Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Curious Pictures changes its name. Sazi Hadebe appointed editor of Isolezwe. New account manager for Total Exposure. Brand Inc appoints financial manager. Sales director for Carlton Rezidor. November 1 makes printing move. Wired scores hat trick of new accounts. John Brown to handle Spur’s Totem magazine. LOGIC develops eventing staffing company, TRIBE. All the moves in media.
This week’s BIG move: Curious Pictures changes name to Quizzical Pictures
Award winning South African television production company Curious Pictures is changing its name to Quizzical Pictures due to the confusion caused by the fact that there is another company of the same name based in New York.
Although the two companies have managed to co- exist for many years, Curious Pictures South Africa is now doing a lot of international work and needs to differentiate its identity. In addition, the South African company is getting a lot of global recognition. The company has just won a prestigious Peabody Award for Intersexions.
“It is a big step but one we believe is worth taking”, says managing director, Harriet Gavshon. “We are increasingly producing work for an international audience and getting recognition around the world. Once the initial shock is over, we think it’s an opportunity to bed down our reputation both internationally and at home without the impediment of another company sharing our name.”
Curious Pictures is one of South Africa’s most innovative film and television production companies. It produces shows such as Masterchef South Africa, Rhythm City, 4Play and Intersexions. Other notable productions they have produced in the past include Heartlines, Hopeville, A Country Imagined, Hard Copy, Tsha Tsha and Tobias’ Bodies. Intersexions received an unprecedented 12 awards at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS) and was honoured with a Peabody Award.
“Whilst we retain the talent, quality and integrity of the past, we believe our brand new name and identity will give us the opportunity to bring a whole lot of fresh energy and passion into what we do. “ adds Sizwe Kumalo, Head of Business Development at the company.
Who’s moved where
Sazi Hadebe appointed editor of Isolezwe
Management of Independent Newspapers has announced the appointment of Sazi Hadebe as editor of Isolezwe, to succeed Mazwi Xaba. It will be effective from July 1 2012. Hadebe will be promoted from deputy editor, a position he has held for the past 18 months.
“Sazi brings with him experience of more than eight years with our highly successful Zulu-language titles, and the collegial respect he has garnered along the way has made him the choice for this demanding job,” said Brian Porter and Greg le Roux, joint general managers of Independent Newspapers KwaZulu-Natal.
“He started with Isolezwe at its launch, as a sports reporter. Then he drifted from us for two years, but returned to his natural home as sports editor, rising to deputy editor, then on to acting editor.
“Sazi, 38, a father of four daughters, is part of an exciting, dynamic generation of young editors in the group’s KwaZulu-Natal business, where he now joins a structure which boasts four editors below the age of 45.
“Isolezwe celebrates 10 years of success this year. The newspaper has exceeded all expectations, making it an important component of our bouquet of titles in KZN. Isolezwe ngeSonto and Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo, our newest addition to the stable launched 10 months ago to cater for the Saturday market, have done just as well,” said Porter and le Roux. Hadebe will have overall responsibility for all three titles.
Hadebe said his journey from sports reporter to editor in 10 years should inspire all colleagues at Isolezwe, especially the younger ones: “I humbly accept the challenge and I’m very positive about the future of all our titles.
“My job really will be to continue the outstanding job started by our first editor, Philani Mgwaba, and the two equally capable editors that followed him, Thulani Mbatha and Mazwi Xaba, who have all contributed immensely to the growth of this brand which is now producing a paper each day of the week.
“With the dedicated team I have here I have no doubt we will be equal to the task by keeping our readers happy through producing news that is always relevant to them, news that can even change their lives.”
Senior appointment for Brand inc.
Design and advertising agency Brand inc has employed Treflet Payet as their national financial manager. Not only will Treflet manage the broad-spectrum finances and accounting aspects of all three Brand inc branches, he will also be involved in the development of growing the business through tender and pitch work, new business opportunities and crisis management.
“Treflet comes with a wealth of ‘off-label’ experience which is exactly what Brand inc was looking for,” says managing director, Chris Heaton. “Treflet has introduced a processing system to the business which is unique to the industry itself. Using such systems will unquestionably give us the upper hand when it comes to further providing the best service and turn-around times in the business.”
Total Exposure appoints account manager
Total exposure has appointed Njabulo Mbatha as account manager. Mbatha has been in the public relations industry for the past four years and brings a strong corporate background to Total Exposure with particular focus on writing, stakeholder relations and crisis management.
Mbatha began his public relations career at Britespark Communications in 2008 before joining Rosebank based Red Flag Marketing and Design in 2010. After this spell he joined Magna Carta in the middle of 2011 where he worked on variety of accounts including General Electric, Medscheme, ACSA, Eskom; including project work on Paramount Group and FedEx.
Mbatha joins Total Exposure to work on BBC, Audi, EMI and Dr Oz. This latest chapter in his career will certainly be challenging and will test his resolve and knowledge, ensuring that his diverse experience in public relations is fully utilised.
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group appoints regional director of sales
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group (CRHG) has announced the appointment of Liezl Meier as the group’s regional director of sales, Southern Africa, based Johannesburg.
With over 13 years of hospitality industry experience,Meier joins the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group as a consummate professional and asset to the already-dynamic team.
November 1 hires new print production manager
November 1 has announced that 22 year industry veteran Mervyn Arulappan has joined the management team as the new print production manager.
The company is pleased to have “someone with the wealth of knowledge that Mervyn has gained over the years, this includes screen-printing, large format printing, POP and finishing”.
Who’s won what
Spur Steak Ranches appoints John Brown Media to publish Totem magazine
John Brown Media, a leading global content agency, has been selected by Spur Steak Ranches to publish Totem, their quarterly edutainment magazine. Packed with fun activities for children and distributed in more than 230 restaurants nationwide, Totem is the biggest circulating kids’ title in South Africa and features ‘Secret Tribe’ members Soaring Eagle, Buffalo Brave and Buttercup on its editorial team.
“For over 40 years, Spur has been part of the South African family and we’re thrilled to be working on an iconic South African brand which promotes strong family values,” said Lisa Visser, Totem magazine publisher. “Publishing Totem magazine allows us to break into the kids market locally, bringing us in line with our international agency, which produces a significant amount of content for the younger audiences.”
Totem editor Riekie Human will lead the Secret Tribe editorial team. Human has extensive editorial experience, having worked on a diverse range of titles including Private Edition, Shape, Obrigado, Edgars Club magazine and Proudly South Africa. Her grasp of the local publishing industry and success in working with clients to deliver a magazine that meets their objectives, will ensure that Totem is a must-read magazine for children.
Wired Communications scores hat trick with award winners
Wired Communications has just won three new clients. The multi award-winning Perdeberg Winery in the Boland has come back to Wired (having been a client around four years ago), multi award-winning business woman Nicola Hadfield has appointed Wired to handle her latest creation, the elite event entitled ‘A Beautiful Day’; and the soon to be launched and undoubtedly also soon to be multi award-winning, Africandy … a South African home decor website created by a group of forward-thinking young Cape architects – has also chosen Wired to handle all its media relations requirements.
Who’s making moves
LOGIC launches TRIBE, a specialist event staffing division
Only 18 months old and already a proud parent! Guest experience agency, LOGIC, has launched a new division that promises to make companies’ event-staffing woes a thing of the past.
Known as TRIBE, the new division is LOGIC’s in-house staffing solution to a common problem in eventing: finding suitable freelance staff.
“To pull off a successful event, you’re always going to need a whole tribe of people – people to fill bags, to ‘gopher’, to meet and direct guests,” says Samantha Gabriel, director and owner of LOGIC. “You can’t however, let just any casual loose at your event. Everyone on an event must be customer facing and represent the brand. You need people who are trained not only in how events work, but also about the brand they’re representing.”
Run by Thato Garekoe and Shale Modiba, TRIBE sources, profiles and trains intelligent, capable and efficient students from diverse backgrounds, suitable for all types of events. Already, TRIBE’s teams have been called on for events such as registration at the Nike Run Jozi 2012 race, the launch of Mercedes AMG Top Gear Festival, OpenForum 2012, the Mini Cooper R59 launch, and SAB’s MS&D 2012 conference.
“It’s important that the people you recruit fit your brand DNA,” says Garekoe. “We do this by getting to know our teams through a personalised recruitment process. We can then place them with the right brand and the right kind of event.”
Note: TheMediaOnline has a job advertising service. The site is read by media professionals across South Africa. A job posting on the Media Online Costs R342 (incl VAT) and appears for 30 days. It appears both on the Media Online site and Memejobs.com.
