Caxton has bought Habari Media, the independent digital media sales house that handles accounts such as BBC, LinkedIn and MTV.
“The buyout represents a huge opportunity for Habari Media and we are very excited to become a part of the Caxton group,” says managing director Wayne Bischoff. “We look forward to exploiting synergies across the existing portfolio of Caxton’s media platforms and brands, whilst continuing to provide existing partnerships and advertisers with the same level of professional service they have become accustomed to.”
Bischoff will remain as managing director, along with the same mangement team that includes Garth Rhoda as sales director; Byron John as insights director and Marius Greeff as commercial director.
Founded in 2004, Habari Media has become a significant player in African digital media by offering partner sites local presence and market insights, and advertisers informed access to a burgeoning African digital audience. Today the company represents some of the most prestigious names in African digital real estate, including BBC.com, LinkedIn, MTV, 2Go, All4Women and Autotrader.
“The company can continue to grow and enhance their existing offering by combining all the elements that have made the business so successful over the last nine years with the additional firepower and media assets within the Caxton group,” says outgoing CEO of Habari Media, Adrian Hewlett. “Habari Media, and its ambitious team, will benefit immeasurably from being within the Caxton stable, a company which is not only committed to, but has the means to, make a meaningful impact on the digital market in Africa.”
Hewlett will now focus his attentions on growing MACHINE, the integrated below the line agency he founded in 2012. MACHINE has shown tremendous growth and was recently awarded South Africa’s breakthrough agency of the year at the recent AdReview awards.