Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up of account wins, people moves, the business of media. Multi-talented media personality joins Algoa FM Breakfast. HoneyKome sweetens its digital offering with the appointment of two senior managers. Grand Food appoints Planit Media to launch new brands. Conversation LAB takes to the road with Dunlop account win. Sirince Jewellery again selects a Z-CARD as a compact marketing tool. DUO selected as East AfricaCom 2016 media partner. DKC to close.
Who’s moved where
Multi-talented media personality joins Algoa FM Breakfast
From the beginning of May there will be a new presenter on the Daron Mann Breakfast Show (DMB) on Algoa FM. Lee Duru, who started her early radio career in Port Elizabeth as a presenter on Ubuntu radio station, and is now a recognised actress, voice over artist and filmmaker, has decided to return to her radio roots in Port Elizabeth as a co-host on Algoa FM’s Daron Mann Breakfast Show.
Duru has a successful background in the South African film and TV industry, working across numerous broadcast mediums. Best known for her roles in Leon Schuster’s Mama Jack (2005), Home Affairs (2007) and Zambezia (2012), she was also the director of popular SABC 2 Sitcom, Stokvel, and held various behind-the-scenes positions for Penguin Films productions.
“I am really looking forward to being on-air with Daron and Charlton, two consummate professionals with whom I’ve spent the last month in studio, learning the ropes and getting to know their quirky sense of humour. I’m now eagerly awaiting the opportunity to add my voice to the successful team and connect with the listeners across Agoa Country,” says Duru.
HoneyKome sweetens its digital offering with the appointment of two senior managers
Showing it means business, HoneyKome – the strategic consulting arm of the digital media organisation, Ole! Media Group – has further expanded its top team with the appointment of two key role-players to senior management positions.
Re-joining the company after a creative hiatus, Gordon (Gord) Laws takes up a permanent position as executive creative strategist of HoneyKome. Laws’ insights into the realms of brand strategy as well as his certified imaginative genius (he’s received numerous awards), will assist those companies seeking to engage online audiences and build brand trust in today’s always-connected world.
Another addition to the management team at HoneyKome is Pierre Cassuto, who has been appointed as director strategic partnerships. Based in Ole! Media Group’s Gauteng offices, Pierre’s role will be to develop meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with other businesses to drive further growth for the Group.
Of his appointment Cassuto remarked, “I’m very excited to join this incredibly fast growing collection of businesses. The entrepreneurial values and culture at Ole! match my own ideals and make it a wonderful place to continue developing within this dynamic industry.”
Who’s won what
Grand Food appoints Planit Media to launch new brands
After a robust four-way pitch Grand Foods, the company that holds the master franchise agreements for Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins in South Africa has partnered with newly established agency, Planit Media.
Planit will manage the media launches for these iconic brands. Both brands will launch in 2016 starting with coffee and bakery chain, Dunkin’ Donuts. An American favourite, Dunkin’ Donuts sells roughly 60 cups of coffee every second and more than 1.8 billion cups of coffee a year. Premium ice cream specialty chain, Baskin-Robbins is set to launch towards the latter of the year and South Africans can look forward to unique flavours, specialty frozen desserts and a range of beverages.
“We met with some great agencies but Planit Media really stood out. The combination of strategy, innovation and digital insights sealed the deal for us. We believe they are the right partner to help launch and develop the new brands in South Africa,” says Rozanna Kader, marketing and communications director at Grand Foods.
Says Quinton Jones from Planit Media: “This is a testament to the agencies’ ability to compete and win at the highest level. We are honoured to have the opportunity to launch these global icons in South Africa. Big brands offer big opportunities – we are excited about doing some amazing work.”
Planit Media will partner with specialist partner TMI – The Media Image.
Conversation LAB takes to the road with Dunlop account win
Digitally focused creative agency Conversation LAB has secured Dunlop Tyres, one of the most iconic and recognisable tyre brands in the world and a South African favourite.
Conversation LAB has been appointed to manage all brand conversations and content across multiple social media platforms as well as digital campaign development and online activations.
Yvette Govender, group advertising and PR manager for Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, parent company to Dunlop, said: “Conversation LAB demonstrated a real understanding of our business issues and how to tackle them. They have a proven track record of delivering results and ROI on big brands, and showed a real hunger to work on Dunlop which we liked!”
Work will include digital brand work as well as supporting Dunlop’s retail arm, the Dunlop Zone network, driving promotions and other demand generation activity.
Sirince Jewellery again selects a Z-CARD as a compact marketing tool
Sirince Jewellery, a wholesaler of fashion jewellery which supplies various companies across Africa, has again selected a PocketMedia® Solutions’ Z-CARD in which to promote its various jewellery ranges.
“Sirince Jewellery offers retailers a large variety of fashion jewellery that’s not only high quality, but also excellent value for money and customisable to suit our clients’ needs,” says the company’s Lyn Davis.
The Z-CARD professionally showcases Sirince Jewellery’s three product ranges – silver plated ZAMAC jewellery, silver and gold-plated stone jewellery and fine sterling silver jewellery – in a compact format that’s easy to store and to hand out to retailers, especially at trade exhibitions like the recently held SARCDA International.
“People collect business cards at trade shows but when they look at them later they don’t know what the company does. The Z-CARD® serves as a brochure and business card all in one, thereby cutting through the clutter and enabling people to remember you long after the trade show has ended,” says Davis.
DUO selected as East AfricaCom 2016 media partner
DUO Marketing + Communications, a specialist technology PR and digital marketing agency, has been selected as a media partner for this year’s East AfricaCom Conference, which takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, between 18 and 19 May, 2016.
“DUO is a specialist technology communications and digital marketing agency with a proven track record in Africa,” says Judith Middleton, founder and CEO. “Our strong relationships with tech, financial and business journalists across the continent makes this partnership with East AfricaCom ideal, as it enables us to showcase and drive interest in the biggest enterprise technology event in East Africa.”
Now in its 13th year, East AfricaCom represents the most advanced region of the content when it comes to mobile and digital communications, mobile money, and ICT development. It is the premier event for ICT and telecoms senior executives, championing the transformational impact of digital communication on people and businesses.
The event showcases innovators and business leaders that are driving the next phase of growth in the digital ecosystem, spanning from high-level infrastructural projects, reducing the costs of 3G networks, broadband and LTE rollout, and boosting data usage.
Who’s making moves
DKC to close
After nearly 14 successful years in communications as DKC, servicing a portfolio of blue chip South African and off-shore clients, Ben and Tessa de Kock have decided to close their business in June.
They are taking the step following Ben’s recent heart surgery.”I am in much better health now and have been given a new lease on life. I don’t want to squander it but instead, enjoy quality time with family and friends”, he said.
“When we established DKC in 2002, I was adamant we would be in operation for no more than five years. The plan was to work hard and prepare for a future that included more family, friends and travel. But times flies when you love what you are doing. We have been running the office for 14 years, almost three times as long as we first envisaged.
“Of course it’s hard to stop doing what brings you excitement, fulfilment and stimulation, but my recent health setback, luckily very well taken care of, reminded us of that original plan.”
DKC’s current major clients are the Distell Group, the Shoprite Group, Nederburg, Durbanville Hills, Wines of South Africa (WOSA), Tradehold, MAS plc, University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), Zonnebloem, Two Oceans Wines, Drostdy Hof, Bunnahabhain, Scottish Leader, Black Bottle, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, Three Ships and Sedgwick Old Brown.
He said the senior members of the DKC team would be continuing to work as communications consultants in their independent capacities. “Linda Christensen and Marlise Potgieter have established themselves as top-level practitioners and enjoy excellent client and media relationships in their own right.”
