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
New MD for Mikateko Media
Andrew Nunneley is Mikateko Media’s new managing director. The company’s current high-profile clients include Transnet and the Steve Biko Foundation. Mikateko was founded three years ago at New Media where Mikateko partners Bulelwa Mtsali, Desiree Jonson and Ingrid Jones all worked. They wanted to create a black empowered content company. With New Media’s support, Mikateko was formed. Their first client came immediately after, when they pitched and won the tender to produce Transnet’s internal magazine.
“In his new role, Andrew will work closely with us to raise the profile of the company, secure better access to required skills and strategically target specific new business opportunities,” says Mtsali, editorial director at Mikateko.
With over 16 years in the magazine and content industry, Nunneley has made his imprint upon stacks of South African publications, and has abundant experience in every facet of the business, from advertising to editorial to publishing and most recently, business development.
While Mikateko Media is an independent company with its own offices, management team and staff, one of its key competitive advantages is the value it offers through its partnerships with both New Media and Media 24. New Media has a 49% shareholding in Mikateko Media, and in turn Media 24 is a 58% shareholder in New Media.
Helen Smit appointed programming director for MTV networks africa music services
South African TV veteran Helen Smit has joined Johannesburg-based MTV Networks Africa (MTVNA) in the new role of programming director, Music. Smit will take responsibility for driving the programming strategy across MTVNA’s portfolio of music brands, including pan-African music channel MTV Base, MTV and VH1. In her new role, Smit will oversee content scheduling, programme acquisition, research and planning.
Smit joins MTV Networks Africa from the Baynounah Media Group in Abu Dhabi, where she was deputy director of programming for its English language service targeted at expatriates in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region.
Having started her television career at the SABC TV news desk in the early ‘80s, Smit was quickly promoted to Insert Producer for Good Morning South Africa, and subsequently freelanced for a wide range of South African production companies. In 2000 Smit joined M-Net as commissioning editor and in 2002 was promoted to the role of general manager: KTV/GO and was appointed to the management board.
In the decade she spent with M-Net, Smit developed an insight into youth media consumption. In 2008 she took on the post of General Manager: Local Content Development &¨Production, making pivotal choices regarding local TV content on a myriad of M-Net channels during a time in which the broadcaster was producing more local programming than ever before in its history.
Acting COO appointed at SABC
The Communication Workers Union welcomes the decision by the SABC Board to appoint Hlaudi Motshwaneng as acting chief operating officer. Motshwaneng has been hands on as a Group Executive Stakeholder Relations and Provinces.
“He made sure that he is always available when Labour wanted to raise worker issues. As CWU we are happy about his new role as acting COO and we don’t doubt his capacity and commitment,” the CWU said in a statement.
“As CWU, we are as well happy that the SABC will be having a fulltime Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a Chief Operating Officer (CEO) before December 20, 2011. We acknowledge the initiative taken by the Minister of Communications to decisively intervene in our public broadcaster.”
A+E Networks UK hire new marketing chief
Leading factual entertainment broadcaster A+E Networks™ UK, a joint venture between A+E Networks™ and BSkyB, has appointed Anna Priest as its new VP of Marcomms. She joins from the BBC where she was head of marketing, superbrands and portfolio, responsible for developing brand strategies and marketing plans for the overall BBC TV portfolio and specific programme Superbrands including Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing and Top Gear.
Reporting directly to Tom Davidson, managing director, A+E Networks UK, Priest is responsible for the Marcomms strategy for A+E Networks UK, including its channel brands and programming both acquired and commissioned. This includes on-air, off-air and partnership marketing for HISTORY™, HISTORY™HD, Crime & Investigation Network®, Crime & Investigation Network® HD, BIO, BIO® HD and MILITARY HISTORY across all channels in the UK & Ireland, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Benelux, Scandinavia and Central & Eastern Europe.
She will also be involved in coordinating and planning new and current business strategy together with the senior management team. Priest commented: “I am delighted to be joining A+E Networks UK and am looking forward to help build the broadcaster’s high quality programme brands and channels across all its markets. They have some fantastic series, which are performing well with UK and international audiences as well as exciting new UK commissions. I aim to significantly increase the reach and share of those brands to ensure that audiences across the world enjoy them as much as I do!”
New sales director for ComutaNet sales team
Garry Rogers is no stranger to the emerging market making his appointment as the new sales director at ComutaNet, the leading authority on marketing to the emerging commuter market, a perfect fit for Rogers’ expertise and experience.
Throughout his career, Rogers has been headhunted by South Africa’s leading media houses such as Mail & Guardian and Media24, with a proven track record of taking sales teams beyond their best. Raking in achievements over the years, Rogers’ most recent accomplishment saw his former Emerging Market team at Daily Sun and Sunday Sun take a sweeping win at the prestigious Media24 Legend Awards winning six out of six awards within their category. This included Rogers being honoured as the coveted Advertising Manager of the Year for 2009/2010.
Rogers brings to ComutaNet over 23-years of sales management experience that has cultivated the strong leadership, communication and motivation qualities of this natural manager; who furthermore possesses an unparalleled understanding of advertising sales in the media environment.
Who’s won what
MediaVest wins Nissan pitch
Full service media agency MediaVest has announced that it has won the pitch on the Nissan account. Having initially secured the business in 2009, MediaVest will continue delivering the media strategy and implementation for the vehicle manufacturer.
According to Gordon Patterson, Group MD of the Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), in alignment with corporate governance and standards globally, it was decided by Nissan international that the media business would go out to pitch this year. “Following a series of presentations in 2009, MediaVest was initially awarded the business. Winning the recent pitch reaffirmed Nissan’s initial decision to nominate MediaVest as its media agency of choice,” says Patterson.
“Obviously we’re extremely excited to be working on this business going forward and believe that the decision confirms MediaVest’s ability. Robert Notrica and the team have done a fantastic job and we look forward to strengthening the relationship with Nissan even further.”
marcusbrewster wins Beyond Sport account
Beyond Sport, a global organisation that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to effect positive social change throughout the world, has awarded its SA PR mandate for the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards to marcusbrewster.
marcusbrewster’s Cape Town office will handle the media relations and accreditation for the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards, taking place in Cape Town between December 5-8 2011. The programme for the event includes influential figures from the worlds of sport, business, politics and philanthropy, who will explore sport’s role in social change.
“Having influential, global leaders gather under the shadow of Table Mountain, recently named as one of the provisional New7Wonders of Nature, is another coup for the City of Cape Town,” says San Reddy, managing director of marcusbrewster.
Highlights of the four-day programme will include the Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Chairman of the Beyond Sport Ambassadors, and four-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson addressing the gathering, and bringing their own extensive experience to the table.
TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris Durban wins Epic Foods business
TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris has won the Johannesburg-based Epic Foods account which includes all the Canola brands. Epic Foods will re-launch their Canola brands with a fully integrated campaign with digital at the heart. The hard hitting campaign “Spread the truth” aims to highlight the fact that Epic’s Canola- based products are one of the healthiest on the market – the only product to be backed by both the CANSA and Heart foundation.
The campaign will launch with teaser activity in digital during November, closely followed by a fully integrated through-the-line campaign including television, radio, magazine and PR.
, “As we go forward into an increasingly digital future, it’ s imperative that we develop campaigns with a strong digital backbone that seamlessly run through the entire project. We have developed a powerful campaign for Epic Canola that will create a far reaching and important conversation – our aim is to challenge misconceptions and help educate consumers on the real and true benefits of Canola,” says Kevin Power, agency client service director.
Who’s making moves
Gearburn goes daily
Gearburn is now daily every morning a fresh smorgasbord of reviews, technews, views and tech industry musings for the technorati. Gearburn.com, sister site of the well established Memeburn.com, has a distinctly unconventional voice, cheeky and unrelentingly honest to give the gadget cogniscenti an entertaining read that helps them make better tech-buying decisions.
Back in the saddle is launch editor Roger Hislop, with Steven Norris and Stuart Thomas carrying the load, with managing editor, Michelle Atagana, overseeing all of the Burn titles. Gearburn has also built up a strong stable of contributors Martin Carstens, Ronan Steyn, Danny Greef, Rick Bosch and others. On top of this Gearburn TV is kicking it up a notch with more regular video reviews.
Gearburn.com was soft-launched in April this year, publishing three days a week. It is a complementary site to Memburn.com, already one of SouthAfrica’s top web and social media news and analysis sites that jumped to a million page views inside of a year. Gearburn had 861 page views at launch April; only six months later readership has jumped to over 85 000 page views for the month, and still growing quickly.
Gearburn is aimed at the tech enthusiast people who love gadgets and tech, want to read something informative, but also fresh and entertaining. It focuses on high tech gadgets, gaming and cool apps for phones and TVs.
Ayanda Mbanga Named Recruitment Advertising Agency of the Year
Ayanda Mbanga Communications was named Recruitment Advertising Agency of the Year and walked away with the award for Most Creative Recruitment Advertisement of the Year for client Shoprite at the Avusa Media Annual Recruitment Awards (AMARA) on the weekend.
Now in its second year, the AMARA awards, previously, the Sunday Times Business Times Careers Awards, recognise recruitment advertising agencies, recruiters and human resource practitioners.
“These wins are testament to our determination, reputation, knowledge, creativity and our ‘One team One dream’ approach,” says Ayanda Mbanga Communications founder and CEO, Ayanda Mbanga. “Being recognised as a captain of industry and continuing on a steady path of award winning work, is invaluable to our business and our clients. It’s what continues to differentiate our service offering and provides us with a sought after competitive edge. It lets our existing clients and prospective clients know that we are at the top of our game, are in tune with industry trends, and we are informed.”
The selection for Recruitment Advertising Agency of the Year was based on motivations and nominations by clients, including a questionnaire rating service delivery. The selection criteria for advertisements was based on visual appeal as well as content and rated on relevance and effectiveness.
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