Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up that looks at who’s moved where, which companies have scored what accounts and how to find out what opportunities are out there through our jobs site, powered by Memburn. All the moves in media.
Who’s moved where
Africapractic announces new hires, growth plans
africapractice, the strategic communications consultancy dedicated to supporting private sector investment and development in Africa, has made several new hires in the last two months.
“We have made over 20 new hires across the group so far this year and the pace is picking up every quarter. We predicted that 2011 would be a good year, but the first half has been even better than we forecast. We are gearing up for even more growth as we prepare to close out a phenomenal year,’ says Kim Polley, director, Southern Africa.
‘The hires we have made reflect the strengths of our company. Each individual is passionate about contributing to socio-economic development in Africa. They each have strong analytical minds and impeccable communication skills; and they have all gained experience leading teams of people in government and industry, working throughout Africa and internationally.
Kadaria Ahmed has joined as an Associate Director in the firm’s Nigerian office. Based in Lagos she is leading corporate communications and public affairs assignments for private sector clients in Nigeria. Prior to joining africapractice, Kadaria was the founding Managing Editor and Editor of 234Next, which she built into the most respected investigative newspaper in Nigeria. She previously spent eight years working at the BBC. Kadaria is one of Nigeria’s foremost media practitioners and a Chevening Scholar.
Anna Riley, a Senior Consultant with africapractice since January 2011, has relocated to Dar-es-Salaam to assume the role of General Manager. She is directing africapractice’s support for one of the largest agricultural projects in Africa, the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT).
Sanyu Mugambwa has joined africapractice as a Senior Consultant after six years in the Australian foreign service. She completed postings as Second Secretary in Nairobi and most recently as Peacebuilding Adviser in Sierra Leone, supporting Australian participation on the UN’s Peacebuilding Commission. Between postings, she served as an adviser on trade and development issues, representing the Australian government at WIPO and WTO meetings.
Jonas Paurell joins as a Senior Consultant to drive the Growth & Opportunity practice. Jonas is a business intelligence, opportunity and risk consultant who has been analysing the impact of regulations, policies, security issues and political stability on public and private equity in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe for several years. He started his career as lawyer working for the United Nations in Southern and East Africa.
Maryanne Maina has recently joined africapractice as a Senior Consultant in the Nairobi office. Maryanne brings a wealth of corporate communications experience garnered from consultancy roles in Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa, where she managed communications for a financial sector client across 9 markets in Africa. Maryanne was previously a senior business journalist and foreign news editor for Avusa Media Group in South Africa.
Lucas Chandellier is a Consultant based in Conakry, who has relocated from France to support the firm’s expanding portfolio of work in Guinea – a nation which successfully transitioned from military rule to democracy earlier this year. He is project managing one the largest private sector sponsorships in Guinea.
Ogilvy Cape Town appoints PR executive director
Ogilvy Cape Town recently announced the appointment of Priscilla Urquhart as the executive director of Ogilvy Public Relations Cape Town and as its newest board member.
Urquhart brings with her a wealth of editorial knowledge as well as vast brand experience having spent the past four years as the Corporate and Brand PR Manager at Brandhouse and prior to that having worked extensively in the magazine industry both locally and abroad.
Some of Urquhart’s highlights include managing the opening of the Sedibeng Brewery, launching the Brandhouse Responsible Drinking Media Awards last year and involving Helen Zille as the first South African signatory as part of Johnnie Walker’s ‘Join the Pact’ campaign.
New appointments and newly-named AMM (previously MPASA)
Spearheading Association Magazine Media – previously Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa – is newly elected chairman, Willem Breytenbach. Currently the general manager of Media24 Weekly Magazines, Breytenbach oversees the group’s flagship magazines Huisgenoot, YOU and Drum, as well as Landbouweekblad, Heat, Finweek and NewsNow/NuusNou. His wide-ranging media experience includes serving as news editor of Die Burger, and marketing manager of Die Burger and Son newspapers, and a three-year stint in New Delhi, India, where he headed up business development for Naspers in the region.
The role of deputy chairperson will be jointly held by Elizabeth Shorten and Silke Friedrich. Both have long and wide-ranging experience in magazine publishing and journalism. Shorten managed the former Shorten Publications through its period of strongest growth and transformed it into 3S Media to meet the challenges of the changing media landscape.
Friedrich – a former senior journalist at the Sunday Times Magazine and Editor of Longevity magazine, is business manager at Avusa Media. She is the former chairperson of the 2008 Pica Awards, a board director of Print Media South Africa, and serves as the magazine representative on the Press Council of South Africa.
The following full directors were nominated to serve on the AMM board in 2011/2012:
Caxton and CTP Publishing Anton Botes and Nick Holdsworth
Media24: John Relihan and Willem Breytenbach
Avusa Media: Silke Friedrich
New Media: Andrew Nunneley
Ramsay Media: Stuart Lowe
Panorama Publications: Urs Honegger
3S Media: Elizabeth Shorten
Media Nova: Tony Vaughan
Who’s won what
Greater Than wins Toby Scheckter Organic Energy account
Greater Than, a national, full-service and ten-time PRISM Award winning PR agency, has been appointed to handle the public relations and the launch for Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy in South Africa. Scheckter, founder and MD of Scheckter’s Organic Beverages and former racing driver, is the son of Ferrari F1 World Champion, South African race legend Jody Scheckter.
The creation of Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy has stemmed from Toby’s passion for a healthier life style whilst staying true to his commitment to organic farming. Recognising that there was a significant gap in the energy drinks market for a truly healthier alternative, Toby spent two and a half years developing the great tasting 100% organic and vegetarian certified energy drink.
Launching the product in South Africa was something Toby wanted to do from the start. “My roots are here and I believe here are the consumers as well. South African’s are just as health conscious as the rest of the world and deserve a product that fits their beliefs and lifestyle.”
Global fashion label Zara appoints go4word
PR and integrated social media services agency go4word has been appointed to direct media communication and the event planning of the launch of global fashion powerhouse Zara in South Africa.
As one of the world’s largest international fashion companies with over 1 700 stores in 80 countries around the world, Zara brings with it an innovative shopping experience never experienced before in SA. For the first time the SA consumer will have access to the hottest new trends from Europe in store twice weekly at the same time as the rest of the world and not a season behind thanks to a team of over 300 designers working specifically on designs for the southern hemisphere.
Zara will launch in Johannesburg on November 9 in Sandton City’s new extension with a stylish VIP event attended by a who’s who line-up of celebrities, fashionistas, media and lovers of the this leading brand. The new store, which is one of the brand’s biggest worldwide taking up 2 700 square meters, will be open to the public on Wednesday, November 10 at 9:00am.
“We are thrilled to partner with a dynamic brand like Zara – to manage and coordinate both the VIP launch event and press conference taking place. go4word’s ability to manage traditional media relations and to implement an integrated social media strategy perfectly synergises with a brand of such caliber.,” says Michelle Rolfe (joint MD go4word).
Watt Communications says it’s all about crucial conversations
A reputation for delivering has won integrated communications agency, Watt Communications, another new client. The Human Edge – innovators in corporate training and organisational performance appointed the agency from October 1 to assist with raising its profile as a provider of leading edge solutions and skill sets to create lasting and sustainable behavioural change.
PJ Nisbet, CEO, The Human Edge says, “Watt Communications’ reputation as an action- orientated and committed team was a major factor in our decision. In addition, the fact that they are a full service agency with good referrals from some common customers played a role in our decision.”
Working with The Human Edge is an exciting opportunity for Watt Communications according to managing director, Samantha Watt. “I am fascinated by their business and how they use ‘crucial conversations’ to assist people and businesses to improve on delivery and overall business performance.”
The Human Edge is the sole licensee in Africa for VitalSmarts, the global company involved in enabling lasting behaviour change and dramatically improving results across the Fortune 500.
Who’s making moves
MPASA changes its name to reflect its future
The Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa (MPASA) has announced that at its recent Annual General Meeting, a Special Resolution was passed to change its name to the Association of Magazine Media,(AMM).
Its new name and logo come into effect today, in time for the PICA Awards – to be held on 17 November – which recognise excellence in South African magazine journalism, design and publishing.
Melony Boucher, General Manager of AMM, says, “The reason for the name change is to reflect the change in the nature of the business environment in which our members operate and the nature of the businesses that they operate.” Boucher adds, “The effect of the name change is to position, locally and internationally, AMM as a forward-looking association that represents the full scope of its members’ interests.”
AMM recognises that many magazine publishers are no longer producing publications solely in the print medium, but are extending their brands – and creating new brands – in the digital arena. Increasingly, magazine launches are taking place digitally, with no supporting print product. While print remains a strong magazine medium, digital offerings like magazine websites, ezines and mobizines are innovative, exciting ways to increase customer loyalty and gain new audiences.
FAIRLADY food editor wins coveted award
Justine Kiggen, the talented food editor behind FAIRLADY’s fresh and inspiring food pages, was awarded runner-up in the prestigious Galliova Awards on Friday, 21 October at Babylonstouren Farm in Franschhoek. The award is sponsored by the South African Poultry Association, and recognises writing excellence, accuracy of facts and relevance to the intended target audience.
Kiggen’s knack for making simple delicious food and her 20 years of experience as a food stylist, caterer and writer were what led FAIRLADY to recruit her one and a half years ago as Food Editor. At the awards, her work was acknowledged by a panel of industry experts, and she walked away with a R10 000 cash prize as well as a Kenwood coffee machine.
“We’re absolutely delighted that Justine has been honoured with a Galliova Award,” said FAIRLADY editor Suzy Brokensha. “This highly prestigious award recognises not only the achievements of the food editor, but also her understanding of the market, and that’s what makes it one of the most coveted awards in the foodie canon. We know how brilliant Justine is, and it’s fabulous that the industry is recognising her talent in this way!”
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