative outreach, aligned with BRISEC CCI's stated mission of connecting economies and opening opportunities beyond borders.

Coming back to journalism with the Indian Press Union

The same year also brought what Dr. Manikoth describes as a return to his early interest in journalism. He was honoured with Lifetime Membership and empanelled as District Reporter – Bangalore South, on a freelance assignment, with the Indian Press Union (IPU). He has spoken of this milestone with particular warmth, crediting Khalid Ansari — Owner of Mid-Day and Managing Director & Executive Editor of Khaleej Times — and Bikram Vohra, Editor at KT, for the freelance journalism opportunities he was given decades ago, even while his primary role at the paper was in advertising.

The IPU's own certificate describes the membership as organisational media recognition under the IPU Media Association, and notes explicitly that it does not represent government press accreditation or statutory authority — a distinction Dr. Manikoth himself has been careful to state plainly rather than overstate, consistent with the commitment to ethical and responsible journalism he describes as central to this new chapter.

Recognition and associations

• —Bharath Gaurav Award, India
• —Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World Directory, USA
• —Honorary Doctorate and Life Time Achievement Award, Chicago Open University
• —Founder President, Toastmasters International – UAE Chapters; winner, Toastmasters International Speech Contest
• —Founder President, TSPOI – The Services Providers Of India
• —Member, International Advertising Association (IAA) – UAE Chapter
• —Member, Arab Business Club (ABC) – Dubai, UAE
• —Fellow, Institute of Commercial Management (ICM) – United Kingdom
• —Premier Brand Ambassador, Kotak Life Insurance – India
• —Global Goodwill Ambassador, GGA Foundation – USA

He holds an MBA in Marketing, and outside the boardroom, holds a Black Belt (Ni Dan) in the Kyokushinkai style of Karate — a detail that, combined with everything above, points to a career built as much on discipline as on relationships.

Taking on the half marathon

Away from advertising and media, Dr. Manikoth has taken up long-distance running in recent years, progressing through the Titan Run series — a 5km run in 2024, a 10km run in 2025, and a 21.1km half marathon in 2026. For someone whose career has spanned 35 years, the progression mirrors a pattern that runs through his professional life too: starting at a manageable distance and building up, year on year, to the harder one.

From a General Manager's office in Bahrain to the Director's chair at Khaleej Times, from founding Winning Edge Group to his current role shaping media strategy for BRISEC CCI, and now back to journalism with the Indian Press Union, Dr. Vijay Manikoth's career resists a single label. What ties it together, by his own account, is a preference for relationships where both sides win — and a willingness, at every stage, to take on the next distance.

Sources and editorial references

This profile is based on a self-submitted account, announcements and photographs provided by Dr. Vijay Manikoth for editorial feature, including his BRISEC CCI appointment announcement, Indian Press Union membership announcement and professional biography. Career history, dates, award names and quoted statements reflect the subject's own account and have not been independently verified against employer, institutional or awarding-body records.