Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Havas Media buys US marketing agency, ignition. New chair for ABF. Continental Outdoor is looking for key staff for Africa operations. Owlhurst wins Stoke account. VWV takes on Samancor Chrome. ABN Productions makes a move. All the moves in media.
This week’s BIG move
Havas Media gears up for Olympics by acquiring ignition
Havas Media has bought US-based experiential marketing agency, ignition. The move is designed to boost the brand engagement offer of the Havas Sports & Entertainment. Network. The acquisition forms part of Havas Sports & Entertainment’s strategy to up-weight its global brand engagement offer, particularly in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2014 FIFA World Cup ™ Brazil.
Ignition will continue to be managed by Mike Hersom, current ignition president, alongside Cindy- Ann ‘CA’ Hersom, CMO, and Dill and Susan Driscoll, the original founders. Hersom will report into Havas Sports & Entertainment’s global president and CEO Lucien Boyer.
“We are proud to welcome ignition to the Havas Sports & Entertainment network. Together we will achieve great things thanks to ignition‘s expertise and outstanding reputation for delivering sustainable consumer experiential events around the world,” says Boyer.
“Ignition will add tangible value to the Havas Sports & Entertainment and Cake Group agencies in our network, helping to reinforce our strong global offering at a very interesting time for brands in sports and entertainment. “Ignition’s 15 year history of activating the Olympic Torch Relay, including for London 2012, and 14 years activating the Trophy Tour in relation to the FIFA World Cup™ for The Coca-Cola Company will also build on our involvement with these key clients and sports organisations.”
The ignition brand will join the Havas Sports & Entertainment and Cake Group agencies in delivering experiential campaigns in markets complementary to the network’s existing local footprint, which now spans 34 offices in 20 markets.
Along with synergies in location and expertise, ignition also adds an attractive, long-retained client base with brands such as American Express, BP, Delta Air Lines, ESPN, Kia, United Nations Foundation, Victoria’s Secret and The Coca-Cola Company (with whom it holds a prestigious ‘global partner’ status).
Hersom adds: “Today the ignition brand goes truly global. With Havas Sports & Entertainment’s infrastructure, insight and reach, coupled with our 15 year track record of leading complex international consumer campaigns, we are now poised to take our magic to scale for sustainable growth.”
This move is part of Havas’ acquisition strategy to both develop and expand core areas of expertise and to target entrepreneurial, innovative forward-looking agencies that use creativity and technology to develop better relationships between consumers, brands and their wider communities.
Who’s making moves
ABF elects Alexander Leibner as its new president
Alexander Leibner has taken on the role of president of the ABF Vital Support Fund with immediate effect. “Durban-based Kerry Sandiford has served as the president of the ABF Vital Support Fund since August 2011, but felt that the distance between her physical location and the Johannesburg-based ABF executive committee was too great and that the critical executive role should be handled by a local person,” says the ABF’s Giles Shepherd.
Sandiford has thus taken on the role of vice president of the ABF. “Sandiford has been a dedicated and loyal member of the ABF executive for many years. She has served for several years as the chairperson of the Durban Committee. It is a measure of her professionalism and sound judgment that she has made this change. It is an honour to have her continue her fantastic efforts in the capacity of vice president,” says Shepherd.
“Alexander brings his top skills and energy to the post, and we’re all looking forward to executing the new strategy,” he adds.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of gearing the fund for the future,” says Leibner. “The executive committee members and I will be applying our minds and presenting not only a fund for the industry, but also the charitable conscience of the industry to all our stakeholders.”
With the resignation of committee members Sharlene Vallance and Riana Stander, the fund will be going through a restructure.
What’s out there
Continental Outdoor is looking for a brand executive
Continental Outdoor Media is looking for a key person, a brand executive, to operate in the rest of Africa. The person needs a marketing degree or diploma and at least five years experience. A knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa would help too, as would an understanding of managing primary research studies such as focus groups and surveys. The ability to use analyse and use AMPS, TGI and other secondary research surveys through relevant software (Telmar, Choices etc) is key, and being able to deliver strategic insights coming out of research is important. So, too, is experience advertising and the FMCG industry.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Provide key strategic and marketing support to the Sales Department
- Source relevant research and marketing intelligence to provide strategic insights and presentations for relevant sub-Saharan countries and/or regions that Continental Outdoor operate within
- Compile country presentations and media analyses to assist with the sales of outdoor advertising in the relevant countries within sub-Saharan Africa
- Assist the Marketing Manager with primary research projects (focus groups, dipstick surveys etc) within specific markets
- Assist the Marketing Manager with research projects briefed through to Research Houses
- Deliver presentations at all levels
Interested? Closing date – 18/04/2012
Email address – recruitment@continentaloutdoor.com
Continental Outdoor wants a sales manager for Africa
A marketing degree/ diploma or equivalent BCom/IMM is a good starting point for this interesting job, as is at least five years advertising agency experience, and five yeas sales and two years in management. A strong understanding of the advertising and the FMCG industry is vital.
Key Tasks & Responsibilities
- Drive and motivate Sales Staff
- Manage the Sales Budgets of all sales staff and accurately report on sales activity and forecasts
- Assist with Sales Training
- Drive new business and manage existing client relationships
- Project Management of divisions identified as problem areas from time to time
- Manage Rate Negotiation
- Deliver presentations at all levels
- Deal with day- to- day issues with the head office and branch sales teams
- Address internal/external marketing and PR initiatives as required
Interested? Closing date – 18/04/2012
Email address – recruitment@continentaloutdoor.com
Who’s won what
Stoke appoints Owlhurst Communications
Stoke™ specialises in igniting the mindset required to drive behavioural change and high performance within organisations by applying the Science of Happiness at Work™. Global partner for the U.K.’s iOpener Institute for People & Performance™ in South Africa, Stoke has introduced this cutting edge knowledge, suite of diagnostics and people performance enhancement programme into the country. Stoke has appointed Owlhurst Communications to provide a range of public relations and general communication services.
VWV Appointed by Samancor Chrome
Mining conglomerate, Samancor Chrome recently appointed award winning brand experience agency, the VWV Group, to conceptualise its annual Indaba. This is the fourth consecutive appointment that sees the group producing the internal stakeholders Indaba.
Who’s making moves
ABN Productions is on the move
ABN Productions is the events company of the ABN360 Group that focuses on organising world class and editorially relevant events across the African continent. Due to their increase in client demand of their services, ABN360 has decided to acquire more space -and is thus moving ABN Productions from the 4th floor of the ABN Group’s head offices in Sandton, to the 2nd floor.
Jacqui Nel, Head of ABN Productions, is excited about the move: “This move will give us more space to host business events in the ABN360 building as well as accommodate our anticipated staff increase to meet the growth in our events bookings throughout the African continent,” she says.
ABN Productions is well known for its annual flagship award ceremony, the All African Business Leadership Awards [AABLA]. This year the awards are expanding to regional events in Africa, with West Africa awards hosted in Lagos, Nigeria and the East Africa awards in Nairobi, Kenya as well as Cape Town for the Southern Africa leg. These regional events will culminate into AABLA final at the end of October 2012. Visit www.aabla2012.com for more details.
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