Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. The MediaShop partners with empowerment initiative. Patterson appointed president of ABC. Ken Varejes bids farewell to Primedia Unlimited. OLX partners with Top Billing’s Aidan Bennetts in home makeover competition. Nest grows network in Africa with Garage partnership
This week’s BIG move: The MediaShop partners with empowerment initiative
The MediaShop has confirmed its involvement, for the next three years, in the Ciao Bella initiative, which aims to empower young women to better their lives and provide them with a foot into the media and advertising industry.
“This amazing initiative was created by one of our own, our HR manager for the group Alarece Eaton, through Eaton Consulting Services,” says The MediaShop’s group MD, Chris Botha. “Empowering young women and giving them an opportunity to live their life to the full is one of Alarece’s and our passions.
Eaton has an extensive background in human resources and leadership development and has always had the desire to help shape and transform the lives of young women. The Ciao Bella initiative is targeted at girls currently in grade 12 aged between 15-18 years. “We will be empowering 15 young girls per annum,” says Eaton. “Through this initiative and the process of transformation, we will be improving their lives and raising their own life expectations.”
Part of the Ciao Bella Initiative is to create a 13-episode reality television show that will focus on the development and growth of the women through their journey. It will showcase the media industry and the process of building young media moguls. Each year a new batch of 15 young girls will be given the opportunity to enter the programme.
“We’re so grateful to The MediaShop for committing to finance the advertising and administration of this project which is at such a crucial infancy stage. We’re also appealing to media owners and corporate to offer assistance where ever they can.”
Partners already on board include Legaci Nova Entertainment, with vast experience in the entertainment industry, Frank Tilley Consulting and iLearn for presentation and Life Skills training, SureGrowth who complete assessments and Starfish as Ciao Bella’s chosen charity.
“We have a carefully drafted curriculum that will focus on holistic learning by improving the mind and body of these young women,” she says. “Although media skills will be the main focus of education, we will also focus on areas such as finance both for business and personal, general life skills, self-esteem, building confidence, presentation skills, health and wellness, mentoring, communication, hygiene and etiquette as well as many other areas. The character and attitudes of these young girls will be put to the test and refined, giving them the ability to deal with life’s challenges and successes.”
For more information on the Ciao Bella Initiative or to get involved, email Alarece on Alarece.Eaton@mediashop.co.za
Who’s moved where
Patterson appointed president of ABC
Gordon Patterson has been elected to the position of President of the ABC.
Patterson started his advertising and marketing career with the Argus Group back in the early 1980s and perhaps not surprisingly has been a consistent positive voice proclaiming the power of the written word.
He is a locally and internationally recognised thought leader and out spoken commentator on marketing and advertising matters.
He joined the ABC in 2001 and has been a consistent contributor and participant within the ABC. Prior to this appointment he held the position of vice president.
Andre van Tonder has been elected vice president. He served as a director from 2007 to 2010. He was re-appointed to the board in 2013.
Ken Varejes bids farewell to Primedia Unlimited
After founding the Primedia Unlimited business 11 years ago, Ken Varejes is bidding farewell to the company on 31 August as he plans his next move in the marketing and advertising industry. Under his tenure, Primedia Unlimited has shown a 33% growth in turnover and a 39% year on year growth in profit.
Gordon Muller puts it most succinctly: “Ken in the future? Who knows? But if he was a racehorse I’d put my money on him.” Chris Botha echoes these sentiments. “Ken Varejes epitomises the word ‘legend’. He has done it all – from leading major corporate organisations, to starting a business from the bottom up, and making a huge success of it.”
Primedia Unlimited began its humble beginnings in 2004 and is today the most diverse OOH business in Africa with 15 independent and profitable businesses. The company now has a staff compliment of around 340 people, which feeds some 2000 family members – this in a country where jobs are key to our ongoing success and development.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with magnificent people at Primedia Unlimited who will undoubtedly take the company to new horizons but the time has come to move onto my next industry project,” says Varejes. “Innovation is key to what I have always focused on and I have a few exciting ideas and concepts that I will be exploring and running with.
Who’s making moves
OLX partners with Top Billing’s Aidan Bennetts in home makeover competition
Leading online classifieds OLX has partnered with Top Billing’s Aidan Bennetts in a competition where three people will win a home makeover to the combined value of R80 000.
Bennetts, Top Billing’s DIY presenter, will transform the room of the winner’s choice, whether it be the lounge, kitchen, or bedroom. Not only will the winner’s room get a complete makeover, but the entire transformation will be filmed and aired online.
The public are invited to enter by listing any item on OLX South Africa, with #OLXHomeMakeover in the title. They will then receive an email with one entry. The more you list, the more entries you receive.
With rising building and material costs, OLX has become a prime destination for South Africans looking to do their own DIY at low cost. Over recent months OLX has seen a continued increase in DIY items being listed with a surge expected in coming months as home-owners get ready for summer.
Visit the OLX South Africa Facebook page for more information.
Nest grows network in Africa with Garage partnership
African start-ups will enjoy access to Asian capital and expertise through a reciprocal agreement between Hong Kong based Nest and Nairobi Garage and Cape Town Garage
Nest Nairobi has announced a formal partnership with two of the leading technology and innovation communities on the African continent, Cape Town Garage and Nairobi Garage, to offer local start-ups access to the VC’s growing international network as well as Asian funding.
This initiative instantly equips existing members of the co-working hubs with a soft landing when visiting Hong Kong. Traveling entrepreneurs will be given a central space to work from as well as gain access to Nest’s unique support structure and mentor network.
The relationship is reciprocal as members of Nest’s global ecosystem also have the ability to reach into the East African and South African markets through the Cape Town and Nairobi Garage locations. When working in Africa, startups in the Nest portfolio benefit from well-equipped desks, meeting rooms and business support services that the Garages are already well known for.
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