In an unexpected move, MediaCom announced on Friday that Ian Manning, CEO of MediaCom South Africa, has resigned from his position in order to pursue new opportunities outside of the agency. He left the group in mid-April having been with MediaCom since November 2010. Julian Neuburger, who was previously chief global client services officer, has been named as the interim CEO of South Africa.
Neuburger is an industry veteran with almost 40 years of media experience, both client and agency side. He joined MediaCom in 1996, where he has worked has worked across on a range of global and regional client accounts including Warner Bros, Mars Inc., Procter & Gamble, GSK, Nikon and Volkswagen Group.
“I’m really looking forward this opportunity,” said Neuburger. “I fully understand the strength of the MediaCom network, and am excited about how that can fuel the enormous potential we have here at MediaCom South Africa. I believe that we have the very best people, tools and resources in the industry and I am committed to help bring that potential to life.”
A key part of hisbrief will be to ensure that MediaCom clients in South Africa benefit from best practice from across the MediaCom network while continuing to grow MediaCom South Africa’s capabilities and strengths – particularly in the area of digital. He has also been charged with continuing to drive the agency’s focus of being one of the top companies to work for in South Africa, in line with MediaCom’s brand philosophy of “People first, better results”.
“Julian has spent considerable time in South Africa and already has many significant contacts and an established standing across the market and the wider region. I have no doubt that Julian will provide first-class leadership to both our MediaCom team and clients,” said Nick Lawson, CEO of MediaCom EMEA.
MediaCom South Africa is currently the sixth largest media agency and is the fastest growing agency in the country according to RECMA. Its roster of clients includes Procter & Gamble, Sony, Shell, Discovery and Telekom.
