Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Jerry Mpufane to lead the Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg). Alison Deeb to lead the MetropolitanRepublic Group. Peter Bruce takes up role as BDFM publisher. Communications head appointed at Kagiso Broadcasting. MD of brand activation at Ogilvy & Mather South Africa. Bonita Bachmann appointed MD at The MediaShop Cape Town. Livewired announces new MD. Atmosphere Communications appoints its first head of strategy. Mondia Media Group drives international growth. Kim Weissensee appointed to the AMF board. New accounts win for OFyt. 60 lands the flightsite.co.za business. Samsung Mobile renews advertising deal with Primall Media. FIVESTAR PR wins three new foodie clients. Nedbank and Net#work BBDO to part ways. JWT Transmission offers improved production costs. Levergy launches to leverage sports sponsorship. All the moves in media.
Who’s moved where
Jerry Mpufane to lead the Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg)
The Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg) has announced the appointment of Jerry Mpufane as its chief executive officer as of 1 October 2012. He is currently managing director of DraftFCB Johannesburg, where he has been at the helm since 2008.
According to the Jupiter (Johannesburg) chairman, Given Mkhari, Mpufane brings a combination of strategic leadership, operational expertise and great industry insights. “Jerry is a respected industry leader who brings to Jupiter (Johannesburg) a balanced client and agency perspective,” says Mkhari. “He is renowned supporter of creative talent and a defender of work that works.”
Prior to DraftFCB, Mpufane held a number of positions in the private and public sectors, including Group Marketing Director at the SABC and General Manager: Brand at SA Tourism.
“I’m excited to have an opportunity to lead an agency with such strong heritage, an admirable creative profile and a great client mix. I’m looking forward to working with a new generation of industry leaders to continue to add tangible business value to clients who have bestowed the agency with their valued assets, their brands,” says Mpufane.
Alison Deeb to lead the MetropolitanRepublic Group
MetropolitanRepublic officially announced that Alison Deeb would be taking over the reins as Group chief executive officer from 1 October.
With over 25 years in the industry, Deeb has extensive experience leading agencies and clients through change. Her most recent role has been that of CEO of The Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg) where she shared the MTN account with MetropolitanRepublic for the past five years.
Deeb shares a life partnership with MetropolitanRepublic founder Paul Warner and they have worked very closely for years, so when the opportunity arose to appoint a CEO capable of taking the agency into its next chapter, the decision was an easy one.
“Alison brings with her the agile ability and know-how to structure the business. Having been asked more and more by client to have a greater role in creating brand substance and relevance – be it through creative brand stories, digital experiences and shopper marketing touch points – we needed a person who had experience in leading large creative agencies with a global knowledge. Of the forward thinking CEO’s we had been in discussion with, Alison was the perfect fit,” Warner, strategic creative director and founder of the group, says.
Peter Bruce takes up role as BDFM publisher
Readers of Peter Bruce’s Thick End of the Wedge were surprised on Monday when the Business Day editor announced, via his column, that he would be taking on a new role as Avusa: that of publisher of Business Day and the Financial Mail.
“It has been almost 12 years and I am so grateful to readers, advertisers and, above all, my colleagues at Business Day, for the support they have given me,” he wrote.
“From today, I glory in the title of publisher of both Business Day and the Financial Mail (of which I was a long time ago the editor) and of Summit Television. My job is different but the goal the same — to bring you strong and independent titles and journalism.”
Bruce said that while these are “testing times for print journalism”, he had no doubt that the titles would “sail through”.
The acting editor at Business Day is Pearl Sebolao, who was Bruce’s deputy for four years. “She is a great editor, a fact borne out by her request after lunch on Friday that I continue writing this column every Monday,” Bruce said.
Communications head appointed at Kagiso Broadcasting
Kagiso Broadcasting has announced that Natasha Wadvalla will be joining Kagiso Broadcasting as head of communications.
Wadvalla will be responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating communications at Kagiso Broadcasting’s key businesses, Jacaranda FM, East Coast Radio and Mediamark.
Wadvalla has over 20 years’ experience in communications and has operated at senior management level primarily in the broadcasting arena. Prior to joining Kagiso Broadcasting, Wadvalla held the position of head of communications, events and prime talent at Primedia Broadcasting.
COO of Kagiso Broadcasting Nick Grubb says her appointment is part of an intention to better communicate the work its brands are doing to its key markets.
“Kagiso Broadcasting is establishing itself as a home for great brands, great personalities, and as a business that understands how to get great results for our advertisers,” he said. “Part of what we need to do now is make sure we’re well equipped to tell people about what we’re up to. Natasha is the perfect addition to the team –she has the experience and a proven track record – but most importantly she has the energy and passion we need to help take us to the next level.”
MD of brand activation at Ogilvy & Mather South Africa
Ogilvy & Mather South Africa has announced the appointment of Bernard Matlhaga as the new managing director of brand activation.
Matlhaga is a specialist in his field who brings 20 years of multinational marketing experience, spanning trade, channel, category, customer, consumer and shopper, to further reinforce Ogilvy & Mather South Africa’s competency in these areas.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Bernard’s experience and calibre at the helm of our activation and shopper marketing company,” says Abey Mokgwatsane, CEO of Ogilvy & Mather South Africa. “We aim to continue striving to be the brand activation agency with the most complete capability to influence consumer and shopper behavior at every point along the path to purchase.”
Matlhaga said he was “thrilled” to be joining Ogilvy, “an agency that has such heritage, while at the same time being so future-oriented, cutting-edge and innovative. With two decades of experience working on some of the country’s best brands, I feel I can leverage the latest opportunities in the retail environment to achieve maximum business results and take Activation to the next level.”
Bonita Bachmann appointed MD at The MediaShop Cape Town
Chris Botha, group managing director of The MediaShop, has announced the resignation of Debbie Ihlenfeldt and the appointment of Bonita Bachmann as MD of The MediaShop Cape Town.
“After 13 years with our Cape Town branch, Debbie has decided to focus her attention on training and development work in the ad Industry, which she’s extremely passionate about,” Botha said.
“In addition we’ve asked Debbie to consult to our new business team in the Cape region.”
Botha said “Bachmann, who moves from the role of MD of retail, is “no stranger to our Cape Town staff, client base or industry, has been with The MediaShop for 11 years, and has headed up the Shoprite Group account for the past 20 years”.
Livewired announces new MD
Leron Varsha, CEO of Fore Good, has announced the appointment of Lucinda Boddy as managing director of Livewired Public Relations, part of the Fore Good Group. Boddy takes over from Janine Lloyd who recently announced her resignation to spend more time at home with her family.
“Fore Good wishes Janine all the best in her future endeavours, and we look forward to welcome in a new era for Livewired with Lucinda at the helm. Lucinda brings a wealth of enthusiasm, strategic skill and solid agency experience,” Varsha said.
Boddy started at Livewired as senior account manager and quickly rose through the ranks to become account director, responsible for overseeing delivery and performance on all of the agency’s accounts and key clients, as well as managing a team that has more than doubled in growth.
Atmosphere Communications appoints its first head of strategy
In line with changes in the public relations industry both locally and abroad, Atmosphere Communications has appointed its first head of strategy, Rebecca Cronje. The role has been created to respond to the evolving needs of the consultancy’s clients that range from corporate blue chips to consumer champions.
Public relations has become more sophisticated and accountable over the past few years. This has been driven by the changing media landscape, largely lead by the rise of online and social media, as well as savvier clients who want real value and business results, not just publicity,” said Cronje.
Cronje has over nine years of experience in the field and has played a key role in clients including Capitec Bank, The Virgin Group including its non-profit, The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship as well as Sanlam.
Mondia Media Group drives international growth
The digital entertainment provider, Mondia Media, has made several strategic staff appointments. Saurabh Vartikar has joined the group as the new chief sales and marketing officer. He will be responsible for all global sales activities as well as all group marketing initiatives.
In addition to Saurabh Vartikar, Mondia Media appointed Nuno Umbelino as new vice president products and innovations. His main tasks will be to strategically develop new and existing products and to provide clients with the latest ideas and innovations in order to satisfy and monetize their customer bases.
CEO Dr. Amadeo Rahmann is delighted about the announcements. “We are sure that Mondia will benefit from Saurabh’s immense international background, especially in the emerging markets as he has tremendous experience in the Middle East as well as in the African, Asian and Latin American markets. Together with Nuno’s innovative power and product development competence Mondia Media will strengthen its pronounced international positioning.”
It is not only the Hamburg headquarters becoming more international. Mondia Media is appointing two new managing directors to drive growth in emerging markets: Rajiv Nayyar as new MD for Asia and Adrian Janon as new MD for Latam.
Kim Weissensee appointed to the AMF board
Kim Weissensee, MD Of AML has recently been appointed to the board of directors of The Advertising Media Forum (AMF) whose members comprise the leading media mavens in South Africa, and through whom 95% of all media expenditure in South Africa is bought.
AML [Applied Media Logic], one of SA’s top10 media agencies, celebrates its 10th anniversary this week. Recognising this milestone, Erica Gunning, Chairman of the AMF, commented “Having Kim as Vice Chairman and now also on the Board has brought a new dynamic and a new way of thinking to the AMF. We look forward to her continued positive contribution in developing the media industry.”
What’s out there
Media Development and Diversity Agency looks for nominations for board
Institutions and/or individuals are invited to nominate a person to fill a position on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
The Media Development and Diversity Agency was created to enable “historically disadvantaged communities and persons not adequately served by the media” to gain access to the media. Its beneficiaries are community media and small commercial media.
A board member will be: • a person who is committed to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability • representative of a broad cross-section of the population of the Republic and possess suitable qualifications, expertise and experience in the fields of, amongst others: • community media • social, labour and development issues • media economics, financial management and funding • advertising and marketing • journalism and broadcast programming • media research • media training, literacy and education • media Law • information and communication technology policy; or any other related expertise or qualifications. Nominees must also be South African citizens permanently resident in the Republic.
Include the CV, full name and address, email, gender, previous experience in the nomination.
Nominations and enquiries must be addressed to Thembinkosi Ngoma, Portfolio Committee on Communications, 3rd Floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town 8000 or emailed to tngoma@parliament.gov.za or faxed to 086 616 2806/086 694 3529. Telephonic enquiries an be made to 021 403 3733 / 021 403 3765 or 0837098407 / 08370983
Who’s won what
New accounts win for OFyt
OFyt, the new-style Cape based communications agency created by three top advertising industry stalwarts to harness fresh new talent as a game changer for the ad industry, has won The Crazy Store and Khoki accounts.
The young agency secured its position in a competitive pitch against established and renowned agencies, cementing its reputation as a promising and competitive new player in the advertising arena.
“The Crazy Store and Khoki wins come at the perfect time for an agency in its infancy, giving us the chance to prove our innovation and creativity; we could not be more thrilled,” says Gary Leih, OFyt co-founder.
Leih, the former CEO of Ogilvy Group UK co-founded the agency with Jono Shubitz, the former chair of the Cape Town Creative Directors Forum and executive CD of Ogilvy Cape Town, and former banker turned airline industry marketer, Paul Newman.
Leih said OFyt was proud to be confirmed as the new advertising agency for the Melbro Group, which owns the strong Crazy Store and Khoki bands among other business interests and looked forward to the numerous challenges that the brands would afford the agency.
60 lands the flightsite.co.za business
60 layers of cake has won the business of leading South African online travel consultancy, Flightsite.co.za, selected from a short list of top local agencies. The agency’s collaborative approach as well as a passionate management team with strong ‘big brand’ expertise and sharp, innovative, digital strategy and in-house implementation, makes them an ideal match for the entrepreneurial, fast-growing, locally owned company.
“There is a lot of good synergy between the Flightsite team and us. As an independent, entrepreneurial and highly driven organisation, with a unique model, their culture sits well with our own and the chemistry between us is very good,” says Ben Wren, CEO of 60 layers of cake South Africa.
60’s newly appointed Partner and award-winning ECD, Liezl-Mari van Rensburg, who headed up the Re-Energisation CoLab, adds: “Flightsite’s unique model centers on bringing real and relevant value to travelers. This makes it a very exciting and relevant brand to work on and we are digging deep to uncover real insights in the market place, to fuel our creative thinking.”
Samsung Mobile renews advertising deal with Primall Media
Demonstrating its confidence in retail advertising, Samsung Mobile has reworked and renewed its existing holding with Unlimited’s shopping mall advertising specialist, Primall Media. The new deal cements the third consecutive year that Samsung has committed its advertising budget with the Unlimited subsidiary.
Under the direction of full service media agency Starcom, Samsung has secured space on Primall’s exterior billboards, escalators, lift billboards, lift banners, hanging banners, interior billboards, touch screens, video walls and digital skyscrapers until 31 January 2013.
“For Samsung, mall advertising and space domination gives it the ability to tactically reach consumers within close proximity to retailers. We’re delighted to have them on board until 2013,” says Lee Curtis, Primall’s executive head of sales and marketing.
FIVESTAR PR wins three new foodie clients
Cape Town based FIVESTAR PR has been appointed to launch Café Dijon Bistro & Grill, which is opening in Green Point (Cape Town) after relocating here from Stellenbosch.
The boutique PR agency is also driving publicity campaigns for two other new clients: Charmaine Lilje’s exclusive catering company Chardonnay Chefs, as well as the most recent addition to Cape Town’s vibrant weekend foodie market scene, Fresh from Die Platteland, and The Lock Stock design market at The Palms in Woodstock
Who’s making moves
Nedbank and Net#work BBDO to part ways
Nedbank Group and advertising agency Net#work BBDO have agreed to part ways effective from 2013.
“As a bank that is striving to build Africa’s most admired bank, it is in the nature of our business to review our advertising from time to time and this decision is a result of these deliberations,” says Thulani Sibeko, Nedbank group executive of marketing, communications and corporate affairs.
Under the creative guidance of Net#work BBDO, Nedbank was awarded the first ever South African Cannes Grand Prix for the World’s First Solar Powered Billboard, as well as a Gold APEX Award and two Marketing Excellence Awards for the repositioning of the bank, to a ‘bank for all’.
“We would like to thank Net#work BBDO for their commitment in contributing to the building of our vision of building Africa’s most admired bank,” Sibeko concluded.
Group MD of Net#work BBDO, Boniswa Pezisa said that although a parting with a client is always difficult, she saw this as the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one.
JWT Transmission offers improved production costs
Production costs play an integral part in all advertising and marketing campaigns. For many companies, ensuring they stay ahead of the game means reducing time and costs involved in the production process. In response to client and industry needs, JWT Transmission has opened its doors to provide a cost effective alternative.
“The global production landscape is evolving with agencies becoming more active in their own in-house production,” says Jim Faulds, COO, JWT South Africa. “Our Transmission studios, comprising two editing suites and one sound studio, are saving clients both time and money because these are now on-site along with DTP facilities.”
Maggie Post, head of electronic media at JWT Transmission Studio, adds, “Since we started up this year, not only have we been able to service all our client’s production needs and requirements but we have also been able to attract new business on an ad hoc basis.”
JWT Transmission offers production models tailored to individual corporate structures and needs and is able to assist across all media touch points – radio, television, outdoor and print.
Levergy launches to leverage sports sponsorship
There’s a new player on the sport’s sponsorship field and they are promising to introduce some innovative tactics to the game. Levergy is a creative communications agency specialising in the leveraging of sport and entertainment properties that deliver measurable results.
“For too long, sponsorship agencies have predominantly focused on badging – getting your brand name on signage and maximising media exposure,” says Struan Campbell, strategic director and co-founder of Levergy. “At Levergy, we believe you’re wasting your time with sponsorship unless you leverage it effectively. We place a massive emphasis on strategic, scientific, creative, effective and measurable leveraging that adds value to the brand and the fan and delivers on ROI and ROO (return on objectives).”
Levergy is founded by ex-Exp colleagues Clint Paterson (previous sponsorship and activation director), Struan Campbell (previous head of strategy), and Justin Rosenberg (previous operations director). All have extensive experience in the sports sponsorship industry and have a number of awards to their credit.
