Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. New MD for marcusbrewster. TRUE LOVE appoints new food editor. UMALUSI looking for senior manager: public relations and communications. Headline PR welcomes three new clients. Prezence Digital’s Tim Bishop appointed to jury of Smarties. Chillibush Communications empowers staff, expands services. IAS goes global as the exclusive affiliate of AdForum.com. Red & Yellow School merges its Logic & Magic with Quirk’s Digital. All the moves in media.
Who’s moved where
This week’s BIG move: New MD for marcusbrewster
Ingrid Lotze has been announced as the new MD of marcusbrewster with effect 1 September. An industry heavyweight, Lotze has over 20 years’ experience at some of SA’s most respected consultancies including Text 100 where she was MD-designate and group account director for Microsoft.
As a new leader in the business, Lotze will work with Marcus Brewster to expand the business through addressing product and service opportunities and co-creating business improvements with the current team.
“The PR and communications landscape has transformed rapidly and digital developments affecting consumer behaviour have necessitated evolutionary changes within our organisation” says Brewster. “Ingrid’s involvement with the industry’s Legislation Committee, her personal interest in technology and her commitment to keeping abreast of best practice, make her the perfect person to give us a new perspective on our business.”
“With a CV that includes both big consultancy and agency start-up experience, Ingrid has worked with clients both large and small to help them grow their market share and share-of-voice. Additionally, she has been highly responsive to technology changes in the digital environment so brings a wealth of knowledge and training skills in online and social media to our staff and clients.
“Lotze’s appointment comes off the back of our current MD San Reddy having to step down for personal and professional reasons” says chairman Marcus Brewster. “San advised me in February this year that by Q4 he would need to spend more time in Washington DC in order to pursue his studies. We are delighted to retain our relationship with San and our clients will still be able to benefit from his expertise in media training, regulatory affairs, crisis communication and reputation management.”
Reddy, who is married to an American citizen, completed his MPhil in Futures Studies at the Stellenbosch University Business School earlier this year.
“Not only is marcusbrewster the most awarded PR agency in the country, but I consider it a powerful brand in the PR communications space. I am excited about the opportunity to extend the firm’s dominance in PR excellence and to pioneer new areas for growth,” says Lotze.
She wilI remain a shareholder in the strategic communications company puruma, which is run by business partner Gavin Moffat.
TRUE LOVE appoints new Food Editor
TRUE LOVE magazine has appointed Mokgadi Itsweng as food editor. Itsweng has established a sound reputation in the food and restaurant industries in South Africa over the last 15 years, after she left a career in media planning to follow her passion for all things culinary.
She has worked as a chef for Woolworths, and was a partner in Lotsha, a restaurant in Rosebank, Johannesburg, that specialised in contemporary African cuisine. On the restaurant’s closure, she continued its brand by producing and marketing the Lotsha range of sauces relishes and spice mixes.
Itsweng is ready to tackle perceptions about the priority that TRUE LOVE readers place on food. “I’m determined to drive home the fact that our market is about so much more than pap and chakalaka,” Itsweng says. “TRUE LOVE is all about modern black South African women carving a new identity for themselves, whether it’s in fashion, make-up or relationships. The magazine’s food features will now reflect this new, changing and growing identity too.”
“I want to bring a fresh way of cooking to TRUE LOVE’s readers,” she says. “Our readers don’t want complicated food, but they do want to feel like they’re producing something remarkable when they cook. I’m going to show them interesting ways to make impressive dishes with seasonal produce and affordable ingredients – there are so many easy ways to produce really outstanding dishes.”
Itsweng also shares her passion for food on Bob Mabena’s 180 show on KayaFM in a 10-minute slot on Friday mornings, and when she’s not whipping up a culinary storm in the kitchen, she enjoys ice-skating with her son and best friend. She is also passionate about photography.
What’s out there
UMALUSI looking for senior manager: public relations and communications
An appropriate Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, with at least seven years extensive public relations, marketing and communication experience, and at least five years credible management experience in the field of communication and/or education, is the major requirement for this job.
Extensive knowledge of the education sector in general, and an in-depth understanding of general and further education and training in South Africa, is a requirement. Knowledge of the quality assurance work of Umalusi Council would be a strong recommendation.
Envisaged for appointment to this top management position is a dynamic, self-motivated, and self-managing individual with proven ability and understanding of communications and public relations, and with a capacity to engage with the work of the Council.
Salary: All inclusive remuneration package of R 719 613 per annum
The following skills are pre-requisites:
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Exceptional speech-, report writing and editing skills
- An ability to think conceptually and strategically
- Analytical and research skills
- Interpersonal and liaison skills
- Computer skills
- Experience in web content structuring and web-site management
- Project management skills
- A valid driver’s license and own transport
Creative leadership and effective management qualities, as well as an ability to work under pressure are essential. An ability to work independently is required, although planning and working with others is important in order to understand Umalusi’s work and to position the organization correctly.
Duties: ● Planning for and management of Public Relations and Communications, both internally and externally ● Maintenance of stakeholder networks and establishment of new ones ● Management of the section’s financial and human resources ● Management of Umalusi events ● Strategic planning and organising ● Media liaison and campaigns ● Provision of promotional and publication services ● Website management ● Strategic and secretarial support to the office of the CEO, the Council and its committees
Telephonic enquiries may be done at (012) 349-1510 and written applications with comprehensive curriculum vitae and three contactable references must be forwarded to UMALUSI, Postnet Suite 102, Private Bag X 1, Queenswood, 0121 or email to recruitment@umalusi.org.za. The closing date for applications is 24 August 2012. Applications must be forwarded for attention: Ms Olga Matlala.
Who’s won what
Headline PR welcomes three new clients
Kwa-Zulu Natal based publicity agency Headline PR & Media Consultants, have recently been appointed to manage media communication for three new accounts. These include leading SA supplement brand the Patrick Holford Supplement Range, Cape Town doctor and author of controversial book Document X and award-winning company Green.kid Stainless.
“We welcome the Holford, Document X and Green.kid Stainless accounts with open arms and are confident of valid exposure across a broad spectrum of media channels,” Cindy Evans said.
Who’s making moves
Prezence Digital’s Tim Bishop appointed to jury of Smarties
Tim Bishop, chief technology officer at one of Africa’s leading full service digital agencies, Prezence Digital, has been chosen to be part of the judging panel of the prestigious global Mobile Marketing Association’s Smarties Awards to be held as part of the annual Advertising Week in New York City.
The Smarties, the only global awards program dedicated exclusively to mobile marketing, are organised by the New York based Mobile Marketing Association (MMA).
“Regardless how often one is afforded such opportunities, it is always an honour to have your contribution to such a dynamic industry recognised like this. That this years’ panel includes names such as Eric Siebert, the Vice President of Global Digital Marketing for Samsung Electronics, & Simon Bond, BBDO & Proximity Worldwide’s Chief Marketing Officer, to name only two of the many industry leaders on this panel, makes this an even greater privilege,” said Bishop on his inclusion.
“In both my work at Prezence Digital and on the board of SA’s Mobile Marketing Association I have seen the incredible growth and creativity the mobile industry has shown, which truly should make this year’s submissions interesting. That some of these amazing innovations have emanated from Africa, along with the Prezence Digital team celebrating its 10th year in the African digital industry, makes it even more of a privilege,” he said.
Chillibush Communications empowers staff, expands services
Through-the-line communications agency Chillibush marked it’s fourteenth successful year with fresh new branding, strategic appointments and new shareholders at a senior level in both the advertising and PR businesses, part of the agency’s strategy to remain a management-owned business and instil true passion and accountability.
“At Chillibush, we remove silos and integrate services to maximise delivery. A key strategy is to empower people and this is why we’ve built a strong team of staff shareholders. Together, we provide appropriate, effective and measurable communication solutions to our clients,” says founding director Dale Hefer, a former businesswoman of the year and author of best-selling ‘From Witblits to Vuvuzelas: Marketing in the New South Africa’.
Financial manager Roselyn Rukara, account director Clinton Middleton, client service director Pearl Mokgatle and studio manager Natalie Fellendorf have become shareholders in the advertising business, while Tamaryn Smith, MD of the PR business, has taken a 30% shareholding in Chillibush PR.
Smith brings a strong skill-set in marketing communications to the Chillibush team, gained both locally with agencies including Ogilvy and internationally with General Electric.
Hefer and chairman Victor Dlamini remain at the helm of the advertising business, joined by creative director Felix Calitz who brings his extensive experience to bear on campaigns for clients including the Industrial Development Corporation and iWYZE. Exciting new client wins for the group are Deloitte, Dachser Logistics and Mutual & Federal.
In another new development, the agency is launching ChilliSeeds – a special service offering targeted at entrepreneurs and small businesses. “Both Tamaryn and I have entrepreneurial roots, having built up businesses from scratch. We particularly understand communications needs and challenges for small businesses, and will help businesses get the best return on limited budgets,” says Hefer.
IAS goes global as the exclusive affiliate of AdForum.com
The Independent Agency Selection and Search Company (IAS) is now the exclusive affiliate in Africa of AdForum.com. This new relationship is set to provide IAS subscribers and clients with a host of international exposure and services.
With nearly half a million monthly users, AdForum.com is the leading information provider focused on the global advertising and communications industry. AdForum.com gathers information on 20 000 agencies across all disciplines i.e. advertising, media, design, digital and PR and 120 000 campaigns. (TV, print, interactive, etc.)
“We are now able to offer our subscribers the exclusive opportunity of being placed on AdForum.com’s 20 000 strong international database and thus on an even international playing field. It has been a three year process that is now in full effect making IAS an influential industry player not only locally but abroad as well,” adds Johanna McDowell, MD of the IAS.
Red & Yellow School merges its Logic & Magic with Quirk’s Digital
The Red & Yellow School of Logic & Magic, South Africa’s premier advertising college, is to merge with Quirk Education, the educational arm of Quirk, Africa’s largest digital agency and Bookmarks 2011 Digital Agency of the Year winner.
This watershed development for the academic sector and its many young bright minds will propel The Red & Yellow School into the forefront of the digital age.
Twenty years ago, legendary creative director, Brian Searle-Tripp and iconic adman, Bob Rightford (the founders of what became Ogilvy South Africa) decided that what the ad industry needed was more people in the ad industry. It needed better-trained professionals, with a strong grounding in the hands-on skills and disciplines that would equip them for a career in advertising.
With the growth of the web, that world has changed. As an increasing amount of time, money and attention is invested online, it is imperative that graduates are fully equipped to deal with the many evolving challenges of advertising in the 21st century.
To address this substantial need, The Red & Yellow School of Logic & Magic has merged with Quirk Education Quirk Education specialises in the synthesis of knowledge from the Quirk agencies and its partners, converting it into practical learning for marketers and entrepreneurs. They are the authors of the highly acclaimed eMarketing textbook which is used in over 400 education institutions worldwide as well as offering 16 online distance learning courses covering all aspects of digital marketing.
“We firmly believe that this next logical step for the school will take the magic forward, allowing tomorrow’s students to better understand and apply new technologies needed to generate potent brand building ideas in the digital space,” said John Cooney, MD of the Red & Yellow School. “From this point on, Red & Yellow will be able to represent three core pillars of advertising, namely Strategy, Creativity and now, Technology.”
Quirk Founder and Group CEO, Rob Stokes said: “Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of lecturing a wide array of talented young adults at the Red & Yellow School. In being here I’ve witnessed first-hand the immense passion and culture for learning within the DNA of Red & Yellow. I’ve always thought Quirk firmly shares this passion, and especially the culture, making this merger an obvious benefit for both Red & Yellow students and the QuirkStars.”
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