Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. New leadership appointments at TNS South Africa. Nieman Society of Southern Africa calls for nominations for Journalism Fellowship at Harvard. Joe Public appointed Nedbank Group’s advertising agency. MediaCom and House of Brave join forces for autism campaign. Cape agency wins international green awards. Livewired to partner with AIG on new cyber security product. All the moves in media.
Who’s moved where
New leadership appointments at TNS South Africa
Margarita Putter, current CEO of TNS South Africa, will be taking on a new role in TNS’s Africa and Middle East Region (AME) as AME Regional Director: Business Development and Marketing next year. This is a significant move for the region and for Putter herself, whose career in TNS South Africa (previously Research Surveys) spans 29 years. The move is strongly in line with TNS’s aggressive regional growth strategy.
Putter’s new role in the AME region will be a critical one as TNS accelerates the region’s focus on key regional and global clients as well as bringing together global and African best practice expertise in TNS’s key practice areas. Putter will continue on the AME EXCO, representing regional practice leads and taking responsibility for key Global Accounts. Margarita’s portfolio will also include overall AME Marketing Strategy.
Putter will be handing over the reins as CEO of TNS South Africa to Karin Du Chenne, effective January 2013. Du Chenne’s commitment and consistent performance during the past 21 years in the business will find a fresh and exciting challenge in implementing a new strategy for the market-leading SA business as the top leadership guard changes for the first time in a decade.
What’s out there
Nieman Society of Southern Africa calls for nominations for Journalism Fellowship at Harvard
The Fellowships were established in 1938. They are the oldest fellowships for mid-career journalists in the world and are awarded to working journalists of outstanding achievement. South Africa has a proud history of sending one fellow to Harvard every year since 1960.
The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for journalists to study and broaden their intellectual horizons. As Harvard does not offer courses in journalism, Nieman Fellows are free to pursue a wide variety of academic interests for both personal and professional development.
Criteria: A minimum of three-years in mainstream media, and a commitment to return to South Africa after the fellowship year. Fellows should also either be full-time employed, or have the means to sustain their financial commitments while on the fellowship.
Application forms can be obtained electronically from niemansa@iafrica.com
Closing Date:31 December, 2012
Email: niemansa@iafrica.com
Who’s won what
Joe Public appointed Nedbank Group’s advertising agency
Nedbank Group announced the appointment of Joe Public as its advertising agency effective from 2013.
Joe Public was recently named the 2012 AdFocus Advertising Agency of the Year and has been successful since buying back its independence from the international IPG group in 2008.
“As a bank that is striving to build Africa’s most admired bank, we are excited to undertake the next part of our brand evolution with Joe Public as our partner” says Thulani Sibeko, Nedbank Group Executive: Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs. “We are confident that Joe Public have the expertise to further entrench Nedbank as a bank for all South Africans.”
“We are privileged to have the opportunity to work with a great brand like Nedbank. There are many offerings within Nedbank to leverage and through our new partnership we believe we can make great things happen in the coming years” says Gareth Leck, CEO of Joe Public.
MediaCom and House of Brave join forces for autism campaign
Autism South Africa, which was founded by a small sector of parents and professionals in 1989, is a charitable, not-for-profit organisation, which facilitates the provision of services to individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
“Autism South Africa is the national body for individuals with autism across the country,” says Jill Stacey, Autism South Africa’s National Director. “There is definite improvement of awareness on autism and therefore many more children are being diagnosed at an earlier age and interestingly, a significant number of adults who have lived with an ASD without diagnosis until recently, are now seeking help in dealing with a condition they and their families have never understood.”
“It’s important for us not to be bystanders in society, but to actively help make lives better. Thus, we are thrilled that Autism South Africa has chosen House of Brave and MediaCom to help them make a difference,” concludes Ian Manning, MediaCom’s chief executive officer.
Who’s making moves
Cape agency wins international green awards
HWB Communications recently won Silver and Bronze awards at the annual Public Relations Global Network’s (PRGN) Best Practice Awards.
The annual awards contested by more than 40 agencies worldwide saw 120 entries in 13 categories. There were a total of 37 awards distributed consisting of 13 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze.
“We are thrilled to be one of the 37 agencies who won Best Practice Awards,” said Evelyn John Holtzhausen, CEO of HWB Communications. “This demonstrates to our clients that our campaigns, our strategic thinking, our implementation and our delivery is on par with the best agencies and public relations practices globally.”
The judges’ criteria took into account strategy, creativity, execution and results.
HWB won Silver in the Green PR category for their communications campaign implemented with Heartland Property, to announce the relocation of the renowned Cheetah Outreach project from Spier Wine Farm to Heartlands, Paardevlei Property in Somerset West, Cape Town. They were awarded Bronze in the same category for their campaign implemented with L.E.D Lighting SA to promote the local company and the green, energy efficient light bulbs the company produces.
Livewired to partner with AIG on new cyber security product
Livewired PR recently announced its new partnership with global insurance company, AIG. Strategically selected by the brand for its expertise in crisis communications, the PR company will play an integral role in the launch of AIG’s innovative new product, CyberEdge.
CyberEdge provides companies with insurance against the theft of electronic information, ensuring that they are equipped with forensic and legal services, as well as crisis communication that will be handled by Livewired’s team of experts. “Between the various members of our team, we have a vast amount of experience and knowledge in the area of crisis communications,” says MD of Livewired PR, Lucinda Boddy. “This is further complimented by our highly structured system which involves comprehensive step-by-step documentation in crisis management.”
The first of its kind on the South African market, CyberEdge is expected to perform well, following its success overseas. “Previously in the South African context, products like this were not needed, but with the likelihood that the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act will soon come into play, companies are going to require a far greater degree of protection against loss of electronic information,” says Boddy.
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