Media Moves… Tiaan Nagel is the new editor of House and Leisure. Times Media announces three new senior appointments to its digital division. Award winning creative guru joins TLC Marketing Africa. Ashantha Thompson joins House of Brave. Insights Publishing relaunches Simply Green Magazine. TBWA focuses on disruption to grow client business in Africa. SABC announces Platinum sponsorship of PROMAX/BDA Africa 2015 – 10th anniversary. Vicinity Media opens Dubai office. Hisense hops on board as technology sponsor for Red Bull Beat Battle 2015
This week’s BIG move: Tiaan Nagel is the new editor of House and Leisure
Tiaan Nagel is the new editor of House and Leisure, joining from Times Media Group where he consulted for Times Media on its home/interior offerings, conceptualising the look and feel and the editorial direction with the editor.
Nagel’s background is in fashion design. After studying fashion, he moved on to become the creative director at Marion and Lindie and he also launched his own namesake brand. “I definitely don’t believe in conforming to the rules, I think it is wise to understand the foundations of design and then to challenge yourself and make them your own,” he says. “Décor and design is about surrounding yourself with what you love. I believe spaces should tell the story of who you are as a person and that sourcing and collecting things over time should reveal a story about yourself, I have found this is the best way for a space to evolve.
What is the most challenging aspect of your new job?
Being a part of a new team has its challenges. Mapping out a new working strategy that suits the dynamic of the team and the product offering. That aside, for me the challenge lies in the balance of being more progressive and new without alienating the current reader.
And in the media sector in which you work, the home and décor magazine space?
I used to work in fashion, where the tempo of product development/trends move quite fast and the timing of those products are crucial. For me, décor moves at a slower space, it’s a far more considered and a much more expensive industry for product development and newness, so my challenge would be to find the newness and celebrate/present that to our reader as quickly as possible.
What three things in your bag/computer case are you NEVER without and why?
Aesop deodorant, Muji black pens and a note book, my Comme Des Garcon wallet and my iPhone
Who do you most admire in SA and why?
Entrepreneurs, local designers and artisans – fighting their way through the noise to be heard and for their products to be acknowledged.
What piece of business intelligence would you most like to have to help you in your career?
…Tricky, I feel like we are on the right track and have many sources of great business intelligence at our disposal… so I suppose TIME, time to go through it all and actually test them and find a strategy that’s layered with all their strengths. Time!
Who’s moved where
Times Media announces three new senior appointments to its digital division
Times Media has appointed of three digital industry experts to senior positions within its aggressively expanding digital division. Riaan Wolmarans has been appointed as Head of Audience Development, Percy Goetsch as Head of Product, and Dan Calderwood as Head of Multimedia. They will form part of the team directed by Lisa MacLeod, Head of Digital Publishing at Times Media.
“The team will form a core part of positioning Times Media for an increasingly digital future. Their focus will be on delivering Times Media’s premium content to digital consumers, and the ongoing enhancement of customer-facing products to provide the best experience for our growing audience. We are fortunate to have such a talented and experienced group to deliver on our strategy to serve our consumers on all platforms,” says MacLeod.
Riaan Wolmarans returns to TMG as Head of Audience Development. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the media industry, both locally and abroad, specialising in digital content and publishing.
Percy Goetsch joins TMG this month as Head of Product and will focus on tech development and innovation.
Dan Calderwood joins TMG next month as the new Head of Multimedia. He is a digital content specialist who in 2013 became the founding editor of 24.com’s video brand News24 Live, heading up the company’s video department and strategy.
Award winning creative guru joins TLC Marketing Africa
TLC Marketing has announced a new addition to their team, Ronnie Malden, who joins the agency as creative director. Her core focus will be leading and directing the creative studio in line with our strategic objective of providing clients with integrated 360-degree campaigns.
Malden is an award winning creative director and has over 20 years of advertising experience having worked in South Africa, the UK and Europe for large international agencies including JWT, Lowe & Partners, Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann Erickson and Ogilvy & Mather. She has worked on many brands during her career ranging from Unilever, Head and Shoulders, Nestle, Kellogg’s to The Bank of Scotland, and Motorola. Her national and international accolades include a BAFTA, a Loerie and The Gold American Effectiveness Award to name a few. Malden commented, “I’m thrilled to join TLC Marketing – Africa and look forward to the new challenge of using creativity to bring our offering closer to the clients’ brands.”
MD Preneshen Munian says, “TLC Marketing is really excited to welcome Ronnie to the team, as she brings extensive experience to the company which will elevate our creative capabilities.”
Ashantha Thompson joins House of Brave
House of Brave is proud to announce the appointment of Ashantha Thompson as a non-executive director to the rapidly expanding company where the former CEO of Grid Worldwide Branding and Design will assist in growing the brand internalisation, content marketing and PR divisions.
Ashantha left advertising several years ago for CT and is now returning with some interesting ideas for the industry.
Who’s won what
Insights Publishing relaunches Simply Green Magazine
Insights Publishing (Inspired Spaces Media (Pty) Ltd.) has acquired award-winning greening and sustainability title, Simply Green.
Simply Green, which won an SAB eco-journalism award in 2010, just two years after its launch in late 2008, will extend Insights Publishing‟s existing stable of magazine publications that includes Fast Company South Africa, The Intrepid Explorer and Who’s Who—The Cape Town International Jazz Festival magazine.
Chris Erasmus, founding publisher and editor of Simply Green, said of the move: “We are thrilled at this development. It opens the door to a wide range of cross- platform and cross-title optimisations, both for Simply Green and for Insights Publishing‟s existing titles, with natural synergies between the respective concerns of each of the titles‟ target audiences.
Simply Green is a multi-niche publication, serving the needs of a range of parties and stakeholders concerned with greening and sustainability—from consumers, through emergent green businesses to large corporate entities and governmental bodies, both local and international.
Danone NutriDay appoints Liquorice
Liquorice, a DigitasLBi company and one of Africa’s leading digital agencies, has been appointed as Danone NutriDay’s digital agency in South Africa.
After a competitive pitch, the NutriDay marketing team awarded the account to Liquorice. “It was clear that a lot of thought went in to the work, and it came through strongly in the delivery of the proposed strategy. We are really excited to work with Liquorice and look forward to an amazing digital year for the NutriDay brand,” said Jessica Woolfrey, Brand Manager, NutriDay
Miles Murphy, CEO and Founder of Liquorice, added: “Authentic, two- way conversation is how we have built some of SA’s biggest social communities. We can’t wait to get cracking on awesome, innovative work for this global brand.”
Who’s making moves
SABC announces Platinum sponsorship of PROMAX/BDA Africa 2015 – 10th anniversary
The SABC has reaffirmed its Platinum sponsorship for the PROMAX/BDA AFRICA. SABC was one of the inaugural sponsors of PROMAX/BDA AFRICA in 2006 and has since strengthened its partnership with the organisers of this prestigious event. This year’s event takes place on 20 November 2015 at The Maslow Hotel, in Sandton.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, says, “As the largest broadcaster in South Africa, it is imperative that the SABC holds a position of leadership in all relevant Industry events such as PROMAX/BDA AFRICA. Being involved in PROMAX/BDA AFRICA not only allows the SABC to unearth its own talent, but support the Industry as a whole to nurture and award creative excellence. The PROMAX/BDA AFRICA conference and Awards underscore the importance of this Industry to create top-of-mind awareness for a Broadcaster’s brand, channel or programming”.
TBWA focuses on disruption to grow client business in Africa
Disruption Strategy® is part of TBWA\’s vernacular and a proprietary tool that the company harnesses to break market convention and establish new platforms for growth for its clients. “Disruption® is the brainchild of TBWA\ Agency Network Chairman, Jean-Marie Dru, who came up with the idea of using Disruption® in a positive way in 1990, to create future-fit visions for brands, plus a roadmap to get them there.
“Think of Roger Bannister, who ran the four-minute mile when no-one thought it was possible or Dick Fosbury, the Olympic high jumper, who revolutionised the sport with his new ‘back-first’ way of clearing the bar. These people did not limit themselves to the parameters set by others. They imagined something beyond the rule, something better, bolder and more successful,” says Cruikshanks.
The power of Disruption® is so important to TBWA\ that 80 people from 15 countries and 20 agencies throughout Africa will gather for a three-day annual TBWA\ African Conference and immerse themselves in Disruption® philosophy and processes.
Ogilvy & Mather brings a unique new face to Brands & Branding
Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) South Africa and Affinity Publishing have announced a unique three-year cover design partnership on the Brands & Branding publication, with the first of the three books being unveiled today at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
Brands & Branding, now celebrating its 21st year of publication, is designed to highlight brands from South Africa and around the world among marketers and marcomms students. The book features insights, methodologies and case studies from an array of brands and key industry leaders.
Previously rotated amongst advertising and design shops annually, this is the first time the book will be designed by the same agency for consecutive years, and the first time O&M will have creative direction since the book’s inception.
“The collaboration celebrates a shared foundation of our love for brands and we are thrilled to see how Ogilvy has captured the vision for the future of the publication”, says Ken Preston of Affinity Publishing.
Discover Digital secures rights to first ever African superhero series
Local digital entertainment and technology company, Discover Digital, has officially secured the rights to be the African digital distribution partner for the first mainstream African superhero television series, Jongo.
Produced by Johannesburg-based film and TV studio, Motion Story, Jongo tells the story of Eli King, a young man who acquires supernatural abilities through an alien crystal at the Cradle of Humankind.
The crystal is left to him by his father, an enslaved miner who is murdered shortly after escaping. As Eli tries to deal with the death of his father and find the men responsible, he must also grapple with the powers of the crystal and how it will change his life. However, the men he is hunting have crystals of their own and need Eli’s to fulfil an ancient and devastating prophecy that threatens the lives of millions.
Production is currently underway on the first eight-episode season, which is due to debut on local screens in March 2016. Discover Digital has signed on as the African partner with Jongo’s Netherlands-based distributor, FCCE. The series has already been picked up by both e.tv and Ebony Life TV.
Vicinity Media opens Dubai Office
Location based mobile advertising network Vicinity Media recently opened its first international office in the United Arab Emirates. American media entrepreneur Wendy Weckstrom and Finnish tech expert Alexander Le Bell will head up Vicinity Middle East (M.E), based in Dubai, serving the entire Middle East region.
In just a few months Vicinity Middle East has started integration work with leading Middle East publisher Dubizzle (leading classified publisher in the region), as well as global network Opera.
Vicinity M.E. has also made inroads on the client side with two global brands booking campaigns to run during November and December across the Middle East region, including UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Although the mobile budget for one of these particular campaigns had been allocated, when the client saw the Vicinity Distance Window and Landing Page they decided to rework the budget to include Vicinity’s unique location targeting and engagement capabilities.
Hisense hops on board as technology sponsor for Red Bull Beat Battle 2015
Revellers at this year’s Red Bull Beat Battle will have a host of entertainment to look forward to come 21 November. Not only will they witness South Africa’s best dancers go toe-to-toe in the ultimate clash of crews, they’ll also get to take in performances by well-known music acts Kid X, Thebe, DJ Speedsta and more. The stage will be pumped up on Hisense TV’s, the electronics sponsor for this year’s battle.
Hisense is set to keep spectators happy, with screens and TVs to blow up the action of the show throughout the night. Hisense believes in young talent and aligns themselves with innovation, creativity and originality as a brand. The collaboration between the Red Bull Beat Battle and Hisense works well with this principle.
Ryan Curling, brand manager at Hisense South Africa, notes, “It’s exciting that Red Bull has offered Street Dance the recognition it deserves. As Technology Sponsor on the night, Hisense’s televisions and big screens will capture all the amazing moves in perfect clarity and our latest smartphones will be capturing images of the event.”
