Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Geoff Cohen and Ole! Media Group start new company. Frizlar appointed marketing manager of Jordan & Co. Woolworths ventures onto Primedia’s Digital Outdoor. Irvine Bartlett acquires Thebe Tourism Group account. Planit Media wins Cash Converters. Facebook launches Agency Ambassador programme for Africa. FleishmanHillard Names Sharon Piehl General Manager in Johannesburg.
This week’s BIG move: Geoff Cohen and Ole! Media Group dive into data with the formation of a new company – Delv
Former 24.com general manager, Geoff Cohen and digital disruption agency &innovation, have joined forces with the Ole! Media Group to form a new venture, Delv, which will provide highly, targeted advertising opportunities by harnessing the power of big data.
Having identified that it required a data model and strategy, Ole! Media Group contacted &Innovation (a specialist consultancy known for its market disruption and speed of ideation to market approach), to assist it in developing the right proposition with the right people to lead it. The result has so much potential that &Innovation has also taken a stake in the new entity, as it believes that the importance of Delv and the benefits it can deliver, will grow exponentially.
Cohen, who will head up the new venture, was until recently general manager of Media24’s digital division. He has a proven track record for building market-leading online and mobile media products with a particular focus on start-ups at the intersection of mobile, technology and e-commerce in developing markets.
Under Cohen’s guidance, Delv will revolutionise how brands make their digital media buying decisions. The company will have a deep focus on creating a consolidated platform for first, second and third-party data, to unlock the value that is trapped within customers’ existing CRM and digital siloes, ushering in a period of Return On Data driven marketing investments.
Though only recently formed, Delv has already been active in the market, acquiring clients and an integration with Oracle Marketing Cloud, a leading Data Management Platform (DMP). With Oracle Marketing Cloud technology and processes Delv can identify, maximise and multiply the value of data for both advertisers and publishers.
“We are changing this by creating a platform that offers a far deeper dive into the data that makes a difference. This will further reduce the cost of wastage on the one hand and create a data driven revenue stream for publishers on the other,” Cohen says.
Who’s moved where
Frizlar appointed marketing manager of Jordan & Co
Fahiem Frizlar recently joined Bolton Footwear (Jordan & Co, Watson and Barker Shoes) as the marketing manager, tasked with building the Jordan & Co portfolio of brands. He has more than 14 years’ experience in the industry.
“My key focus areas will be to develop marketing strategies and plans, identify suitable media channels to advertise as well focus on building the brand in the digital space – a key focus area. Brands will include Bronx, Bronx Woman, Anton Fabi, Jordan Shoes and Olympic International Footwear for now,” Frizlar says.
Born and raised in Lansdowne, Cape Town, Frizlar studied Brand and Account Management at AAA school of advertising and has been building brands in various industries. “I most recently looked after the RCS retail store card portfolio. Before that I was at Woolworths in their Menswear department, Ackermans in the Homeware and new store openings division, as well as Marketing Manager at Sports Illustrated magazine. I’ve worked very hard to get to where I am and will continue to do so in the future.”
Frizlar enjoys analysing customers most. “I want to understand our customers and their shopping behaviour, as well as how they consume media. Since starting out in this industry, the digital online space and social media marketing has evolved in leaps and bounds.”
FleishmanHillard names Sharon Piehl JHB general manager
FleishmanHillard announced today that Sharon Piehl has been appointed general manager of FleishmanHillard’s Johannesburg operation, effective 1 May 2016.
“Sharon Piehl brings highly creative and strategic thinking to the Johannesburg team, as well as proven leadership abilities,” said John Saunders, president and CEO of FleishmanHillard. “I am confident that she will maintain the office’s commitment to outstanding client service and the agency’s growth trajectory in the African market.”
Piehl has more than 18 years of experience in the public relations and communications industry. She joined FleishmanHillard in 2011 to lead the office’s brand marketing team, which quadrupled in size under her leadership. Piehl also leads the consumerproducts and service sector inthe Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Prior to joining the agency, she held positions at Inzalo Communication and Altech, and has worked with clients in a wide range of industries.
“In the five years that I have been with FleishmanHillard, I have greatly enjoyed watching the Johannesburg office grow in both size and capabilities,” said Piehl. “I look forward to leading this talented team, and building our programs and talent to bring our clients the most cutting-edge and creative communications strategies.”
Kevin Welman, who has been with FleishmanHillard for over 20 years, steps down after nearly nine years as general manager of the Johannesburg office. “Kevin has done a fantastic job for us, and we are most grateful for his great service to our firm,” added Saunders.
Who’s won what
Woolworths ventures onto Primedia’s Digital Outdoor
Woolworths has launched their AW16 Studio.W collection into the digital outdoor scene. During March and April, the trend-conscious urban brand takes centre stage on Primedia Outdoor’s urban LED network, bringing their take on contemporary style to a host of commuters.
The combination of high quality LED screen and its ideal positioning to reach their target market, ultimately convinced the brand to extend their advertising approach to incorporate digital out of home advertising (DOOH).
“Digital Outdoor suits premium brands”, comments Primedia Outdoor’s sales executive, Peter Lindstrom, who adds that Woolworths’ decision to incorporate digital out of home into their strategy is in keeping with international trends.
“Increasing urbanisation means that more people spend time commuting or engaged in activities that take them away from home”, he says. “DOOH combines the advantages of traditional out of home – such as keeping a brand top of mind in a particular location – with those of digital technology; for example, being able to incorporate video, or tailor advertisements to a particular time of day. Incorporating digital technology also associates a brand with all things cutting-edge and futuristic.”
To see the campaign in action, click here.
Irvine Bartlett acquires Thebe Tourism Group account
Cape Town public relations agency Irvine Bartlett has acquired Thebe Tourism as a new client following a pitch process. This consolidates the agency’s reputation as frontrunners in public relations for the tourism and travel sector.
Irvine Bartlett managing director, Rachel Irvine, said: “Thebe Tourism represents South African tourism at its most progressive. We’re honoured to have been chosen from a highly competitive group of agencies and pitches for this project.”
Irvine Bartlett is a sought after, full service, public relations companies in South Africa. The driving principle behind the agency is to ensure clients grow their business as a direct result of the team’s efforts to increase brand credibility and profile.
“Irvine Bartlett’s fresh approach and out-of-the-box thinking is what drew us to the agency,” said Thebe Tourism Group marketing manager Judiet Barnes. “We are excited to be working with such a dynamic team and look forward to seeing the outcome of our combined efforts.”
Thebe Tourism Group is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation. Formed in 2001, the group is the oldest black-empowered South African tourism group and has a significant portfolio in tourism and related industries ranging from attractions, inbound and outbound tourism, car rental, business tourism and foreign exchange.
Planit Media Wins Cash Converters
Planit Media has been awarded the Cash Converters business. Cash Converters Southern Africa, a global franchisor that operates in the buying and selling of second-hand goods and cash loans, is on aggressive drive to expand its store footprint and double the size of the business in four years. Cash Converters SA already has 75 stores across South Africa, Namibia and Zambia. The win includes the relaunch and rebrand of the business and the full scope of media including digital.
“We are very happy to work with Planit media. They offer a very senior team and I have been very impressed with the level of input into our business and the value that they add. Their thinking generally, but specifically in digital, and its application to localised targeting in retail, is very exciting for us,” Natalie Champion, head of Marketing SA.
Says Planit Media: “Cash Converters is a great opportunity for us. We know we can add real value to this business during their period of expansion. This is a very nice addition to our rapidly expanding client portfolio since our launch two months ago.”
The agency will partner with Radar, who recently was appointed Agency of Record in an industry pitch.
Who’s making moves
Facebook launches Agency Ambassador programme for Africa
Facebook has launched an Agency Ambassador Programme for Africa as part of its drive to equip its agency partners with the skills and information they need to make the most of Facebook as a marketing and advertising platform. Agency Ambassadors have a direct line to Facebook and receive extensive training to help them become their agency’s expert in Facebook’s tools, technologies and solutions.
Delegates representing 32 top media agencies from four countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa) gathered at a three-day summit in Johannesburg from 29 March to 1 April, where a Facebook team from around the world trained them to become Africa’s first Facebook Agency Ambassadors. The collaborative training equipped participants with the resources they need to understand how to drive real business results through digital marketing, and in turn share this knowledge within their organisations. The forum also afforded an opportunity for the agency representatives to provide feedback to Facebook.
The launch of the programme follows within a year after the opening of Facebook’s first office in Africa—based in Johannesburg, South Africa— when Facebook committed to supporting and up-skilling businesses across the continent.
“We’re so excited to launch the Facebook Agency Ambassador Program, a first for Africa,” says Nunu Ntshingila, head of Africa for Facebook. “As media transcends to digital, it’s of crucial importance that these Ambassadors are equipped to take their learnings back to their agencies – both digital and traditional – so that they can make the most of the digital opportunity, and ultimately grow brands and businesses.”
The programme incorporates Facebook Blueprint, an education programme that trains agencies, partners and marketers on how to use Facebook. Combining online courses, in-person training and certification, Blueprint trains marketers on everything from campaign optimisation and how to use video on Facebook to effective ad measurement solutions. The foundation of Blueprint is its eLearning centre, which features more than 50 online courses and has tracks organised by category, such as direct response marketing, as well as tracks designed for specific roles, such as digital buying.
