Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Associated Magazines changes its name. Veteran broadcaster David Watts joins Mix 93.8FM. Text100 Johannesburg bolsters South Africa leadership team. Volcano Group’s Peter Jackson directs Africa for ICOM+IN Global Network. Mzukisi Deliwe appointed GM of Airport Media Brand. Conversation LAB wins Compendium Insurance Group Digital Business. Conversation LAB wins International Fashion Retail Business. marcusbrewster signs ABN360. Popimedia becomes South Africa’s first Facebook Preferred marketing developer. Greater Than welcomes The Entertainer. Jacaranda FM scoops Diamond awards in Entertainment and News. WTFN signs production alliance and first look deal in SA. Nando’s Robbie Brozin united with his Loerie. ComutaNet host lunch with industry expert. All the moves in media.
This week’s BIG move: Associated Magazines changes its name
Associated Magazines, publisher of leading media brands, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping/Goeie Huishouding, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine, and House and Leisure is changing its name to Associated Media Publishing. The name change forms part of the company’s vision to expand beyond the magazine print market and capitalise on new developments in the media sector.
“Our vision has always been to gather and inspire South Africa’s affluent women,” says Julia Raphaely, managing director of Associated Media Publishing (AMP). “Our mission is to grow our excellent media brands, by delivering quality content and experiences on various media platforms, not just print.”
Founded in 1983 by the undisputed doyenne of South African publishing, Jane Raphaely, AMP is a family-run business with a heritage and a legacy in women’s magazines. Under the business leadership of Julia Raphaely and the content direction of Vanessa Raphaely, AMP has transformed into a media brand business, which reaches approximately two million consumers each month through its print, online, digital and event activation platforms.
“With 29 years of experience in the women’s magazine market and a passion and level of professionalism that sets us apart, we pride ourselves on being the most dynamic, creative and solutions-based company in our industry,” adds Raphaely. “Our new corporate tagline ‘We know women’ therefore captures not only our legacy, but also our intention to focus on our most important asset, our dedicated audience.”
With the name change also comes a restructure of the publishing senior management team with the appointment of Adrian Pickstock as group publishing ddirector and deploying Andreline van Tonder as group publisher: audience development. With over 20 years experience in the publishing industry, having worked in the UK, New Zealand, Australia and the UAE, Pickstock be responsible for driving sales and new revenue streams for the business, while Van Tonder will focus on audience development across all brands and platforms.
Who’s moved where
Veteran broadcaster David Watts joins Mix 93.8FM
Seasoned broadcaster David Watts has joined Mix 93.8FM as programme manager. Watts holds 20 years’ experience in the broadcasting sector as radio presenter, programme manager and scheduler, voice over artist and general manager among others.
“Mix 93.8FM is the fastest growing radio station in Gauteng,” says Watts, “and the challenge presented is to sustain and build on the successes achieved. Few radio stations in the country present listeners with radio not stifled by over-formatting, and it is my intention to further nurture this winning recipe.”
Watts believes that programme management is similar to the role a conductor fulfils to an orchestra. “A radio station like Mix 83.8FM comprises a collective of talented individuals, with playing various instruments that contribute to an overall symphony of listener enjoyment. This is what creating legendary radio is all about. It is my job to make their talent shine.”
Text100 Johannesburg bolsters South Africa leadership team
Text100, a global communications consultancy, has announced the appointment of PR veteran Michelle de Pons-James to lead its South African office. DePons-James, who previously led the Cape Town office of a competitive global agency, has provided communications counsel to global, regional and local business leaders for more than 25 years.
DePons-James takes the helm from highly respected communications strategist Dominique Pienaar. Pienaar, who has led the Johannesburg office of Text100 for six years and will continue to lead strategic client campaigns for Text100 including the management of the agency’s expanded partner strategy to support key clients in select African countries.
“This is an exciting time, for me and for Text100 – not only are we expanding our digital presence locally, but the move into Africa presents a significant growth opportunity for us. Backed by a solid leadership team in South Africa and in the broader EMEA region, I look forward to the next phase of my career,” says Pienaar.
“I am honoured to have been appointed to lead Text 100 Johannesburg office,” said DePons-James. “This is an exciting time for the company as it seeks to shape the business community’s digital migration. I have joined an extremely talented team of digitally certified communications consultants working out of more than 40 offices around the world.”
Volcano Group’s Peter Jackson directs Africa for ICOM+IN Global Network
Volcano Group CEO, Peter Jackson, has been appointed to the board and unanimously nominated as regional director for Africa for the ICOM+IN Network. The announcement was made at the network’s EMEA Regional meeting held in Milan, Italy last week. The Volcano Group was also appointed lead agency for the region in recognition of its standing as SA’s leading independent and multi-award winning agency.
The ICOM+IN Network, the largest of its kind globally, is made up of more than 100 independent agencies across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the EMEA region. “The understanding of the growing importance of the African region together with the outpouring of support from the ICOM+IN management team and the international network members for the development of the region has been overwhelming,” says Jackson.
“Peter has made a strong impression on the working committee since the merger of the ICOM and IN’ networks in July this year,” says Gary Burandt, Executive Director of ICOM+IN. “Africa is an increasingly important part of the world and we plan to have the strongest group of independent agencies there to serve our international clients.”
For the Volcano Group, the appointment comes well-timed, as the agency prepares to gear up for further sub-Saharan growth by creating and implementing a number of campaigns for existing clients.
Mzukisi Deliwe appointed GM of Airport Media Brand
Provantage has announced the formation and launch of a new brand, Airport Ads, which will spearhead Provantage’s airport advertising portfolio. Mzukisi Deliwe has been appointed general manager of this division and will lead a specialised team of airport advertising professionals that will offer advertisers unsurpassed integrated digital, static and activation media opportunities in all airports nationally.
Deliwe, an out of home and marketing industry stalwart, has a vast and intricate knowledge of the airport environment and is arguably one the country’s most qualified Airport Media experts.
Previous to joining Provantage he held the position of MD at Airport Consulting Africa. He was also MD at Indiza Media and worked as General Manager Marketing Business and Merchant Banking at ABSA. He holds a B Comm from Rhodes University.
Who’s won what
Conversation LAB wins Compendium Insurance Group Digital Business
New creative agency, Conversation LAB has won its first client – Compendium Insurance Group (CIG). Conversation LAB has been appointed to develop Compendium’s social media and digital strategy – with a heavy focus on lead generation and retention. Compendium Insurance is one of South Africa’s largest independent brokers with its head Office in KZN.
:“We are thrilled to be out of the starting blocks so quickly, and to be partnering with a company of Compendium’s calibre is the cherry on top for us. They are a great bunch of people who we can’t wait to work with,” says MD, Kevin Power.
Conversation LAB wins International Fashion Retail Business
Conversation LAB has won two pieces of new business – International Fashion brands Beaver Canoe and Style. This comes hot on the heels of their other significant new business win, Compendium Insurance, last week.
Both brands are owned by local holding group Retailability with its Head office in KZN. Beaver Canoe has over 70 stores in South Africa and Botswana with Style operating in Namibia and Botswana with over 50 stores.
Conversation LAB has been appointed to develop and execute full through the line communication strategies for both brands. Their remit includes strategy, digital, social, mobile, CRM and media.
“This is a significant win for us – it is exactly the type of work we want to be doing – and which we are extremely experienced and equipped to deliver. It has everything from mobile and social, to media and brand. Most exciting is the data and CRM activity we will undertake on their two recently launched loyalty cards,” says Kevin Power, MD.
Work will begin immediately with new activity to break for the busy festive season.
marcusbrewster signs ABN360
Leading public relations agency marcusbrewster has signed ABN360, owners of such respected media brands as CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa magazine, to its roster of clients.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have secured the ABN360 account,” says marcusbrewster chairman, Marcus Brewster. “Its titles are among the foremost business and news brands on the African continent, and it is a great feather in our cap to be able to represent them.”
Says ABN360 managing director Roberta Naidoo: “The time has come for us to further build on our extensive offering, which does not only encompass our top-flight media titles. We have thus contracted marcusbrewster to manage communications around what we are doing, for maximum impact.”
Brewster says, “This relationship will require us to perform public relations in multiple markets, and further expand our current presence in Africa. This account is thus also a fantastic opportunity for our company, particularly with such a prestigious client on board, and a challenge we relish”.
Popimedia becomes South Africa’s first Facebook Preferred marketing Developer
Leading digital agency, Popimedia, has become the first Facebook Preferred Marketing DeveloperPMD, in South Africa, joining an elite community of 317 carefully selected developers in 35 countries worldwide.
The PMD Badge is awarded to developers that have demonstrated value-added capabilities in one or more of the following qualification areas: Pages, Ads, Apps, and Insights.
With notable clients such as Nestle and some of South Africa’s leading banks and mobile operators , Popimedia has established itself as being at the cutting edge of the social media movement, providing brands, agencies and public relations firms with a holistic approach to social marketing by growing lasting connections with their customers on Facebook.
“There’s no greater endorsement of your social media capabilities than receiving the PMD badge from Facebook themselves, and to be the first in South Africa is a true testament to the journey Popimedia has taken to provide worldwide services”, says Popimedia COO, Ryan Silberman.
This latest achievement marks Popimedia’s entrance into a global community of expert heavyweights such as Adobe in the USA and Social Bakers in the UK. Through the PMD Programme, Facebook aims to help developers build products that make social marketing easier and more effective and Popimedia does this by building advanced apps, optimising social plugins, managing advertising campaigns and measuring performance to develop unique marketing strategies.
Greater Than welcomes The Entertainer
Greater Than has added the Entertainer to its diverse client portfolio. After winning a four-way pitch through a process that included the presentation of credentials and creative strategy, the Entertainer, an international Dubai based company, will fall under the Agency’s international client portfolio for 2012 and 2013.
The Entertainer is a book that will be bursting into the South African market with over 500 two-for-one vouchers that consumers can use at some of the best restaurants, cafes, nightspots, attractions, spas and hotel accommodation across the country.
“We are excited to implement a full service PR strategy for the Entertainer which includes publicity, media relations, daily press office, social media and event management,” says Galia Kerbel, Greater Than’s MD
Jacaranda FM scoops Diamond awards in Entertainment and News
Jacaranda FM received two diamond awards at the PMR.africa City of Tshwane Leaders and Achievers Awards Breakfast, held at the Pretoria Sheraton on Monday.
This followed a recent survey across the City of Tshwane which is done annually to identify and celebrate companies who have excelled at enhancing economic growth and development in the areas from which they operate, have a high level of managerial expertise, implement good corporate governance, build excellent brand awareness and are trend setters on the innovation-front.
Jacaranda FM scored the highest possible marks in the categories of ‘Local radio stations: General entertainment and music’, as well as ‘Local radio stations: News and current affairs’. The awards were received by Neil Johnson, Jacaranda FM’s Programme Manager and Denzil Taylor who heads up the station’s news department.
“As a radio station with close to two million listeners you can do all the research, planning, analyses, tweaking and marketing you want”, says Kevin Fine, Jacaranda FM’s GM, “results speak louder than all of them combined.”
Who’s making moves
WTFN signs production alliance and first look deal in SA
Australian production company WTFN Entertainment, headquartered in Melbourne with bases in Sydney and the UK, has struck a deal with Okuhle Media, based in Cape Town, South Africa.
WTFN, makers of Bondi Vet, Tony Robinson’s London Games Unearthed and The Living Room, and Okuhle Media, best known for daily live youth show Hectic Nine-9, documentary feature Glittterboys and Ganglands and documentary series Bornfrees will co-develop and produce a range of content across the factual spectrum for the international market.
WTFN’s Head of International Co-Production, Shaun Gilmartin, said, “A strategic global alliance like this makes absolute sense. Each production house will gain detailed inside knowledge of the other’s territory and by pooling in house development talent it can only strengthen the creative process.”
Okuhle Media and WTFN are both attending MIPCOM this October.
Nando’s Robbie Brozin united with his Loerie
Black River FC recently presented Nando’s co-founder Robbie Brozin with the Marketing Leadership and Innovation Award he was honored with at this year’s Loeries. Brozin was unable to attend the prestigious Loeries ceremony, so Ahmed Tilly, executive creative director at Black River FC, accepted the award on his behalf.
Black River FC gave Brozin the award in a low-key gathering that was attended by a handful of Brozin’s closest friends and colleagues, including Andrew Human, CEO of the Loeries Awards, and John Hunt, Worldwide Creative Director at TBWA\Worldwide.
Tilly congratulated Brozin on this outstanding achievement. “We are inspired by you as a human being, an ad man and a marketer, which is why this award is so fitting,” he said. “Although Nando’s is already 25 years into it’s journey, it does feel as though we are really just at the beginning.”
ComutaNet host lunch with industry expert
ComutaNet, SA’s authority on the commuter space, recently hosted a luncheon with their commuter expert team and joint managing director at Vizeum, Richard Procter. The company ‘won’ Procter’s time in a bid at the 2012 MOST Awards, giving ComutaNet an opportunity to hear all about his experiences in the industry.
ComutaNet was one of the many media owners in attendance at the MOST Awards. The awards are designed to encourage service delivery and innovation from media owners and agencies. Targeted at the media owner and the media agency marketing and sales teams, the vision is to improve the dynamic that exists between media owners and media agents as well as their clients.
At the 2012 MOST Awards, Procter was part of an auction for the PinkDrive. In an exciting bidding process, ComutaNet raised the stakes in order to win a lunch with the industry pioneer who, along with his team, walked away with several awards during the event. The PinkDrive campaign, by Cause Marketing Fundraisers (CMF), is a non-profit organisation committed to improving breast cancer awareness, education and providing and offering services to women across South Africa. “We were thrilled to win the bid not only to afford my team some insight from Richard but also to support such an important and worthy cause,’ commented Howard Plaatjes, CEO, ComutaNet.
