Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. TBWA\Digital Arts Network (DAN) to lead agency’s African ‘Digital Revolution’. Mauro Black joins Provantage Media Group. Munslow to head VMA Group’s Africa practice. Ireland/Davenport appointed creative agency for Budget Car Rental. VMA Group expands into Africa. Local startup helps Mozilla launch new product. Exponential launches new video formats. Independent Media launches Independent World of Work
This week’s BIG move: TBWA\Digital Arts Network (DAN) to lead agency’s African ‘Digital Revolution’
To proactively stay in tune with the diverse digital demands of South African and African-based clients and consumers, TBWA\ today has launched its Digital Arts Network (DAN) in Africa. The fledgling, but extensive and well-supported network brings together an integrated mix of local and global expertise, enabling it to move at the ‘speed of life’ by anticipating and meeting the needs of one of the world’s youngest and most mobile-reliant populations.
“Bringing the DAN network to South Africa and expanding across the continent means that we are launching a digital revolution within the agency through a new approach to digital in Africa,” says Eunene Levine, DAN MD. “At the same time, we are celebrating a focus that is moving outward – crossing South Africa’s borders and opening opportunities in the countries where TBWA\ has offices.”
To maintain and expand this focus – and to bring clients an integrated mix of digital capabilities – the network has gathered a team of more than 1 000 digital specialists from around the globe whose contributions to the industry have been extensively recognised. Also within DAN Africa are an additional eight specialist labs that complement and augment the skills already in place.
Who’s moved where
Mauro Black joins Provantage Media Group
Sales and marketing doyen Mauro Black has joined leading out of home company Provantage Media Group as general sales manager: media.
Prior to joining Provantage Media Group, Black worked at Times Media where he built his career and accumulated a wealth of experience. “Mauro is a high-calibre individual who has been part of the advertising and marketing industry for many years. There is no doubt that he will add value to many spheres of the Provantage Media Group business, especially with his background in television, radio, digital and print,” says Skhumbuzo Nkosi, media Director at Provantage.
With an innate talent for sales, Black has built up a thriving reputation as one of the industry’s best. The Provantage out of Home Media division of Provantage Media Group is a major area of growth and innovation for the company. With the inclusion of Black on the already formidable team, not only will objectives be met and exceeded, clients will continue to receive excellent service.
Munslow to head VMA Group’s Africa practice
Daniel Munslow, an experienced international communications consultant and trainer, has been appointed to the team heading up VMA Group’s Africa practice. Having worked in both corporate and consulting environment, Munslow brings more than 12 years’ experience within the communications arena.
Who’s won what
Ireland/Davenport appointed creative agency for Budget Car Rental
Ireland/Davenport has secured Budget Car Rental as a client, following the acquisition by Avis of the Budget Car Rental brand in Southern Africa. Ireland/Davenport was awarded the Avis account in 2010 following a three-way pitch and has been providing creative solutions to the brand for the past five years. The longstanding successful relationship with Avis resulted in Avis appointing the agency to the account without putting the Budget account out to pitch.
“Based on the long tenure and excellent relationship with Avis, we were awarded the Budget Car Rental Business. We are extremely pleased with the win as it represents a definitive stamp of approval for the agency,” said Sue Napier, MD of Ireland/Davenport.
The addition of the well-known Budget Car Rental brand to Ireland/Davenport’s portfolio of clients comes on the back of an extremely successful year for the agency. This included numerous new business wins, creative awards and viral online campaigns, most notable the recent pro-bono #TheDress campaign on behalf of The Salvation Army.
Who’s making moves
VMA Group expands into Africa
VMA Group, a global recruitment and training specialist for corporate and marketing communications, has announced the growth of its international network with the opening of its new Africa operation, headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, adding significant reach for local and multinational organisations operating across the Africa markets.
The Africa operation will replicate the focus on corporate and internal communications, investor relations, marketing and brand communication roles in South Africa and across the continent. In addition, VMA Enhance will deliver a comprehensive range of communication and leadership development training courses for teams and individuals with a range of career backgrounds, from communications professionals to senior leaders and project managers, or anyone with a communication responsibility.
Commenting on the new office opening, VMA Group Chief Executive, Julia Meighan, said: “This exciting news follows ten years of unprecedented growth for VMA Group and highlights the ambition of our 70-strong team to be the world’s leading provider of dedicated corporate communications and PR talent.”
Local startup helps Mozilla launch new product
Blink Tower, a Cape Town-based startup, has produced an animated ‘explainer’ video to introduce Mozilla’s Webmaker platform to a global audience.
The 90-second video, first screened at the 2015 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, explains how Webmaker allows local users to build their own websites and apps, and has proved an integral part of Mozilla’s recent marketing.
“Blink Tower was able to take a complex idea and translate it for a general audience – and they were incredibly fast and flexible,” said Ben Moskowitz, Mozilla’s Senior Director of Development Strategy. “It’s rare to work with a partner for the very first time and go from start to finish as fast as we did, while delivering such a high-quality product.”
Exponential launches new video formats
Exponential Interactive, one of the largest leading global providers of digital advertising solutions, reaching more than 600 million users each month, has announced the launch of their proprietary, scalable video ad formats, VDX.
VDX was developed with the ultimate purpose of building upon the advantages of television and video ads and enriching them with the benefits of digital advertising – namely, the abilities to target consumers who are most relevant to a brand, and for those consumers to choose to interact with the brand through an immersive video-centric experience.
As access to the internet improves across South African households, video advertising will continue to grow, increasing pressure on marketers to use digital video effectively and provide more immersive brand experiences. Exponential South Africa has seen a growth of 120 percent in online video revenue since 2012, an indication that significant growth is expected in the coming years.
Independent Media launches Independent World of Work
Independent Media has launched the first edition of its quarterly labour publication, Independent World of Work, which will cover various aspects of labour and the modern world of work and all its complexities. Independent World of Work is the latest in a series of product launches from Independent Media, as the group repositions as the leading provider of news and indepth analysis in print and digital platforms.
Edited by experienced and respected labour journalist and Independent Media’s group labour editor, Amy Musgrave, Independent World of Work will investigate, explain and report on the latest trends and dynamics in the political economy and how they impact on jobs, job creation, and the workplace of the 21st century.
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